MLB: The Top 10 breakout/resurgence stars of the 2022 season

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The 2022 regular season has come to an end. Future stars graced the field for the time and legends stepped into onto the field for the last time in 2022. This season has seen its fair share of the birth and rebirth of unlikely stars across MLB.

In this article, let’s look at the top 10 breakout/resurgence MLB stars of 2022

10. Matt Carpenter

Matt Carpenter’s last few seasons in St. Louis were lackluster to say the most as Carpenter hit a mere .203 with 22 home runs and 91 RBI. After the Cardinals let Carpenter go following the 2021 season, he landed with the Texas Rangers on a minor league contract. Carpenter played his way out of a minor league deal with the Rangers and into a deal with the New York Yankees. Through 47 games with the Yankees, Carpenter was on a tear, slashing .305 with 15 home runs and 37 RBI. On August 8, Carpenter took a pitch off his hand fracturing his wrist and ending his regular season, but he is expected to be back for the postseason.

9. Taylor Ward

Prior to the 2022 season, Taylor Ward was inconstent and struggling to stay at the MLB level for an extended period of time. Ward seized the opportunity when his name was put into the hat for a starting outfield spot at the beginning of the 2022 season. Ward went on a tear to start the season, boasting an impressive .347 average with 10 home runs and 26 RBI through 35 games. Wards missed over 20 games over the course of the season due to injury, but still managed to finish with a .281 average as well as 23 home runs, 22 doubles, and 63 RBI.

8. Josh Naylor

Josh Naylor was selected in the first round of the 2015 draft by the Miami Marlins. Naylor was traded to San Diego in 2016 prior to the deadline before being dealt by the Padres to the Guardians in a blockbuster deal. Naylor never found success in the big leagues prior to this season. He was overweight and lacked power, the ability to get on base, and the ability to stay healthy in his young career. Naylor suffered a brutal knee injury that ended his 2021 season short, but 2022 was his path to stardom as he provided iconic moments and out performed all expectations. Naylor hit to the tune of .256 in the regular season while amassing 20 home runs and 79 RBI in his breakout season.

Sep 19, 2022; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Kyle Wright (30) throws against the Washington Nationals in the third inning at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports /

7. Kyle Wright

Kyle Wright made his MLB debut in 2018 for the Atlanta Braves. Between 2018-2021, Wright bounced between the minors and majors recording 70 innings in major league experience. Prior to 2022, Wright failed to stay in the majors for a full season. In 2021, he lost his rotation spot to Bryse Wilson. Wright was given the role of fifth starter before the beginning of the 2022 campaign, and what came next shocked the league.

In 2022, Wright won a league-best 21 games while boasting a career best in ERA, innings, strikeouts, and WHIP. Wright posted a 3.19 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, and 174 strikeouts over 180.1 innings of work. Wright’s 2022 season breakout season has cemented his spot in Atlanta’s rotation, as well as a top starter in MLB.

6. Dylan Cease

Before the 2022 season, Dylan Cease had started in 58 games dating back to 2019. In those games, Cease pitched 297 innings while pitching to the tune of a 4.39 ERA. Coming into 2022, Cease was entering his fourth season in the majors at the age of 26. Cease took a giant leap in his progression during the 2022 season, going from a 4-5 starter in the rotation at best to a bonafide ace of the rotation.

The first half of the season, Cease boasted a 9-4 record as well as an impressive 2.15 ERA. Despite a dominant first half of the season, Cease was snubbed from the All-Star game. Cease’s second half was arguably better than his first half as he was lights out. After the All-Star game, Cease had a 2.27 ERA in 13 starts. The dominance that Cease has possessed during the 2022 season was on full display when he took a no-hitter into the bottom of the ninth inning against the Twins in early September. He went on to finish the game, allowing one hit. In 2022, we saw the transformation of Cease from mediocrity to stardom with his breakout season.

5. Alejandro Kirk

At 5-foot-8 and 285 pounds, Alejandro Kirk is not your prototypical catcher. Appearances can be deceiving … and no one is a better example of this than Kirk. In September 2020, Kirk was called up from Triple-A, a move that was a surprise to most. In 2021, he made the Opening Day roster as the Toronto’s backup catcher getting limited playing time behind Danny Jansen.

After starting off sluggish in 2022, Kirk caught fire between May and July, batting .325 with 12 home runs and 38 RBI. Kirk’s numbers were enough to get him voted the starting catcher for the American League in the All-Star Game. The impressive season by Kirk was surprising to say the least as he finished the season batting .285 with 14 home runs and 63 RBI. At 23, it’s safe to say that he will be a top catcher in the game for years to come.

Jul 14, 2022; Arlington, Texas, USA; Texas Rangers starting pitcher Martin Perez (54) celebrates striking out the Seattle Mariners with the bases loaded to end the second inning at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /

4. Martin Perez

On June 26, 2012, the Texas Rangers called up pitching prospect Martin Perez, he would pitch in 12 games that season for the Rangers, finishing with a 5.45 era over 38 innings. Perez has pitched for the Rangers in every season since 2012. Despite posting a career 4.70 ERA throughout his career before 2022, Perez found a rotation spot this season.

Martin Perez impressed early on, posting a 4-2 record in April and May as well as a 1.46 ERA and 0.95 WHIP. Perez continued to impress through the All-Star break, earning him an All-Star honor on a Texas team that finished in 22nd place in team ERA, 21st in strikeouts, and 24th in WHIP. Perez proved to be a breakout star and bright spot for a team that had a very disappointing year after signing Corey Seager and Marcus Semien to big contracts. Perez finished his 2022 campaign with a 12-8 record to go along with a 2.89 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, and 169 strikeouts, all career-bests.

3. Andres Gimenez

After the 2020 season, Andres Gimenez was acquired by the Guardians in the package that sent star shortstop Fransisco Lindor to the Mets. In stints with the Mets in 2020 and Guardians in 2021, Gimenez looked underwhelming to say the least. Before the 2022 season, Gimenez was named the starting shortstop. With low expectations for the young player, the sky was truly the limit.

After starting hot and hitting .340 in the month of April, Gimenez never looked back, helping lead the Guardians to the playoffs. Gimenez earned All-Star honors as well as finishing 15th in batting average. Gimenez is apart of the eighth-youngest team to make the playoffs in MLB history. Gimenez finished the regular season with a .297 average, 17 homers, 69 RBI, 20 stolen bases, and an .837 OPS. At 24, the best is yet to come from Gimenez, who has proven to be a breakout star.

2. Ryan Helsley

Ryan Helsley spent his first two seasons in the majors splitting time between Triple-A and the St. Louis Cardinals. Between 2019-2021, Helsley appeared in 87 games, pitching 96.2 innings with a 4.00 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, and 89 strikeouts. Prior to the 2022 season, Helsley was a middle of the pack reliever at best.

To start his 2022 season, Helsley logged 14 straight scoreless appearances, the strong start was not short-lived. Slowly over the season, Helsley established himself as a top closer in the league. Helsley’s effectiveness was lights out as he stayed constant throughout the season, only allowing nine earned runs over 64.2 innings of work. Helsley also owned the fastest pitch in MLB, throwing a fastball that clocked in at 104 mph. Ryan Helsley finished the season with a 9-1 record, 19 saves, a 1.25 ERA, 0.74 WHIP, and 94 strikeouts. At 28, Helsley is entering his prime with a breakout season that will go down in the history books.

1. Nathaniel Lowe

In 2021, Nathaniel Lowe cemented his starting spot with a solid season at age 26. Entering his age 27 season, Lowe had everything to prove after showing a glimpse of what he could do in 2021. The Rangers had high expectations as a team entering the 2022 season, Lowe was no expectation to this.

Lowe started off the season promising batting .270 with 12 home runs and 38 RBI before the All-Star break. Lowe went on a tear after the All-Star game, posting a .339 average with 15 homers and 38 RBI. Lowe was named AL Player of the Week in late August for his performance.

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Lowe led the Rangers in batting average, slugging percentage and on base percentage. The growth for Lowe in 2022 was substantial and, as he enters his physical prime, the expectations are high as ever. With the 2022 regular season in the books, Lowe had his best year to date while providing hope for Rangers after a tough and disappointing season.

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