MLB's Top 10 Surprise Players of 2009

Every year, teams go all out to put the right pieces together. The major league offseason is filled with free agent signings, blockbuster trades, and top prospect call-ups.

With all these events going down, any club would take the extra bonus of having a player who has a great season out of nowhere.

When a guy who is expected to ride the bench all year, keep a position warm for an up-and-coming prospect, or just plain old stink turns in a big year, it truly is rewarding.

This list of 10 highlights the top 10 players of 2009 who gave much more than their teams asked for coming into the year.

10. Nick Swisher, OF - New York Yankees

2008: .219 BA, 24 HR, 69 RBI, .332 OBP
2009 Pace: .255 BA, 29 HR, 87 RBI, .373 OBP

Nick Swisher didn't exactly come out of nowhere. His name has been known for the past few seasons now. However, when you compare Swisher's numbers with two weeks left in the season to the numbers he was expected to have, it would make any Yankee fan grin.

Swisher was originally expected to platoon with Xavier Nady in right field for New York. But, after Nady went down for the season with arm problems, the full-time job was given to Swisher. To say he took advantage of the opportunity is an understatement.

The quirky outfielder seemed to carry the team on his back through April when Alex Rodriguez was out due to hip surgery and Mark Teixeira was struggling to bat .150.

Since that time, Swisher has cooled off a bit, displaying a knack for being a streaky player. However, he leads the team with 88 walks and has given the Yankees 27 home runs this season, primarily batting out of the eighth spot of the lineup.

9. Jason Kubel, DH - Minnesota Twins

2008: .272 BA, 20 HR, 78 RBI, .335 OBP
2009 Pace: .300 BA, 25 HR, 93 RBI, .369 OBP

Some fans may have not even heard of this pudgy little designated hitter, primarily because he was overshadowed by the gaudy numbers of teammates Justin Morneau and Joe Mauer.

But Kubel is quietly having a very solid season for the Twins, improving his numbers in most of the major offensive categories.

Kubel's on-base percentage has jumped up 40 points since last season, which helps when batting fifth or sixth in the Minnesota lineup.

And anyone will take a guy's batting average jumping from .270 to about .300 as well.

It remains to be seen how Kubel will respond to being put in a more important role down the stretch now that clean-up hitter Justin Morneau is out for the season. But, however the Twins' season turns out, look for Kubel to continue being a valuable asset.

8. Mark Reynolds, 3B - Arizona Diamondbacks

2008: .239 BA, 28 HR, 97 RBI, 11 SB
2009 Pace: .271 BA, 46 HR, 107 RBI, 26 SB

People expected Mark Reynolds to be good, but not THIS good.

In 2009, the Arizona third baseman was able to hit his way into the group of baseball's most elite.

While his power numbers were very good in 2008, his batting average remained under .250. This year, he has complemented his 42 home runs and 97 runs batted in with a .272 average.

Easily the best hitter in the Diamondback lineup, Reynolds proved that opposing teams cannot fall asleep on any facet of his offensive game. Along with the better average this year came better speed, as he has swiped 24 stolen bases so far this season.

Put him up there with third basemen Alex Rodriguez, Chipper Jones, and Evan Longoria in 2010.

7. Jayson Werth, OF - Philadelphia Phillies

2008: .273 BA, 24 HR, 67 RBI, .363 OBP
2009 Pace: .272 BA, 38 HR, 99 RBI, .372 OBP

Did the Phillies REALLY need more power in their lineup this year?

Better question: Where the heck did this guy come from?!

Jayson Werth has been in the league for a few years now, but never has he made an impact on a team like he did this season.

Werth seemed to add insult to injury, batting behind Chase Utley, Ryan Howard, and Raul Ibanez, each of whom have over 30 home runs to go along with Werth's 34.

Not to mention he STOLE HOME earlier this season.

On pace for nearly 40 home runs and 100 runs batted in for 2009, he was expected to simply be a make-shift right fielder but has become a very dangerous weapon.

6. Adam Wainwright, SP - St. Louis Cardinals

2008: 11-3, 91 SO, 3.20 ERA
2009 Pace: 19-8, 203 SO, 2.57 ERA

From No. 3 in the rotation to Cy Young award candidate.

Wainwright's performance has been so impressive this year that he may actually have stolen the "ace" status in the Cardinal rotation from flame thrower Chris Carpenter, who is also having an incredible season.

Before 2009, the right-hander's best season consisted of 136 strikeouts and 14 wins. He has shattered those numbers so far, and is still climbing, with 183 strikeouts and a league leading 18 wins.

The Cardinals have been cruising toward the postseason for a good month now. Don't be surprised to see this previous no-name starting Game One of the NLDS once St. Louis clinches.

5. Josh Johnson, SP - Florida Marlins

2008: 7-1, 77 SO, 3.62 ERA
2009 Pace: 16-4, 191 SO, 2.99 ERA

After having his young career littered with injuries, Johnson finally showed what he can do with a full season under his belt in 2009.

The ace of a rotation filled with very good young arms, Johnson had to play the role of experienced veteran, even at the age of 25.

Florida currently stands five games behind the Rockies in the Wild Card, not bad for a team with such a low payroll. And there is no doubt that the story would not have been the same if Johnson did not turn in the type of year that he did.

People have been high on Johnson for a long time now. It is nice to see him finally living up to the expectations.

If the rest of the Marlin rotation is able to mature into pitchers like Johnson, watch out for Florida for years to come.

4. Aaron Hill, 2B - Toronto Blue Jays

2008: .263 BA, 2 HR, 20 RBI, .324 OBP
2009 Pace: .285 BA, 35 HR, 109 RBI, .323 OBP

You can just add Aaron Hill to the long list of second basemen who can now launch the ball out of the park at any given time.

To say the 5'11" Hill had a "breakout year" is an understatement. The guy primarily batted second in the lineup this year and is still staring 100 runs batted in straight in the face, which is well above his previous career high of 78.

With the once promising right fielder Alex Rios in Chicago now, and fading star Vernon Wells struggling to make an impact, Aaron Hill is the future of the Blue Jay organization.

Manager Cito Gaston has already made it known that Hill will be the No. 3 hitter in the lineup next season, which makes a lot of sense. There are few players that can be found out there who would be better to build a team around.

3. Adam Lind, DH, OF - Toronto Blue Jays

2008: .282 BA, 9 HR, 40 RBI, .316 OBP
2009 Pace: .297, 33 HR, 115 RBI, .360 OBP

Like Aaron Hill, Adam Lind went from no-name to household name overnight.

While the Blue Jay organization had always been high on Lind, not many people outside Ontario knew much about him—until now.

Lind, who prior to 2009 batted for an average of .260 with 10 home runs and 43 runs batted in during his first two seasons, finally got the nod to play full time this year.

He certainly answered the bell.

Lind, who batted third in the lineup this year, will be batting fourth next year, right behind Hill. That combo should be one of the most intimidating in the league.

There is no reason to think that Lind won't continue to be a power threat for the rest of his career.

2. Kendry Morales, 1B - Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

2008: .213 BA, 3 HR, 8 RBI, .273 OBP
2009 Pace: .301 BA, 33 HR, 109 RBI, .347 OBP

When the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim lost to the New York Yankees in the bidding war for Mark Teixeira, there wasn't a lot of hope in terms of a having a productive first baseman for Angel fans.

Enter Kendry Morales.

The year Morales has had has left the majority of Los Angeles saying "Mark Tei-who?"

Not only is Morales's name easier to pronounce than Teixeira's, but his production has been almost the same. This came as a pleasant surprise to the Angels, who probably were expecting about 15 home runs and no more than 60 or 70 runs batted in from a position that usually provides a legitimate power source.

Morales has been so good that he has even been mentioned in MVP talk.

All this has Los Angeles grinning. Especially since they have Morales at a fraction of the cost the the Yankees are now paying for Teixeira.

1. Zack Greinke, SP - Kansas City Royals

2008: 13-10, 183 SO, 3.47 ERA
2009 Pace: 15-8, 250 SO, 2.11 ERA

Probably the best story of the year.

Back in early 2006, Greinke left the Royals for personal reasons. It was later revealed that the young pitcher had been suffering from social anxiety disorder and depression.

Over the next two years, Greinke alternated between spending time with the Royals and taking off due to his condition. However, even during the time he played, Greinke was not very successful, as he was sent to the bullpen from the starting rotation at the end of the 2007 season.

Greinke was given another chance to start in 2008. His stat line for the year did not end up badly, as he earned 13 wins on a team that finished in fourth place in the American League Central with a record of 75-87.

So far this year, Greinke has 14 wins on a Kansas City team 19 games out of the Central race.

He also leads the Major Leagues in ERA.

In all likelihood, Greinke will be the 2009 Cy Young Award winner, as he will probably beat out Seattle's Felix Hernandez and New York's CC Sabathia.