Every MLB Team's Biggest Second-Half Surprise of the 2022 Season
The MLB season is a long one, and sometimes a player's full-season worth of stats don't tell the entire story.
A poor first half can make it difficult to return a season stat line to respectability before the end of the year, which can in turn mask a stellar second-half performance.
Those are the players we're focusing on here.
Ahead, we've highlighted one player from each team who has far exceeded his first-half production since the All-Star break, emerging as an impact performer and perhaps positioning himself for future success, with the final months of this season as a jumping-off point.
Off we go!
American League East
1 of 6
Baltimore Orioles: SP Kyle Bradish
First Half: 10 GS, 7.38 ERA, 1.77 WHIP, 46.1 IP
Second Half: 8 GS, 3.09 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, 43.2 IP
The No. 9 prospect in the Baltimore farm system when the season began, according to Baseball America, Bradish made his MLB debut in April. The 25-year-old got off to a rocky start, but he has turned a corner since the All-Star break, including a pair of fantastic starts on the road against Houston (8.0 IP, 2 H, 0 ER) and Cleveland (7.0 IP, 2 H, 0 ER).
Boston Red Sox: 2B Christian Arroyo
First Half: 127 PA, .224/.278/.362, 8 XBH
Second Half: 124 PA, .342/.374/.470, 12 XBH
Arroyo has split his time between second base (27), right field (17), shortstop (13), third base (10), first base (6) and designated hitter (5) this year, and that versatility has made him a valuable bench piece. A career .235 hitter with an 83 OPS+ when the season began, he is swinging the bat as well right now as he has at any point in his career.
New York Yankees: RP Lou Trivino
Pre-Trade 39 G, 6.47 ERA, 1.88 WHIP, .326 BAA
Post-Trade: 15 G, 0.68 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, .204 BAA
The Yankees acquired Trivino as a buy-low throw-in of sorts in the Frankie Montas blockbuster, and he has done a complete 180 since moving to the New York bullpen. The 30-year-old tallied 32 saves in Oakland over the last two seasons, and he could wind up filling a valuable late-inning role during the Yankees' playoff run.
Tampa Bay Rays: SP Drew Rasmussen
First Half: 15 GS, 3 QS, 3.22 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, 4.8 IP/GS
Second Half: 8 GS, 3 QS, 1.84 ERA, 0.86 WHIP, 5.5 IP/GS
Rasmussen has been terrific since he was acquired from the Milwaukee Brewers last season in the deal that sent Willy Adames the other way, logging a 2.61 ERA and 1.02 WHIP in 175.2 innings in Tampa Bay. The biggest change since the All-Star break has been his ability to consistently pitch deeper into games, and that could be huge in October.
Toronto Blue Jays: IF Cavan Biggio
First Half: 158 PA, .716 OPS, 14 XBH (2 HR), 42 starts (45.2%)
Second Half: 88 PA, .779 OPS, 10 XBH (4 HR), 23 starts (53.5%)
Who would have guessed Biggio would start to receive more playing time following the addition of Whit Merrifield? With Merrifield hitting just .188 in 25 games since he was acquired at the deadline and Santiago Espinal regressing offensively, Biggio has started five of the team's seven games so far in September, splitting his time between first base and second base.
American League Central
2 of 6
Chicago White Sox: RF Gavin Sheets
First Half: 229 PA, .224/.288/.371, 17 XBH (7 HR), 22 RBI
Second Half: 112 PA, .307/.348/.535, 13 XBH (5 HR), 22 RBI
Sheets had a solid MLB debut last season, posting a 122 OPS+ with 11 home runs and 34 RBI in 54 games, but he stumbled out of the gates this year. However, the 26-year-old has been swinging it as well as anyone in the White Sox lineup since the All-Star break, and he has been moved up to the No. 5 spot in the batting order.
Cleveland Guardians: RP Sam Hentges
First Half: 32 G, 4.18 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 3.9 BB/9, 10.0 K/9
Second Half: 16 G, 0.44 ERA, 0.53 WHIP, 1.3 BB/9, 10.5 K/9
Despite struggling to a 6.68 ERA in 68.2 innings last year, Hentges earned a spot on Cleveland's Opening Day roster this year. The 6'6" southpaw has steadily emerged as the team's go-to lefty out of the bullpen, allowing just eight hits and three walks in 20.2 innings since the All-Star break.
Detroit Tigers: SP Drew Hutchison
First Half: 5 GS, 4.38 ERA, 4.2 BB/9, 5.6 K/9
Second Half: 9 GS, 3.74 ERA, 3.4 BB/9, 6.1 K/9
A staple in the Toronto rotation in 2014 and 2015, Hutchison had pitched just 88 total innings in the majors over the past six seasons entering the 2022 season. After pitching in relief to begin the year, he joined the rotation in June and has been a quality innings-eater for the rebuilding Tigers in the second half.
Kansas City Royals: SP Brady Singer
First Half: 14 G, 11 GS, 4.02 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, 71.2 IP, .262 BAA
Second Half: 9 GS, 2.57 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, 56.0 IP, .235 BAA
Originally slotted in the bullpen to begin the year and then demoted to Triple-A to stretch out as a starter, Singer has recorded nine quality starts in his last 11 outings dating back to early July. The 26-year-old struck out 10 over seven scoreless innings of one-hit ball against the New York Yankees on July 28.
Minnesota Twins: 2B/OF Nick Gordon
First Half: 212 PA, .263/.305/.399, 16 XBH (4 HR), 13 RBI
Second Half: 134 PA, .295/.338/.467, 16 XBH (2 HR), 23 RBI
All but written off as a flop after failing to deliver on the expectations that came with being the No. 5 overall pick in the 2014 draft, Gordon has finally broken through in the majors. The 26-year-old has taken over as the starting second baseman with Jorge Polanco on the injured list, and he has batted cleanup in each of the team's last three games.
American League West
3 of 6
Houston Astros: RP Bryan Abreu
First Half: 28 G, 0/0 SV, 3.00 ERA, 1.39 WHIP, .242 BAA
Second Half: 17 G, 2/2 SV, 0.00 ERA, 0.56 WHIP, .097 BAA
Armed with a fastball that averages 97.2 mph and a wipeout slider that has generated a 49.5 percent whiff rate, Abreu has always had late-inning stuff. The 25-year-old has allowed just six hits in 19.2 innings since the All-Star break, emerging as a key member of a bullpen that leads the majors with a 2.81 ERA.
Los Angeles Angels: SP José Suarez
First Half: 11 G, 9 GS, 5.60 ERA, 1.58 WHIP, 22 BB, 45 K, 45.0 IP
Second Half: 7 GS, 1.76 ERA, 0.90 WHIP, 9 BB, 39 K, 41.0 IP
Suarez made his MLB debut at the age of 21, and while he has shown flashes throughout his time in the majors, consistency has eluded him. The 24-year-old has not allowed more than three earned runs in a start since the All-Star break, and last time out he tossed seven shutout innings against the Detroit Tigers.
Oakland Athletics: C Sean Murphy
First Half: 339 PA, .241/.308/.409, 6.8 BB%, 22.1 K%
Second Half: 179 PA, .270/.374/.500, 12.8 BB%, 15.6 K%
Already viewed as a standout defensive catcher with good power, Murphy has taken his offensive game to another level during the second half. Not only is he hitting for a higher average and more power, but he has also nearly doubled his walk rate while slashing his strikeout rate. The 27-year-old has been a 3.1-WAR player overall in 126 games.
Seattle Mariners: SP/RP Matt Brash
First Half: 9 G, 5 GS, 1 HLD, 6.66 ERA, 7.4 BB/9, 8.9 K/9
Second Half: 18 G, 0 GS, 6 HLD, 1.59 ERA, 3.7 BB/9, 12.2 K/9
Armed with a mid-90s fastball and a lethal slider, Brash broke camp with a spot in the Seattle rotation, but he struggled to a 7.65 ERA with 17 walks in 20 innings over five starts before he was demoted to the minors. He returned to the majors as a reliever in July, and his stuff has played up in shorter stints out of the bullpen.
Texas Rangers: 1B Nathaniel Lowe
First Half: 344 PA, .270/.323/.430, 26 XBH (12 HR), 38 RBI
Second Half: 195 PA, .371/.426/.646, 23 XBH (12 HR), 30 RBI
After a breakout 2021 season and a solid first half this year, Lowe has taken his game to another level during the second half. The 27-year-old leads all qualified hitters with a .371 average since the All-Star break, and his 1.072 OPS trails only Aaron Judge (1.319) and Paul Goldschmidt (1.084) during that span.
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National League East
4 of 6
Atlanta Braves: 2B Vaughn Grissom
Pre-Promotion 442 PA, .324/.405/.494, 36 XBH, 27 SB in minors
Post-Promotion: 103 PA, .347/.398/.558, 10 XBH, 4 SB in majors
Grissom was one of baseball's biggest breakout prospects during the first half, but his jump to the majors after just 22 games at Double-A and none at Triple-A still qualifies as a major surprise. The 21-year-old has not missed a beat since making the leap, joining Spencer Strider and Michael Harris II as rookie standouts in Atlanta.
Miami Marlins: SP Edward Cabrera
First Half: 3 GS, 4.02 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, 16 K, 15.2 IP
Second Half: 6 GS, 1.62 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, 39 K, 33.1 IP
After struggling to a 5.81 ERA and 1.63 WHIP in seven starts last season, Cabrera made three spot starts in June before spending a month on the injured list. The 24-year-old returned to the majors at the beginning of August and rattled off 22.2 scoreless innings over his first four starts back in Miami, joining Sandy Alcantara and Pablo Lopez atop the MLB rotation.
New York Mets: RP Seth Lugo
First Half: 35 G, 3.82 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 8.7 K/9, .248 BAA
Second Half: 18 G, 1.40 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, 9.8 K/9, .205 BAA
One of the best relievers in baseball in 2018 and 2019, Lugo posted a 4.23 ERA and 1.33 WHIP in 62 appearances the last two seasons. It was more of the same during the first half this year, but he has returned to his lights-out self since the All-Star break while pitching alongside Adam Ottavino and Edwin Diaz in the late innings.
Philadelphia Phillies: SS Bryson Stott
First Half: 220 PA, .188/.255/.307, 12 XBH, 19.5 K%
Second Half: 155 PA, .306/.355/.458, 14 XBH, 14.8 K%
Stott began the season on the MLB roster but went just 4-for-30 with 10 strikeouts before he was optioned to Triple-A. He returned to the majors in May and continued to struggle at the plate until things finally started to click in August when he hit .287/.337/.426 in 101 plate appearances. The 24-year-old is 8-for-15 with a home run in September.
Washington Nationals: 1B/OF Joey Meneses
Pre-Promotion: 414 PA, .286/.341/.489, 35 XBH (20 HR) in minors
Post-Promotion: 138 PA, .328/.355/.550, 15 XBH (7 HR) in majors
After parts of 10 seasons in the minors, Meneses finally received his first MLB call-up this year as a roster replacement following the Juan Soto/Josh Bell blockbuster. The 30-year-old is a candidate for some regression given his .379 BABIP, but his batted-ball data is solid and it looks like the Nats have uncovered a diamond in the rough.
National League Central
5 of 6
Chicago Cubs: SP Justin Steele
First Half: 17 GS, 4.15 ERA, 1.41 WHIP, 79 K, 82.1 IP
Second Half: 7 GS, 0.98 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, 47 K, 36.2 IP
The emergence of Steele in the starting rotation has given the Cubs a young pitcher to build around for the first time since Kyle Hendricks was first promoted from the minors. The 27-year-old is one of only two pitchers with at least seven games started and an ERA under 1.00 since the All-Star break, joining D-backs ace Zac Gallen.
Cincinnati Reds: SP Nick Lodolo
First Half: 6 GS, 5.81 ERA, 1.79 WHIP, 26.1 IP
Second Half: 8 GS, 2.89 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, 46.2 IP
Tip of the cap to outfielders Jake Fraley and TJ Friedl for stellar second-half production, but Lodolo is the pick here as he settles in as the future ace of the staff. The 6'6" southpaw missed nearly two months with a back injury during the first half, but now he finally seems to be hitting his stride with three quality starts in his last four outings.
Milwaukee Brewers: OF Hunter Renfroe
First Half: 238 PA, .243/.294/.477, 13 HR, 29 RBI, 6.7 BB%
Second Half: 190 PA, .272/.349/.533, 12 HR, 33 RBI, 8.9 BB%
At 30 years old and with five full MLB seasons under his belt, it seemed Renfroe had established who he was as a player—a 30-homer threat with limited on-base ability and a solid glove. That scouting report held true during the first half, but he's been a different player since the All-Star break, showing a more well-rounded offensive game.
Pittsburgh Pirates: RP Manny Bañuelos
First Half: 9 G, 1 HLD, 4.97 ERA, 1.42 WHIP, 12.2 IP
Second Half: 17 G, 3 HLD, 2.41 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, 18.2
Bañuelos was once a top-tier prospect in the Yankees system, but he failed to develop as hoped and his only MLB action prior to this year was brief stints with the Braves (2014) and White Sox (2019). The Pirates acquired him on July 3 for cash considerations, and he has pitched his way into a setup role.
St. Louis Cardinals: DH Albert Pujols
First Half: 173 PA, .215/.301/.376, 6 HR, 20 RBI
Second Half: 104 PA, .333/.394/.710, 10 HR, 23 RBI
It seems silly to have a future Hall of Famer on a list alongside so many career journeymen and under-the-radar players, but Pujols' offensive resurgence has been arguably the biggest surprise of the second half. The 42-year-old now has a legitimate shot at reaching 700 home runs before the season is over, sitting at 695 with 24 games to go.
National League West
6 of 6
Arizona Diamondbacks: 1B Christian Walker
First Half: 370 PA, .205/.319/.460, 22 HR, .188 BABIP
Second Half: 184 PA, .299/.359/.531, 10 HR, .310 BABIP
There are multiple options for the D-backs, including pitchers Zac Gallen and Merrill Kelly, who are rolling right now, and outfielder Jake McCarthy, who has an .852 OPS in 159 second-half plate appearances, but we're going with Walker. The slugger hit just .205 during the first half due in part to some bad batted-ball luck, but that has changed in a major way.
Colorado Rockies: 3B Elehuris Montero
First Half: 35 PA, .177/.200/.235, 2 XBH, 42.9 K%
Second Half: 98 PA, .277/.306/.543, 15 XBH, 31.6 K%
Montero hit .310/.392/.541 with 15 home runs and 54 RBI in 65 games at Triple-A this season, but he looked overmatched at the MLB level during the first half. Acquired as part of the Nolan Arenado trade with the Cardinals, he has seven extra-base hits in his last 12 games and is starting to look the part of a future impact player.
Los Angeles Dodgers: OF Trayce Thompson
First Half: 75 PA, .221/.293/.368, 6 XBH (2 HR)
Second Half: 112 PA, .295/.402/.600, 16 XBH (6 HR)
The Dodgers acquired Thompson from the Tigers on June 20 for cash considerations in an attempt to add some outfield depth after Mookie Betts landed on the injured list with a fractured rib. The 31-year-old has made a significant impact as an oft-used fourth outfielder, and he should have a role on the postseason roster.
San Diego Padres: RP Tim Hill
First Half: 30 G, 4.15 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, 4.2 K/9, .294 BAA
Second Half: 17 G, 0.00 ERA, 0.98 WHIP, 7.0 K/9, .192 BAA
A quality lefty bullpen arm throughout his career in Kansas City and San Diego, Hill has gone from useful middle reliever to untouchable setup option since the All-Star break. The 32-year-old has allowed just 10 hits in 15.1 scoreless innings during the second half, and on the year he has limited lefties to a .213 average and a .536 OPS.
San Francisco Giants: C Joey Bart
First Half: 140 PA, .185/.307/.361, 43.6 K%
Second Half: 94 PA, .278/.309/.433, 28.7 K%
A top prospect during his time in the San Francisco farm system, Bart had 61 strikeouts in 140 plate appearances during the first half of the season while also dealing with some injury issues. The 25-year-old is starting to live up to the expectations that came with being the No. 2 overall pick in the 2018 draft.
All stats courtesy of Baseball Reference and accurate through Thursday's games.
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