Toronto Blue Jays: 5 Biggest Surprises of the 2012 Season so Far

While the Toronto Blue Jays' record of 17-14 may be what most fans expected (and better than what most pundits thought), many of the performances from individual players have been shocking.

Whether it's been a pleasant surprise, or a major letdown, the Jays have had their fair share of unexpected starts to the 2012 season.

Here are the five most surprising debuts to the Blue Jays' 2012 campaign.

5. Brandon Morrow

Chalk one up for the pleasant surprises category.

While everyone knew that Brandon Morrow always had the stuff to be a No. 2 or No. 3 starter for any given team, Morrow has always struggled to live up to his potential.

While his strikeouts per nine innings has always been one of his strong suits, he's also shown command issues by walking batters at a higher rate as well.

This year, however, his walks per nine innings have been kept in check, coming in at just 2.3. And while his strikeouts per nine may be down to 7.4, it still gives him a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 3.25 (which would be the best of his career should he continue that pace).

This has led Morrow to a 4-1 record with a 2.27 ERA and a WHIP of 0.97.

4. The Bullpen

After being tied for last in the major leagues in blown saves a season ago, the Blue Jays were determined to ensure that would not happen again in 2012.

This offseason, Alex Anthopolous went out and dealt for young closer Sergio Santos, and then signed veteran closer Francisco Cordero, who had not put up fewer than 34 saves in a season in any of his previous five seasons.

These moves, along with bringing in lefty specialist Darren Oliver and bringing back Jason Frasor, were supposed to give the Blue Jays one of the more dominant bullpens in all of baseball.

Instead, the Jays' bullpen has combined to blow more saves than it's managed to accumulate.

In fact, Santos only appeared in six games, posting an ERA of 9.00, a WHIP of 2.00 and surrendering 10.8 hits per nine innings, as well as 7.2 walks per nine innings before being sidelined for a few weeks with shoulder inflammation.

Free-agent acquisition Francisco Cordero has been even worse. Through his 12 appearances, Cordero's ERA sits at a dismal 9.53, while his WHIP is sitting at 2.29. And not only is he giving up 15.9 hits per nine innings, he's also coughing up over three home runs per nine innings (which is an incredibly high total).

3. Youngsters Kyle Drabek and Henderson Alvarez

What a story these youngsters have been for the Toronto Blue Jays through the first 31 games.

Though there was little doubt that both of these pitchers would eventually become reliable starting pitchers, no one had expected it to be this soon.

Just a year ago, Henderson Alvarez was considered the Blue Jays' second-best prospect, and he had never played a game in the major leagues. He would eventually be bumped up to the No. 1 prospect slot when the Jays dealt Zach Stewart in a deal that brought Colby Rasmus to Toronto.

Alvarez, however, has barely shown signs of any kind of growing pains.

In his first six starts of 2012, Alvarez has posted an ERA of 2.83. Consider that he'd only ever started 10 games before this season, and that number should blow you away.

His control has also been impeccable, as he's allowed more than two walks in only one of his 16 career starts. This season, his walks per nine innings come in at an incredible 2.2, which has helped him keep his WHIP down to a respectable 1.04.

Kyle Drabek was acquired as one of the pieces in the trade that sent Roy Halladay to Philadelphia. While he struggled early on in Toronto, having major control issues, he's finally looking like the blue-chip prospect the Blue Jays dealt Halladay for.

After making some offseason changes to his delivery, Drabek has looked much more impressive in 2012.

Although he had a rough outing in Anaheim his last time out, he's still managed to post a 3.34 ERA (something any team would love from their fourth starter) and over seven strikeouts per nine innings. While his walk rate is still a little higher than the Jays had hoped for, Drabek looks to be back on track and ready to contribute.

2. Edwin Encarnacion

While some may say Encarnacion has been the biggest surprise of the 2012 season thus far for the Blue Jays, I believe he is the second (though he's the biggest pleasant surprise for sure).

Despite the current road trip where Encarnacion only managed one hit (a home run yesterday in Oakland), he still boasts a line of .269/.323/.588 (good for an OPS of .911) with 10 home runs and 26 RBI.

With the Jays having one of the worst team averages in baseball, Encarnacion's production at the plate has undoubtedly made him the Jays' MVP of the first 31 games.

1. Jose Bautista and Adam Lind

The No. 1 story of the Blue Jays' season thus far is that of Jose Bautista.

His .182 batting average isn't just the biggest story in Toronto today, but it may be one of the more surprising stories around all of baseball.

While Bautista still has managed to crank out five home runs and drive in 15 runs, his stat line of .182/.316/.345 (good for an OPS of just .661) just isn't acceptable for the reigning two-time home run champion.

As for Adam Lind, Blue Jays fans have been starting to grow restless with the struggling slugger.

Before picking up a pair of hits yesterday in the No. 8 hole in the lineup, including his third home run of the season, Adam Lind was having a tough time in the cleanup slot.

After yesterday's performance, Lind still only has a stat line of .198/.283/.347 (making his OPS .630) to go with his three home runs and 10 RBI.

Anytime one of your best hitters has an on-base percentage of under .300 and an average under .200, he must be considered your most disappointing player to date.

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