Matt Kemp and 10 Great Individual Seasons…That Could Have Been

Any time a new season starts, analysts and fans alike look to speculate on just who might have a breakout season, and just how far they may be able to take it.

In relatively recent years, players like Barry Bonds and Mark McGwire have etched their names in the record books, while others haven't been so lucky.

Here are some spectacular seasons that were cut short, leaving us to forever wonder what could have been.

Matt Williams

Matt Williams' best shot at greatness could very well have been the 1994 season when he posted his most prolific offensive numbers.

Williams led the league with an impressive 43 home runs, and was on pace for what could have been enough to overtake Roger Maris' single season mark.

Unfortunately, the MLB season was ultimately cut short due to a players' strike and Williams would miss out on 50 games worth of at-bats.

Dickie Thon

Houston Astros shortstop Dickie Thon was a highly-touted prospect when he signed out of high school with the California Angels.

He posted great numbers in 1983 and was primed for success in 1984 when his career would come to a temporary halt thanks to a Mike Torrez fastball.

The pitch shattered his orbital bone and damaged his eye socket. He was out for the remainder of the year, but did make a return in 1985 only to find that the beaning had permanently altered his depth perception.

Stephen Strasburg

As one of baseball's most highly-touted prospects in quite some time, Stephen Strasburg entered the league with much fanfare in the summer of 2010.

He won five of his 12 starts with the Nationals that year and with a 2.91 ERA and more than 12 strikeouts per nine innings could very well have walked away with the NL Rookie of the Year trophy.

Unfortunately for Strasburg, Tommy John surgery would get in the way, and he would miss out on the final part of the season and much of 2011 before returning to the rotation.

Tony Gwynn

Another casualty of the 1994 MLB strike, Tony Gwynn was off to a historic start to the season before abruptly finding an end.

Through 110 games, Gwynn was leading the league with 165 hits and better than a .450 on-base percentage.

The biggest miss for Gwynn, however, was his opportunity to chase the .400 mark, as he would end the season batting .394.

Ken Griffey Jr.

Much like Matt Williams, Ken Griffey Jr. had his season cut off in 1994 thanks to the work stoppage, missing out on his chance at breaking Maris' record.

Griffey Jr. was coming off a 45 home run campaign in 1993 and through 111 games had gone deep 40 times for the Mariners in 1994.

Tony Conigliaro

In August of 1967, Tony Conigilaro took a pitch from Jack Hamilton to the cheekbone and sustained a fractured cheekbone and dislocated jaw as well as eye damage, abruptly ending his All-Star campaign for the Boston Red Sox.

He was taken off the field on a stretcher and his future was in question, but he would eventually make a strong comeback over a year later when he'd earn comeback player of the year honors.

Justin Morneau

Off to the best start to a season in his career, Justin Morneau may very well have been on his way to another MVP trophy in 2010 when his season was derailed just prior to the All-Star break.

In a collision sliding into second base that at first glance didn't appear to be serious, Morneau sustained a concussion that would cost him the remainder of the season due to lingering symptoms.

His 2011 season was marred with health problems as well and so far in 2012 he appears to be concussion free, but is dealing with a lingering wrist injury and hasn't been able to return to his prior form.

Matt Kemp

Off to a blistering start in 2012, Matt Kemp is currently sitting with a .359 batting average and league leading 1.173 OPS.

There was certainly potential for Kemp to post career highs in a few categories, but with him being sidelined with a hamstring injury for the past few weeks and a rehab assignment awaiting him before he returns, you have to wonder what could have been had he stayed in the lineup.

Jason Kendall

Early in catcher Jason Kendall's long career, he would suffer a gruesome injury that could very well have ended many players' careers.

Running out a bunt in a game against the Milwaukee Brewers on July 4, 1999, Kendall landed awkwardly on first base, dislocating his ankle. With a bone protruding from his body, teammates immediately knew the severity of the injury.

He was batting .332 at the time and had an OPS approaching 1.000, and while his season was ended and the injury proved to be a big setback, he would return with a great 2000 campaign and went on to have a long and productive career.

1994 Montreal Expos

It's hard to think of anyone that lost out more in the 1994 MLB strike than the Montreal Expos.

Led by Moises Alou and Larry Walker, the Expos were 74-40 when the work stoppage would put an end to the team's high potential season.

The Expos would finish in the bottom of the NL East the following season and the franchise hasn't made a postseason appearance since.