MLB Predictions: 8 Studs That Will Emerge in Season's Second Half

This slideshow will look at eight Major League Baseball players who have broken out in the first half of 2012. Entering the season’s second half, the natural question surrounding these players becomes: Is this player’s 2012 first-half performance a fluke, or is this the start of something bigger?

The players discussed here have exceeded preseason expectations. None of these players were household names in 2012, but if they can build on their first-half performances with solid second halves, then a lot more people will be talking about them in 2013, maybe even as elite players at their respective positions.

Let's take a look at these eight players. As always, feel free to add anyone you think I have missed in the comments section below.

*All statistics are updated through July 14, 2012.

Edwin Encarnacion

Thanks to Edwin Encarnacion, Jose Bautista is not the only truly elite offensive force on the Toronto Blue Jays in 2012.

Encarnacion has hit 25 home runs with 61 RBI in 2012. Encarnacion’s career highs in those categories are 26 and 76, respectively. His slash line of .295/.384/.578 in 2012 is much better than his career slash of .264/.341/.466.

Encarnacion’s performance could not have come at a better time for Toronto, whose starting pitching has really taken a hit with injuries. Despite being in last place in the AL East, the Blue Jays have maintained a .500 record.

With seven seasons of at least 13 home runs and three seasons of at least 21 home runs (including 2012), is it fair to say Encarnacion has broken out in 2012 and warranted stud status for 2013? My opinion is yes. In all honesty, I never heard of Encarnacion until this season, even though Encarnacion made his major league debut in 2005.

I play fantasy baseball on Yahoo!, and Encarnacion is only owned in 94 percent of Yahoo! leagues through July 14. People who belong to a league without Encarnacion on any roster really need to wise up and get him.

Jason Kipnis

Cleveland Indians second baseman Jason Kipnis has become one of baseball’s best second basemen after just 121 major league games.

Kipnis was a second-round pick of the Indians in the 2009 MLB Amateur Draft. Just over two years later, Kipnis made his major league debut.

In his first full major league season, Kipnis has 11 home runs, 49 RBI, 20 stolen bases and a .275/.347/.415 slash line. Kipnis’ all-around offensive numbers in 2012 are better than virtually all MLB second basemen except Robinson Cano.

Thanks to Kipnis and his teammates, Cleveland’s 45-42 record is good enough for second place in the AL Central.

With a strong second half, Kipnis can headline the next generation of MLB second basemen in 2013.

Josh Reddick

Oakland Athletics outfielder Josh Reddick has shined since being traded from the Boston Red Sox on Dec. 28, 2011. Now that Reddick has established himself as an everyday player, look for the former 17^th round selection in the 2006 MLB Amateur Draft to continue his success in the second half.

Reddick played 87 games for the Red Sox in 2011. In those 87 games, Reddick had seven home runs. Reddick has played 85 games for the Athletics through July 14, 2012. In those 85 games, Reddick had 20 home runs. Reddick’s OPS+ also jumped from 108 in 2011 to 137 in 2012.

With guys like Carl Crawford and Jacoby Ellsbury in the Red Sox outfield in 2011, Reddick’s time was limited. In 2012, though, Reddick is the biggest contributor offensively for Oakland.

If Reddick builds on his 2012 first half in the second half and in 2013, the Athletics general manager Billy Beane better hope he can afford to keep Reddick once arbitration rolls around in 2014.

Alejandro De Aza

Chicago White Sox outfielder Alejandro De Aza has finally become an everyday player since debuting in the major leagues in 2007. This season, De Aza has shown why the White Sox have put him in their starting outfield.

De Aza’s 2012 averages are, well, average for his standards, but his increase in playing time will easily allow De Aza to reach career highs across the board. In fact, De Aza has established single season highs in virtually every offensive category.

De Aza actually had a better season in 2011, but he played only 54 games. Through July 14, De Aza has played 85 games for the White Sox.

White Sox manager Robin Ventura says De Aza is “the perfect guy” to fill the lead-off spot in their lineup.

With even more playing time coming in the second half, De Aza could become one of baseball’s top leadoff hitters in 2013.

De Aza is making $495,000 in 2012, and becomes arbitration eligible in 2013. Now an everyday outfielder, De Aza should be getting a nice raise next season.

Jose Altuve

Along with Jason Kipnis of the Cleveland Indians, Jose Altuve could lead the next generation of MLB second basemen. At just 22 years old, Altuve already has an All-Star appearance under his belt. Altuve got the All-Star nod over usually solid NL second basemen such as Brandon Phillips and Rickie Weeks.

Sure, Altuve plays for the Houston Astros, and every team needs at least one player in the All-Star game, but Altuve was a worthy candidate to represent the NL in Kansas City.

Some people believe Phillips was an All-Star snub, but I think Altuve got in ahead of Phillips because he plays for the Astros. Houston has the worst record in baseball, while Phillips’ team, the Cincinnati Reds, leads the NL Central along with the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Altuve leads the Astros in plate appearances, at-bats, runs, hits, doubles, triples and total bases. He also leads Houston’s everyday players in batting average. Not bad for a 22-year-old second baseman, right?

In addition, at 5’5”, Altuve is the shortest MLB player since 1981.

Jim Johnson

Baltimore Orioles closer Jim Johnson has 47 saves in seven major league seasons. Twenty-six of them have come in 2012. Johnson’s 26 saves leads the AL in 2012.

Johnson has a career ERA of 3.07. In 2012, Johnson’s ERA is 1.41. Johnson’s career ERA+? 142. What about in 2012? 296.

Johnson made the 2012 AL All-Star team. In the game, Johnson needed only 11 pitches to punch out the side in the top of the eighth inning.

Baltimore holds the last playoff spot in the AL, thanks to Johnson and his teammates. If the Orioles stay in the playoff hunt throughout the second half, Johnson could have over 50 saves by the end of 2012.

David Selig of baltimoresun.com says Johnson keeps a low profile on the mound. In 2013, though, Johnson will have more eyes on him to see if he saves 50 games again.

Chris Sale

Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Chris Sale has moved flawlessly from the bullpen into the starting rotation.

Though Sale has started 15 of 16 games in 2012, he began his career in the bullpen; Sale finished 25 major league games before starting one. Based on his 2012 performance so far, the White Sox will not move Sale back into the bullpen anytime soon.

Sale is 10-2 with a 2.19 ERA through 102.2 innings pitched in 2012. His ERA+ of 195 and home runs allowed per nine innings of 0.4 lead the AL. Sale made the 2012 AL All-Star team.

With Sale’s assistance, the White Sox lead the AL Central despite having a rookie manager with no previous experience at any level in Robin Ventura.

R.A. Dickey

Robert Allen Dickey has been arguably the top pitching story in MLB this season.

Dickey leads the majors with 12 wins and leads the NL with three complete games and two shutouts. He also threw consecutive one-hitters in June.

Dickey and his 80 mph knuckleball led him to his first career All-Star game in 2012. Considering his 2010 season, one could debate whether Dickey has truly broken out in 2012, but one cannot deny this season has turned the name R.A. Dickey into an often spoken one in MLB circles.

Somebody could write a book on Dickey’s path to the 2012 All-Star Game and to the NL Cy Young Award discussion table. Thankfully, Dickey has already done that; it is called Wherever I Wind Up: My Quest for Truth, Authenticity and the Perfect Knuckleball.

The Amazon.com book description starts like this:

"

“The Glass Castle meets Ball Four as Mets knuckleballer R.A. Dickey weaves searing honesty and baseball insight in his memoir about his unlikely journey to the big leagues.”

"

John Walters of foxsports.com wrote this article on July 14 about Dickey’s obstacle-filled ascent to the level of MLB’s pitching elite in 2012.

Now, seemingly the only challenge in Dickey’s 2012 season is pitching well at Turner Field. Odds are Dickey will overcome that soon enough.