Fansided

10 struggling MLB stars poised for a second half breakout

By Connor Muldowney

Jul 5, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Seattle Mariners infielder Robinson Cano (22) reacts after flying out to deep right field against the Oakland Athletics in the first inning at O.co Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 5, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Seattle Mariners infielder Robinson Cano (22) reacts after flying out to deep right field against the Oakland Athletics in the first inning at O.co Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jul 4, 2015; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Tigers second baseman Ian Kinsler (3) claps as he stands on third base in the first inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 4, 2015; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Tigers second baseman Ian Kinsler (3) claps as he stands on third base in the first inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports /

63. . 2B. Detroit Tigers. Ian Kinsler. 5. player

It’s been a long first half of the year for second baseman Ian Kinsler who is usually one of the hottest hitting players at his position in the league. The Tigers were hoping he’d step his game up and become the catalyst of one of the most dangerous lineups in baseball, but he has stumbled out of the gates.

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    • Kinsler hasn’t been completely awful in the first half of the season, however, as he held a .318 average as recent as May 18, but that seems like centuries ago at this point.

    The former All-Star infielder has struggled at the plate recently, hitting .262 in the month of May and just .242 in June. It’s taken him a long time to watch his average dip, but it has done just that, dropping below .270 and staying there since June 20.

    Tough to see such a great player struggle, but the 33-year-old second baseman will surely turn it around in his second season with Detroit. Although he has posted an average of over .300 for an entire season just once in his career, the way 2015 began made it look like he could do it again, but the past two months have killed that hope.

    Kinsler still has time to get his average back up and prove the doubters wrong, and I believe he will do that. Someone has to make up for the absence of Miguel Cabrera for the next six weeks.

    Next: 4. David Ortiz, DH, Red Sox

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