Fansided

10 biggest MLB surprises in 2015: Hitters

By Connor Muldowney

Aug 26, 2015; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Tigers right fielder J.D. Martinez (28) celebrates his two run home run in the fifth inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 26, 2015; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Tigers right fielder J.D. Martinez (28) celebrates his two run home run in the fifth inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 2, 2015; New York City, NY, USA; New York Mets center fielder Yoenis Cespedes (52) is congratulated in the dugout after hitting a solo home run against the Philadelphia Phillies during the eighth inning at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 2, 2015; New York City, NY, USA; New York Mets center fielder Yoenis Cespedes (52) is congratulated in the dugout after hitting a solo home run against the Philadelphia Phillies during the eighth inning at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /

3. . OF. New York Mets. Yoenis Cespedes. 2. player

Yet another player who the Tigers dealt happens to be high on this list as outfielder Yoenis Cespedes is having the season of his life.

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    • The 29-year-old Cuban-born star came to the big leagues with the hopes of becoming a household name. Besides winning two consecutive Home Run Derbys during All-Star weekend in 2013 and 2014, Cespedes had been a bit disappointing as an overall player for the Athletics and Red Sox.

    It’s tough to call a player a disappointment when he’s coming off a year in which he hit .260 with 22 homers and 100 RBI between two teams, but that was, by far, his best season in the big leagues for a player with so much hype surrounding him.

    Could he break out in 2015 with the Tigers? Through the first four months of the year, he broke out, hitting .293 with 18 home runs and 61 RBI, but the Tigers struggled to maintain any win streak to gain ground in the Central Division.

    Cespedes was then dealt to the New York Mets at the trade deadline and that had all the makings of a derailment of his season. It’s hard to adjust to a new squad in the middle of the season, but Cespedes has responded big-time.

    The budding star has silenced all of his critics, hitting .295 with 17 homers and 42 RBI in just 43 games with the Mets. Combined for the 2015 season, he’s batting .294 with 35 homers and 103 RBI — on pace to break all career-highs.

    Next: 1. Alex Rodriguez

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