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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Aug 7, 2015; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Tigers right fielder J.D. Martinez (28) hits a double in the sixth inning against the Boston Red Sox at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 7, 2015; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Tigers right fielder J.D. Martinez (28) hits a double in the sixth inning against the Boston Red Sox at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports /

OF. Detroit Tigers. J.D. Martinez. 5. player. 63.

Three years ago, J.D. Martinez was let go by the Houston Astros and it seemed like all hope would be lost for the young ball player.

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    • The then-26-year-old native of Miami, Florida, was looking for work and for a team to give him a shot to prove his worth. The Detroit Tigers were the next squad to pick him up and Martinez has yet to disappoint.

    Although J.D. would have been much better suited on this kind of list a season ago as he hit .315 with 23 homers and 76 RBI in 123 games during the 2014 season, he has upped those numbers even more in his first full season with the Tigers.

    In just 19 more games this season, thus far, Martinez has hit 14 more home runs and driven in 20 more RBI, but his average has taken a bit of a step back to .288 on the 2015 season.

    Looking for a feel-good story in Major League Baseball? Well, this is it. Going from unwanted to coveted by probably every team in the league right now, J.D. is set to get a huge pay raise this offseason from the Tigers who have made it known they plan on paying him basically whatever he wants to stay in Detroit.

    Since the Astros cut him free, Martinez has hit 60 home runs and 172 RBI in just 265 games.

    Next: 4. Nelson Cruz

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