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 26, 2015; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Mariners right fielder Nelson Cruz (23) celebrates after hitting a solo-home run against the Oakland Athletics during the eighth inning at Safeco Field. Seattle defeated Oakland, 8-2. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 26, 2015; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Mariners right fielder Nelson Cruz (23) celebrates after hitting a solo-home run against the Oakland Athletics during the eighth inning at Safeco Field. Seattle defeated Oakland, 8-2. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports /

player. 62. . OF/DH. Seattle Mariners. Nelson Cruz. 4

Two years ago, no one would have touched Nelson Cruz with a 10-foot pole. The Texas Rangers‘ slugger was coming off a season-ending suspension for violating the league’s performance enhancing drug policy and teams were scared away by the possibility of him being tainted as a player.

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    • Well, the Baltimore Orioles picked him up in 2014 and he exceeded expectations. However, many believed that it was just a fluke because he was getting up there in age and he was just caught cheating.

    The big 2014 season happened on a one-year deal with the Orioles and it was unclear which team would pay the 35-year-old the kind of money he wanted after having a career-season.

    The Seattle Mariners took a chance and offered him a contract that he couldn’t refuse. No one, and I really mean no one, thought he would repeat his 2014 numbers in 2015, but that’s exactly what he’s been doing — and then some.

    Before 2014, Cruz had hit more than 30 home runs in a season just one time. Since coming back from his suspension at the end of the 2013 season, Cruz has hit over 30 in two straight years and he’s one dinger shy of hitting his 40th for the second consecutive campaign.

    I don’t know what it’s going to take for us to stop being shocked about his success as Cruz just seems to be rubbing it in the doubters’ faces at this point with his .310 average, 42 homers and 88 RBI in 2015.

    Next: 3. Prince Fielder

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