Top 10 MLB bounceback candidates for 2017

Oct 13, 2016; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Nationals right fielder Bryce Harper (34) hits a sacrifice fly during the third inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers during game five of the 2016 NLDS playoff baseball game at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports /

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Sep 9, 2016; Detroit, MI, USA; Baltimore Orioles first baseman Chris Davis (19) reacts as he walks back to the dugout after striking out in the fourth inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports /

7. Chris Davis

The last five seasons in Baltimore have been a veritable roller coaster ride for Chris Davis and the Orioles. The big first baseman hit 53 homers and drove in 138 in 2013. In 2014, he was lost at the plate, and batted below .200 with only 26 home runs and 173 strikeouts in 127 games. Davis was also popped with a suspension for illegal use of Adderall that year. Entering his walk year, the slugger rebounded to lead the league with 47 home runs, which prompted the Orioles to ink him to the largest contract in franchise history — seven years, $161 million.

In the first year of his big deal, Davis got off to a decent start. He was batting .237/.348/.497 with 22 home runs. Davis would see his second half completely derailed by a hand injury. Though he battled through the pain, and never missed time, the Orioles saw their cleanup hitter slump to a .200/.313/.412 line in the second half with only 16 home runs and 26 RBIs. Davis wound up leading the league in strikeouts for the second year in a row with 219. That’s a lot of free air conditioning.

There are a few easily-attacked holes in Davis’s big, uppercut swing. He will always strike out a ton, and the back end of his long-term deal might not be pretty. That being said, he will be much better in 2017 with the hand injury healed. Davis has always been the type of player who appears to struggle with the mental side of the game. You can almost see him second guessing himself in the middle of an at-bat before striking out looking on a fastball right down the middle. With less pressure to live up to the contract and a healthy body, Davis will be ready for a good year.

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