10 MLB comeback candidates to watch in 2018
. SP. New York Mets. Noah Syndergaard. 1. player. 3
There are few pitchers in MLB history with the total package Noah Syndergaard possesses. He has the best fastball in the league, but without the control problems of Nolan Ryan, and a powerful breaking ball and changeup that barely dip below 90 mph. The 25-year-old right-hander looked prepared to take things up a notch last year before a torn lat effectively ended his season save for a few appearances in September.
Through his first four starts last year, Syndergaard had struck out 30 men without a single walk in 26 innings. He had not allowed a home run and was holding opponents to a .230/.235/.300 line. Syndergaard was unhittable, plain and simple.
The New York Mets face an uphill battle back to the playoffs, but they can get there if Syndergaard is at his best and gives them a 200-inning season for the first time. His issues last year stemmed from adding too much muscle, too quickly. Thor is a workout freak, but he got carried away. The 25-year-old has dialed things back and been more conservative with his muscle building this winter.
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Given a full year, it would not come as a shock if Syndergaard seriously contends for the Cy Young and stakes his claim as one of the best pitchers in the league, right up there with Clayton Kershaw and Max Scherzer.