10 MLB comeback candidates to watch in 2018
Washington Nationals. Adam Eaton. 9. player. 90. . OF
The Washington Nationals gave up a significant package of prospects to acquire outfielder Adam Eaton from the Chicago White Sox last winter. The 29-year-old made it through a grand total of 23 games for the Nats before tearing his ACL. At the time of his injury, Eaton was hitting .297/.393/.462 and driving one of the best lineups in baseball.
Eaton is prepared to return by Opening Day, and will once again help propel one of the deepest lineups in the league. Paired up with Trea Turner at the top of the order, the Nationals have a combination of speed and power that few MLB teams can match. Eaton is good for 15-20 home runs and 15-20 stolen bases and will keep plenty of traffic on the bases in front of Bryce Harper, Daniel Murphy, Ryan Zimmerman and Anthony Rendon.
Over the past four years, Eaton has hit .290/.363/.424 with an average of 32 doubles, 11 triples, 12 home runs and 18 steals per 162 games. It would come as no surprise to see him top all of those marks given a full season of health in 2018. Eaton has never played a full season in a lineup as deep as Washington’s.
The Nationals definitely overpaid to acquire Eaton — a well-rounded player but not a true star — but they could afford to do so thanks to their great minor-league depth. After waiting a year to unleash the sparkplug outfielder on the National League, the Nationals will start enjoying their rewards this year.