Fansided

10 MLB comeback candidates to watch in 2018

By Joshua Sadlock

NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 18: Noah Syndergaard
NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 18: Noah Syndergaard /
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LAKE BUENA VISTA, FL – MARCH 13: Aaron Sanchez #41 of the Toronto Blue Jays pitches in the first inning during the spring training game between the Atlanta Braves and the Toronto Blue Jays at Champion Stadium on March 13, 2018 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. (Photo by B51/Mark Brown/Getty Images)
LAKE BUENA VISTA, FL – MARCH 13: Aaron Sanchez #41 of the Toronto Blue Jays pitches in the first inning during the spring training game between the Atlanta Braves and the Toronto Blue Jays at Champion Stadium on March 13, 2018 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. (Photo by B51/Mark Brown/Getty Images) /

Blue Jays right-hander Aaron Sanchez suffered through one of the strangest injury-plagued seasons in recent MLB history in 2017. The 25-year-old made only eight starts on the year due to recurring blisters on this throwing hand.

"“The frustrating part for me was it being so little, being so tiny,” he said. “It could be worse. It could be other body parts on me that affect my career. “I’m pretty confident that my finger, the way it is, will be fine this year. I’ll have to maintain it like I have in years past, but no more of the disaster that it had last year.”"

Pitchers do battle blisters from time to time, but the league seemed to be dealing with an epidemic last season. Sanchez was not the only pitcher dealing with blisters for an extended period of time, and more than one pitcher openly questioned whether or not “juiced” baseballs were to blame.

A battle with blisters aside, there is no reason to think Sanchez won’t pick up where he left off in 2016. He went 15-2 with a 3.00 ERA in his age-23 season and led the American League by allowing only 0.7 home runs per nine. The Jays have managed Sanchez’s innings and workload well so far, and he is poised for big things this year.

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