MLBs top 10 comeback candidates of 2016

As a new season begins, these 10 players will look to follow up the

likes of Alex Rodriguez, Matt Harvey and Mark Teixeira with big
comebacks in 2016
1. Yu Darvish, SP, Texas Rangers:
The Rangers believe Darvish can pull off an expedited recovery much
like Matt Harvey and Jose Fernandez. Darvish didnt start his throwing
program after Tommy John surgery until August, and is on track for a
mid-May return, which, coupled with a return to health from Derek
Holland, could leave the Rangers nicely positioned in the American
League West. Its a little much, however, to expect the usual Darvish
out of the gate a little ambitious to expect a strikeout rate of more
than 30 per-cent.
2. Jose Fernandez, SP, Miami Marlins:
It will be two years in May that Fernandez underwent Tommy John
surgery, and the Marlins have placed a 180-inning limit on him this
season, which is why Fernandez is focusing on hitting his spots and ball
movement in spring training. Fernandez looked dominant in his lateseason return, with 79 strikeouts against 14 walks and 61 hits in 64 2/3
innings spread over 11 starts. The Marlins would love to be in the same
position the New York Mets found themselves in in 2015, when a postseason appearance had them sweating out an innings limit with Matt
Harvey.
3. Jonathan Lucroy, C, Milwaukee Brewers:
OK, so he did manage to play in 103 games last season despite a toe
injury and concussion, but given how some players have failed to
recover from the latter, it seems safe to list Lucroy as a comeback
candidate. Indeed, the question isnt when or if as much as it might
be where, since the Brewers have placed Lucroy on the trade block.
Lucroy worked hard to improve steadily over three years as an
offensive performer and should be ready to return to his place as one
of the game's top offensive catchers although a position switch is not
out of the question should he be moved.
4. Wil Myers, 1B, San Diego Padres:
Hampered by wrist issues throughout his still-nascent career most
recently undergoing surgery to remove bone spurs from his left wrist
Myers has shifted to first base full-time after a 2015 season in which he
played just 60 games, the second season in which wrist woes limited
the 2013 American League rookie of the year. Myers was utilized as a
lead-off hitter by the Padres although his peripherals suggest its the
last spot he should be, and is expected to be moved out of the
position.
5. Yasiel Puig, OF, Los Angeles Dodgers:

Puig had 111 weighted runs created-plus in just 79 games. That's an

above-average measure, but an increased strikeout rate and decreased
walk rate made him much easier to pitch to even before hamstring
injuries and attitude questions ruined his season. Puig is a mercurial
talent, and harnessing him will be one of the major challenges faced by
new manager Dave Roberts, but the fact he showed up for spring
training 15 pounds lighter and with seven per cent body fat and
received kudos early in spring training from teammates such as
Clayton Kershaw is a start.
6. Hanley Ramirez, 1B, Boston Red Sox:
Ramirez trotted out a more compact swing in spring training, but its
going to be health that tells the tale as he auditions for a second
different position in as many springs. Ramirez had a powerful start to
his Red Sox career as an outfielder with 10 home runs in his first 21
games before straining his left shoulder crashing into a wall in early
May. His season was over on Aug. 26 after he threw out his right
shoulder on a throw from the outfield. The Red Sox believe he can
master the footwork at first because he broke in as a shortstop.
7. Anthony Rendon, 3B, Washington Nationals:
When Nationals broadcaster F.P. Santangelo was asked last season why
the team spiralled out of contention, the absence of Rendon was
mentioned as often as the myriad of other issues around the club. After
finishing fifth in National League MVP voting in 2014, Rendon suffered
knee and quadriceps injuries toss in an oblique strain for good
measure, too and was limited to 80 games. It was the fifth season out
of seven in which Rendon suffered some type of serious injury, going
back to his college days. Hes an impact right-handed bat who will be
counted on to provide protection for Bryce Harper.
8. Marcus Stroman, SP, Toronto Blue Jays:
Stroman is well-positioned to build on an electric, late-season return
from knee surgery that limited him to just seven starts, three of them
in the post-season. The fact that he spent the early portion of spring
training trying to incorporate a "quick pitch" into his repertoire shows
how comfortable and confident Stroman is and we can now think back
to how advanced he was coming out of Duke. But as is the case with
any young pitcher, there will still a leap-of-faith element to his story.
Catch Marcus Stroman: The #STROSHOW, a special Rogers Sportsnet
documentary debuting this Saturday, April 9, following the Red SoxBlue Jays game.
9. Adam Wainwright, SP, St. Louis Cardinals:
Five starts into the 2015 season, Wainwright blew out his Achilles
running out of the batter's box and didnt resurface until the end of the
regular season and playoffs, when he came out of the bullpen for a
team whose post-season aspirations died at least a round early at the

hands of the Chicago Cubs. An optimist would suggest that after 519
2/3 innings over the previous two seasons, the unscheduled rest
means Wainwrights refreshed arm could be even more dominant in
2016. He sat in the 95 mph range as a reliever but will likely sit closer
to 92 as a starter, and still has the repertoire to dominate.10. Matt
Wieters, C, Baltimore Orioles:
The game's next dominant offensive catcher, Wieters once had teams
salivating about the prospect of him hitting free agency after the 2015
season. But Tommy John surgery in 2014 has left him needing to
rebuild his value, so Wieters became only the second player in history
to accept a qualifying offer this winter, agreeing to the $15.8 million
offered by the Orioles and delaying free agency by a year. There may
be no more motivated player in baseball: Wieters made just 55 starts
at catcher last season and caught on back-to-back days just five times, hitting eight home
runs in 282 plate appearances.