10 Surprising Early Performances
Every year there are players who come from seemingly out of nowhere to explode right out of the gate and 2014 is no different. The following slideshow highlights 10 of those guys from the first two weeks of this season. Some of these guys may very well be on their way to career best years -- that remains to be seen. One thing is for certain though, all of them are due for a bit of regression.
10. Mark Reynolds
10. Mark Reynolds
Reynolds has only played in half of the Brewers' games this season, but he's made the most of his opportunities. In five games, Reynolds is hitting .286 to go with three runs, two home runs, five RBI and two steals. Reynolds is 54th overall on ESPN's player rater.
9. Aaron Harang
9. Aaron Harang
Harang may not even have a job a month from now, but he's certainly done everything he can through two starts to prove he belongs in the Braves rotation. Through two starts, Harang has 12 strikeouts in 12.2 innings to go with a 0.71 ERA and a 0.71 WHIP.
8. Chris Colabello
8. Chris Colabello
Colabello has cooled off, going 0/8 in his last two games. He's still ranked 50th overall on ESPN's player rater (and seventh among first baseman) with a .313 average to go along with five runs, one home run and 11 RBI.
7. Scott Feldman
7. Scott Feldman
In 923 career innings, Scott Feldman has a 4.56 ERA and a 1.36 WHIP. Through two starts in 2014, he boasts a microscopic 0.66 ERA to go along with an equally impressive 0.66 WHIP. This is just a mirage, Feldman is bound to regress back to his career averages very soon, but he's had a fun April so far.
6. Anthony Rendon
6. Anthony Rendon
Rendon has recorded a hit in every game this season. Five of his games this year have been multi-hit ones and he's ranked 34th overall on ESPN's player rater thanks to a .419 average, six runs, one home run and eight RBI.
5. Alexei Ramirez
5. Alexei Ramirez
Ramirez, like Anthony Rendon, has a hit in every single game this season and is ranked 15th overall on ESPN's player rater (second among shortstops, behind Dee Gordon) with a .412 average, seven runs, one home run, six RBI and two steals.
4. Melky Cabrera
4. Melky Cabrera
Cabrera passed his 2013 home run total when he launched his fourth of the season on April 8. Melky is currently 12th on ESPN's player rater with a season line so far consisting of a .325 average, six runs, four home runs, five RBI and a steal.
3. Dee Gordon
3. Dee Gordon
His four stolen bases come as no surprise. The .394 average he currently has certainly does, though.
2. Charlie Blackmon
2. Charlie Blackmon
Blackmon already has four multi-hit games this season (including a 6/6 game last Friday) and has an average of .471 to go with seven runs, a home run, eight RBI and two steals.
1. Emilio Bonifacio
1. Emilio Bonifacio
Bonifacio is currently ranked third overall on ESPN's player rater. He leads all of baseball with seven stolen bases and he's hitting a staggering .452.