I can’t remember a year in which there were so many potential Comeback Player of the Year candidates, but also so many who are legitimate Cy Young Award or MVP candidates as well, highlighted by former Cy Young winners (Jacob deGrom, Sandy Alcantara) and former MVPs (Mike Trout, Ronald Acuña Jr.). Of course, Chris Sale pulled off that double feat last season, taking home National League comeback player honors as well as the Cy Young.
The Comeback Player of the Year Award is given annually to a player in each league “who has re-emerged on the field during the season.” Which players will be recognized in 2025? Here are 10 to watch, all returning from major injuries, and what their front-office executives and managers said about them.
1. Sandy Alcantara, RHP, Marlins
Alcantara won the 2022 NL Cy Young and also finished 10th in the MVP voting, thanks to a 2.28 ERA and 207 strikeouts over 228 2/3 innings, plus a majors-leading 8.0 WAR, according to Baseball Reference. He missed all of last year after undergoing Tommy John surgery but is back on the mound this spring and throwing 99 mph with elite control, which bodes well for his season. Alcantara, 29, gets whiffs with a deceptive wipeout changeup and nasty tilted slider, induces a high groundball rate with his sinker, and even the best hitters can’t get to his four-seamer when it’s at the top of the zone. He’s my favorite to win this award, but he needs to stay healthy and make 25 to 30 starts.
Peter Bendix, Marlins president of baseball operations: “Sandy looks strong and healthy — and he feels great!”
Sandy Alcantara dials it up to 99 MPH for the punchout 😤 #SpringTraining pic.twitter.com/EdNK1AuuLz
— MLB (@MLB) February 23, 2025
2. Shane McClanahan, LHP, Rays
I had a difficult time deciding between Alcantara and McClanahan for the top spot on this list, but I went with Alcantara because of the better consistency he’s shown over a full season. However, McClanahan is just as dominant. The two-time All-Star finished sixth in the American League Cy Young Award voting in 2022, the same year he started the midsummer classic. He was on pace to win the Cy Young that year but slowed down in the second half. In 2023, he logged a 2.56 ERA through his first 18 starts and finished with a 3.29 mark in 21 starts before having Tommy John surgery in August.
Now, he’s healthy and primed for the best year of his career. His 97 mph fastball is back with late life, and his changeup is one of the best in the sport, as we saw in 2022 and 2023 when batters hit just .148 against it. McClanahan, 27, also throws a knee-buckling curveball and his slider is a solid fourth pitch.
Kevin Cash, Rays manager: “The obvious highlight of our camp thus far is that Mac looks like Mac. … (He) worked very hard to have a healthy offseason and is now working on his repertoire.”
Erik Neander, Rays president of baseball operations: “Mac looks great. Physically, mentally, emotionally. Can’t wait for him to take the ball Opening Day, be the ace that he is, and set the tone for our season.”
3. Jacob deGrom, RHP, Rangers
I think deGrom will be a future Hall of Famer if he can just stay healthy over the next few years, which is admittedly a big if. He hasn’t made more than 15 starts in a season since 2019. (He did make 12 starts and led the NL in strikeouts during the shortened 2020 season.) However, when he was healthy from 2017 to 2019, deGrom won two Cy Young awards and finished eighth in the voting in the other year. He made 15 starts in 2021 with a 1.08 ERA, 11 starts in 2022 with a 3.08 ERA, and only six starts in 2023 with a 2.67 ERA before undergoing his second Tommy John surgery. He returned last September and logged a 1.69 ERA over three starts (10 2/3 innings).
So far this spring, he’s healthy and looking like the deGrom of old. Now, can he replicate or at least approach his past form and stay off the injured list? He will turn 37 in June. His fastball sits between 97 and 99 mph at its best, and he throws a wipeout slider and a devastating changeup. However, it’s his elite control, command and late movement that sets him apart.
Chris Young, Rangers president of baseball operations: “He is one of the best pitchers in the world and having him healthy at the top of our rotation sets us up for success.”
4. Spencer Strider, RHP, Braves
Strider finished fourth in the NL Cy Young voting in 2023 and was the heavy favorite in Las Vegas to win the award last year before needing internal-brace elbow surgery in April after making only two starts. Although his rehab has gone well, he won’t be on the Opening Day roster, but could be back in the Braves’ rotation by late April or early May. Strider, 26, has had two major elbow surgeries — he had Tommy John surgery in 2019 at Clemson — so Atlanta will likely hold him back to save innings for late in the season and hopefully the postseason as well.
In 2022, Strider went 11-5 with a 2.67 ERA and 202 strikeouts over 20 starts and 11 relief appearances. He became a full-time starter in 2023 and led the league with 20 wins, 281 strikeouts and a 2.85 FIP. When Strider is right, his fastball is 97 to 98 mph, with a wipeout slider and changeup to form an arsenal that’s as dominant as any in the game.
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5. Ronald Acuña Jr., RF, Braves
Every season-ending injury is brutal, but Acuña’s ACL tear last May was particularly so coming off a scintillating 2023 in which he became the first MLB player in history to enter the 40-70 Club (home runs, stolen bases). He unanimously won the NL MVP Award, leading the league in on-base percentage, OPS, hits, runs, stolen bases and total bases. However, last year he played only 49 games before blowing out his left knee, three seasons after tearing the ACL in his right knee in 2021.
The Braves are being very careful with his return, and like Strider, he’s expected to start the season on the injured list. Braves president of baseball operations Alex Anthopoulos would like Acuña to be as close to 100 percent as possible before reinstating him, to give him the best chance to stay on the field and play to his accustomed levels. I can’t wait to see him back in action.
Anthopoulos: “Both Strider and Acuña have a chance to be the best at their respective positions, so we are anxious to get them back on the field.”
6. Mike Trout, RF, Angels
When Joe Maddon managed the Angels, he tried to get Trout to move to an outfield corner, but Trout refused. When Phil Nevin managed the Angels, he tried as well to no avail, but the third time must have been the charm, as manager Ron Washington has convinced the superstar to play right field full-time. Trout agreed because he realizes he needs to preserve his health after missing so much time due to numerous injuries. He’s played 85 games or more in a season just once in the past four years, including only 29 games last year. I would argue the Angels probably should instead DH him full-time to keep his bat in the lineup as often as possible, but perhaps the move to right field will suffice and improve those chances.
Trout, who will turn 34 in August, led the majors in bWAR from 2012 to 2016. He’s been an All-Star in 11 of the past 13 seasons but didn’t make it last year because of injuries. He’s won three MVP awards, the last one coming in 2019, and nine Silver Slugger awards, the last one in 2022. He’s obsessed with staying healthy and on the field this year, and if he does, there’s no reason to think he can’t again hit .300 with 40 home runs.
Perry Minasian, Angels general manager: “Mike is in the best shape I’ve seen him in over the four years I’ve been here.”
7. Matt McLain, 2B, Reds
McLain had a banner rookie season in 2023, slashing .290/.357/.507 with 23 doubles, 16 home runs, 65 runs scored, 50 RBIs and 14 stolen bases while splitting his time between second base and shortstop. He finished with 3.7 bWAR and was fifth in the NL Rookie of the Year voting. Hall of Famer Barry Larkin told me that he thought McLain had the best fundamentals of all the Reds’ young infielders at the time, with the best techniques, angles and instincts.
The 25-year-old missed all of last season with a shoulder injury, so in effect he’s a huge addition for a Reds team that could be much-improved. In 2023, he ranked in the 94th percentile in sweet-spot percentage, the 90th percentile in sprint speed and the 86th percentile in batting run value, according to Statcast. I especially like that he hit breaking balls well (.273 average) in addition to crushing fastballs (.316 average, .560 slugging percentage); that’s usually a really good sign for a hitter’s future.
Brad Meador, Reds GM: “(Matt’s) obviously a big part of our team. He makes us better in every part of the game: our lineup, on the bases, defense, clubhouse, everywhere. There’s a different energy having him back.”
Nick Krall, Reds president of baseball operations: “He missed all of last year but has a chance to be All-Star caliber.”
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8. Kodai Senga, RHP, Mets
I think Senga is the most important player on the Mets’ roster this year. If he can stay healthy, make 30 starts and pitch like an ace, the Mets have a legitimate shot to win the NL East — and maybe even win it all. He made 29 starts in 2023, going 12-7 with a 2.98 ERA and 3.63 FIP. He struck out 202 and walked only 77 in 166 1/3 innings. He made the All-Star team and finished seventh in the NL Cy Young voting.
Last year, a shoulder capsule strain and triceps tightness limited Senga to one regular-season start (5 1/3 innings). However, when healthy in 2023, his mid-90s fastball and ghost forkball terrified opponents, who hit just .110 against the forkball. The 32-year-old mixes in a slider, cutter and sweeper as well. The Mets have already suffered injuries in the rotation; Senga staying healthy is key for their season.
David Stearns, Mets president of baseball operations: “He’s got a smile on his face, which is great to see. He feels good and is confident.”
Carlos Mendoza, Mets manager: “He is looking good so far, going through his normal workouts and everything, so all positive there.”
9. Félix Bautista, RHP, Orioles
In 2023, Bautista was arguably the best closer in the American League, posting 33 saves, a 1.48 ERA and 110 strikeouts in 61 innings. He finished 11th in the AL Cy Young voting and won the Mariano Rivera Award. He did it with a 99 mph sinker that batters hit .149 against and a split-finger they hit .120 against. However, he underwent Tommy John surgery after that season and missed all of 2024. Bautista, 29, is potentially a game-changer for the Orioles late in games if he can regain his top form.
Mike Elias, Orioles GM: “Felix was a dominant force, and we missed him greatly last season. It’s exciting for everyone to see him throwing bullpens and looking great in camp. When he gets back on the mound in front of our fans, it’s going to be a special moment. We can’t wait to have him back at the end of the pen this year.”
10. Christian Yelich, OF/DH, Brewers
Yelich put together an impressive season last year, slashing .315/.406/.504 with 12 doubles, 11 home runs, 42 RBIs, and 21 stolen bases in 22 attempts through 73 games. He made his first All-Star team since 2019. But it all came to an abrupt halt in late July due to a back injury that eventually led to season-ending surgery. Yelich worked hard to recover this offseason, but he’s now 33 and trying to come back from a serious back operation. If he can return and play anywhere close to what we saw last year, the former MVP will be given serious consideration for this award.
Matt Arnold, Brewers GM: “He had a major back surgery and missed the second half. I would consider him an incredible comeback story.”
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Illustration: Demetrius Robinson / The Athletic; Photos: Mike Christy / Getty Images; Carmen Mandato / Getty Images; Emilee Chinn / Getty Images)
