2012 A.L. Comeback Player of the Year – Adam Dunn

After a disappointing 2011 season, Chicago White Sox first baseman Adam Dunn came roaring back to life in 2012. Some thought this would never happen, claiming his sub-par 2011 effort was an indication that Dunn was finished. Others believed the anemic numbers he posted during that campaign, which included a  .159 batting average and a meager total of eleven home runs, were aberrational and held their judgment in abeyance, claiming a talent of Dunn’s magnitude would post better numbers in 2012. They said they were willing to wait to find out.

Thankfully for the Chicago White Sox, these were the people whose assessment was the correct one. Adam Dunn’s 2012 comeback was a big reason why the pale hose came within just a few games of winning their division. He played in 151 games, pummeled 41 home runs, took 105 walks, posted a .333 on-base percentage, and yes, struck out a career-high 222 times, proving that every aspect of the 6′ 6″, 275 pound first baseman’s game is back to proper scale; grand. For his outstanding performance Adam Dunn, seen here on his 2012 Topps Golden Moments Relics card, is clearly deserving of the American League’s Comeback Player of the Year Award.

That much said, several other American League players are worthy of honorable mention.

Two of them are position players. Minnesota Twins first  baseman and designated hitter Justin Morneau returned to form after suffering two concussions in previous years. The Twins must be thrilled to see his 69 games and 288 plate appearances from 2011 increase to a more robust 134 games and 570 plate appearances this season. Right fielder Alex Rios, another member of the Chicago White Sox, raised his 2011 batting average of .227 to a much healthier .304 while recovering his triples stroke (from 2 to 8) during the 2012 campaign.

The pitchers are represented, too. Tampa Bay Rays right-handed relief pitcher Fernando Rodney was off the charts this year. In 76 relief appearances he fashioned a 0.60 ERA, a 0.777 WHIP and a strikeout to walk ratio of 5 to 1. Starting pitcher Jake Peavey, another member of the Chicago White Sox, doubled the number of innings he pitched, from 111.2 to 219, had a 3.37 ERA and a WHIP of 1.096.

These are all serious American League Comeback Player of the Year candidates, and should Dunn be selected by the members of the Baseball Writers Association of America (BBWAA) who vote for the award, it will be that much sweeter for him knowing that he came out on top of a very crowded and well qualified field.