10 MLB Players Stepping Up This Season

Here are 10 players, in no particular order, who have improved from last year and have helped their team in 2008.

Christian Guzman, Washington Nationals

Guzman is a shortstop with Washington who had two difficult seasons in Washington before having a breakout season this year. He is batting .303 with three homers and 15 RBI. Guzman bats second in the lineup and has scored 22 runs.



Daniel Cabrera, Baltimore Orioles

Cabrera has electric stuff but always was wild and you never knew what kind of outing you would get from him. He was prone to giving up walks during a game. After two tough starts to begin the year, he has been very consistent. In his last five starts, he has only given up a combined 10 runs.



Cliff Lee, Cleveland Indians

Lee is six and zero with a 0.81 ERA. If he continues to pitch well, he will be a candidate for the Cy Young. He only had five wins in total last year.



Xavier Nady, Pittsburgh Pirates

Nady is batting .349 with five homers and 34 RBI. He would be a good fit with the Mets or any other team that needs a solid right fielder.


Mark Hendrickson, Florida Marlins

Hendrickson is the ace of the Marlins' pitching staff, and is going for his sixth win of the year, tonight, against the Brewers. He has been a pleasant surprise thus far for the Marlins.



Andy Sonnanstine, Tampa Bay Rays

Sonnanstine is five and one with the Rays this year, after only going six and 10 last season.



Justin Upton, Arizona Diamondbacks

Upton is batting .345 with five homers and 16 RBI after struggling last year with a .221 average in 43 games.



Lance Berkman, Houston Astros

Berkman leads the Astros in many offensive categories so far and has 11 homers and 33 RBI. He had good numbers last year but he struggled and got into a bad hitting slump many times.



Kurt Suzuki, Oakland A's

Suzuki is batting leadoff for Oakland and is hitting .283 with a homer and 12 RBI so far this season. The catcher has helped the pitching staff tremendously as well.



Geovany Soto, Chicago Cubs

Soto should merit consideration as the National League starting catcher in the All Star Game. He is batting .345 with six homers and 24 RBI. Soto's bat has been very impressive.