Kuzul

That’s gone by fast.

It seems as though just yesterday was the start of the 2012 MLB Season. Yet we find ourselves in the middle of May at the quarter-mark of the 162-game season wondering, “Where did all that time go?”

That’s baseball for you, folks. The next quarter will fly by as quickly as the last, and soon enough, it will be September, in the heat of playoff races. And playoff time means time for awards. 

This year has been nothing short of thrilling. This season has seen the explosion of some young players, the resurgences of older players and big-breaks for prospects. 

It’s time for early predictions for the awards that the MLB will hand out in the fall. All statistics are as accurate as May 22nd, 2012.

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Chicago White Sox starter Philip Humber has thrown the 21st perfect game in MLB history.

This perfecto was the first this year and is part of a recent trend of no-hitters. Humber retired all 27 Seattle Mariners batters in a 4-0 win. 

The last pitcher to throw a perfect game was Roy Halladay on May 29, 2010. Halladay accomplished his perfect game against the then-Florida Marlins. Mark Buehrle of the White Sox tossed a perfect game in July of 2009.

Humber’s feat marked the first time that he went the distance in any major league game. His previous high was 7.2 innings. In April of 2011, Humber had a no-hit bid through 6.1 innings against the New York Yankees.

Humber has dealt with some injuries since being drafted third overall by the New York Mets in 2004. His most significant injury to date was when he required Tommy John surgery in 2005. 

Humber was picked up by the White Sox in January of 2011. 

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com