Looking at an MLB player’s stats alone, it can be difficult to distinguish between simple disappointment and the onset of a decline.
However, evaluating these 10 individuals within the proper context suggests that their 2013 seasons fell into the former category. They’re due to bounce back strong this coming year.
Once-great sluggers like Albert Pujols and Mark Teixeira succumbed to severe injuries, as did power pitchers Josh Johnson and Brandon Morrow. Several of these players found themselves in environments that didn’t suit their skills, and all of them fell victim to bad luck.
To earn inclusion on this list, these veterans needed to give us reasons to trust that they’ll put their lost 2013 seasons behind them and rival their production from previous years in 2014.
*Stats provided by Baseball-Reference and FanGraphs unless otherwise specified.