One player can be more than a game-changer. One player can be a season-changer. Look at what Justin Verlander did last season for Houston: from missing all of 2021 after Tommy John surgery to a Cy Young Award–winning season in which the Astros were 23–9 when he took the ball, including the swing game of their World Series victory. Based on little to no contributions in ’22, here are the biggest potential difference-makers this season.
1. Fernando Tatis Jr., Padres, OF
From 2019 to ’21, he was one of the three best players in the game. Still only 24 years old and after not playing for 18 months due to injuries and an 80-game PED suspension, Tatis believes he will get back to that same level.
