From Paul Skenes to Bobby Miller: 5 Players who surprised MLB before the All-Star break

The MLB 2024 season is getting into its second half, however, some players have surprised the fans in the first half of this season. Other players ended up on the injured list this season, which disappointed eagerly anticipating fans.

This year's MLB has already lost great players such as Ronald Acuna Jr and Mike Trout. New York Mets ace Kodai Senga also has not thrown his ghost fork even once in the 2024 season.

Let's look at the players who surprised the fans this season.

5 players from Paul Skenes to Bobby Miller who surprised the MLB fans

Paul Skenes, Pittsburgh Pirates

The Pittsburgh Pirates' first pick in the 2023 MLB Draft was called to start on May 11 and has garnered traction to make one of the best starts in MLB history. Skenes has already made 11 starts, in which he didn't lose any decisions.

He even struck out 35 percent of the batters while boasting a 1.90 ERA. Skenes has already put out one of the best rookie seasons in the past, as he also recorded 3.2 WAR. He's proved himself to be a rookie sensation.

Shohei Ohtani, Los Angeles Dodgers

This is Shohei Ohtani's first season with the Los Angeles Dodgers, and it couldn't have gone any better for the team. He's already slashing .316/.400/.635 with 23 stolen bases and 29 homers. Ohtani is leading the individual leaderboard in the National League in runs scored, slugging percentage, home runs, OPS and adjusted OPS.

He's become the biggest contender for this year's MVP award, which would make history in itself. There has never been a designated hitter who's won the MVP award, and Ohtani could break that trend — only if his outstanding performance continues.

Chris Sale, Atlanta Braves

Chirs Sale is the best comeback story of this season. After a slew of injuries, the Boston Red Sox decided to transfer their burden onto the Braves. As it turned out, Sale took it personally. In the years from 2020 to 2022, Sale only made 11 starts, and then in 2023, he only had a 4.03 ERA, despite having struck out 125 players in 102 2/3 innings.

Something changed for Sale when he joined the Braves. He is currently 13-3 with a 2.70 ERA, and he's at the top of the league in wins and leading the National League in the ERA. He has proved yet again why he is considered one of the best pitchers in the past, and he's fanned 140 players in just 110 innings. Moreover, in all of these innings, he's only allowed seven homers.

Elly De La Cruz, Cincinnati Reds

Elly De La Cruz had everything that a great infielder needs. However, his inaugural season exposed a critical weakness: his lack of strikeouts. His improved walk rate amplifies his base-stealing tactic, currently leading the majors with 45 steals in just 93 games.

Beyond good baserunning, De La Cruz has improved defensively, becoming a cornerstone at shortstop. His offensive production has also flourished, placing him seventh among qualified shortstops in OPS. EDLC has now made the dream of a 100-steal season real. He's hit 30 homers and stolen 75 bases.

Bobby Miller, Los Angeles Dodgers

Bobby Miller faced a disastrous outing against the Philadelphia Phillies and was forced by the Dodgers' hand just before the All-Star break. The Los Angeles Dodgers starting rotation is still struggling, especially following the demotion of right-hander Miller to Triple-A Oklahoma City. He had a rough second start against the Chicago Cubs, where he surrendered five earned runs in just 1.2 innings.

Miller's inability to contain Philadelphia's offense, allowing nine runs in four innings, inflated his ERA to a concerning 8.07. With the Dodgers seeking bullpen stability heading into the crucial second half of the season, the decision to demote Miller became a necessity.