Tyler Kepner has written a nice summary piece about the players for each team that have turned out to be the big surprises for the first half of the season.  It includes the RA Dickey’s, Shelley Duncan’s and the Daniel Nava’s of the baseball world.  It also makes some stabs at guessing who the Rookie of the Year candidates might be.

It pulls out some names you might have heard of, like Jaime Garica who is among NL leaders in pitching and names you may not have yet Sergio Sanchez of the White Sox.  It also highlights some forgotten pitchers, who are having surprising years.  Do you remember Bruce Chen?  He is with the Royals, started in their bullpen and has held opponents to a .203 batting average since moving into the rotation.  There is also Livan Hernandez who remains the only Nationals starter still in the rotation since the season opened, and he is only being paid $900,000.  Lastly, of course, is Carlos Silva, who basically sent to the Cubs as a cheaper version of a bag of balls for Milton Bradley and has turned out to be the best thing to happen on the north side of Chicago all-season.

Check out the piece, and let me know who you would think is the most surprising break out player.  Maybe its someone you have seen play who you hadn’t heard of.  Maybe its someone you have seen in the minors and are happy to finally see on the big stage.  Let me know.