When the New York Yankees scooped up lefty slugger Matt Carpenter off the Texas Rangers Triple-A affiliate in 2022, they didn’t expect them to be such an impact player at the MLB level.
Carpenter had struggled the previous two seasons, slugging just seven homers across 180 games. However, he went on a road trip to rediscover his swing the off-season prior, which catapulted him toward success.
Carpenter became an instant fan favorite, hitting 15 homers with 37 RBIs across 47 games. He hosted a .305 batting average with a .412 OBP before suffering a fractured foot on a foul ball, nearly ending his season prematurely.