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Every year a number of young players make a name for themselves in the postseason, and this October was no different. The youthful Rays, chalk full of twentysomethings, saw more than a handful of their previously unproven and unknown stars achieve success on their way to the World Series.
The Phillies, who topped the Rays in five games, won their first World Series in 25 years thanks to strong performances from a few young of their younger player that are now households names themselves.
Willy Aybar, Tampa Bay: The infielder, who hit just .253 in the regular season, burst onto the scene with the Rays this postseason. He hit .353 in fourteen games, with two home runs and seven RBI. His best series came in the ALCS against the Red Sox, where he hit .421 and smashed both his homers.
Jason Bartlett, Tampa Bay: Bartlett, who the Twins sent to the Rays in the Delmon Young/Matt Garza deal last winter, was a steadying presence for the team at shortstop. He hit just .235 in sixteen games in October but recorded some timely hits and made some impressive defensive plays.
Jason Bay, Boston: It’s hard to imagine that a 30-year-old All-Star outfielder could have made a name for himself, but Bay excelled in his postseason debut. If anyone was as hot as Manny Ramirez in October, it was Boston’s new left fielder, who hit .341 with three homers and nine RBI. He dominated the Angels, hitting .412 with five RBI in just four games.
Jonathan Broxton, L.A. Dodgers: We knew that Broxton could strike guys out; he had 88 K’s in sixty-nine regular season innings, but he was almost untouchable in the playoffs. He pitched in five games, posting a 1.59 ERA, seven strikeouts, and a save. The only blemish on his record was the towering home run Matt Stairs smacked off him in Game 4 of the NLCS.
Matt Garza, Tampa Bay: Garza, who like so many of the players on this list was making his first postseason appearance, took home ALCS MVP honors after dominating the Red Sox in Game 7 at Tropicana Field. He had issues against the White Sox and Phillies, but his totals still look good: 2-1 with a 3.96 ERA and 25 K’s in twenty-five innings.
Cole Hamels, Philadelphia: Hamels probably would have won 20 games and been mentioned in the NL Cy Young conversation if the Phillies scored more runs for him in the regular season, but after 4-0 with a 1.80 ERA and 30 K’s in the playoffs, he has officially arrived. He took home both the NLCS and World Series MVP awards, and the Phils were victorious in all five of his starts.
Hiroki Kuroda, L.A. Dodgers: Kuroda, a true rookie, wasn’t intimidated while taking the mound for the most meaningful games of his young career. He was 2-0 with a 1.46 ERA in two starts, including L.A.’s only victory against Philadelphia in the NLCS.
Ryan Madson, Philadelphia: Madson, 28, has been a fixture in the Phillies’ bullpen for a few years now, but is now nationally known for his steadiness in relief as one of the bridges to Lidge. He appeared in eleven of Philadelphia’s fourteen games, going 1-0 with a 2.13 ERA, 12 K’s and ten holds.
Justin Masterson, Boston: Another true rookie, Masterson was solid on the mound in relief for the Red Sox in nine appearances. He pitched 9 2/3 innings, and as 1-0 with a 1.86 ERA and nine strikeouts. He was a spot starter for Boston during the regular season but could become a nice option ahead of Jonathan Papelbon for Terry Francona next season.
James Loney, L.A. Dodgers: The Dodgers struggled in the NLCS, but Loney hit .438 with a pair of RBI against the Phillies. He was solid over the course of eight games, hitting .333 with a homer and 8 RBI in thirty at-bats. That included an important grand slam in Game 1 of the NLDS against the favored Cubs.
Evan Longoria, Tampa Bay: Perhaps the best rookie in the Majors this season, Longoria continued his coming out party in October. He was horrible at the plate in the World Series but hit six home runs and had thirteen RBI in sixteen playoff games. He hit just .181, thanks to a .050 average against the Phillies, but now his first and last (thanks in part to Eva) name are known around the country.
David Price, Tampa Bay: Price almost didn’t even make the Rays’ postseason roster but vindicated his place after recording both a win and a save in the ALCS against Boston. He pitched 5 2/3 innings, posting a 1.59 ERA with eight strikeouts. Eric Bruntlett, pinch-hitting in Game 2 of the World Series, scored the only run off of Price.
B.J. Upton, Tampa Bay: Without a doubt, Upton had the best postseason of any 'breakout' player not named Cole this fall. The center fielder hit .288 with seven home runs and 16 RBI and stole six bases, including four in the World Series. What's even more amazing? He hit just nine homers in the entire regular season.
Shane Victorino, Philadelphia: The Flyin’ Hawaiian is despised in Los Angeles and known all over the world after helping lead the Phils to a World Championship. He hit .269 with two homers and 13 RBI in the playoffs, including a .357 average in the NLDS.
A year from now we’ll know much more about all of these players but will also have a new crop of young talent to gush over after the 2009 World Series has been decided.
Andrew Perna is a Senior Writer for RealGM.com. Please feel free to contact him with comments or questions via e-mail – Andrew.Perna@RealGM.com.
