Expectations were high for Adrian Gonzalez (1B, BOS) after he joined the Red Sox prior to the 2011 season. The transition to the AL East and the pressure of playing in Boston did not seem to phase Gonzalez as all he did was post the best all-around season of his career thus far...

After an injury plagued and ineffective 2010, Josh Beckett (RHP, BOS) found himself at something of a career crossroads at the outset of the 2011 season. Beckett answered the bell and then some, anchoring the Boston rotation and posting excellent numbers across the board...

Amid the high-profile influx of big name first basemen into the American League, Mark Teixeira (1B, NYY) has become somewhat of a forgotten man in the discussion of elite players at the position. It doesn't help matters that Teixeira is coming off two productive but uneven seasons.

JJ Hardy put together a career year in 2011 by applying the strong batting skills he'd shown in the past in conjunction with logging 500+ ABs for the first time since 2008. Even after missing a month with an oblique strain, Hardy made the most of his new home in hitter-friendly Camden Yards by posting terrific offensive numbers, particularly in terms of power.

Hart's power breakout of 2010 carried over to 2011 and his 2H numbers suggest he still has room to grow. The trade-off in the last two years for this added pop has been waning opportunities on the bases and that trend may continue. With Prince Fielder likely gone and Ryan Braun facing a 50 game suspension, Hart will find himself in the middle of the order as the Brewers will be more reliant on his bat than his legs.

The 22-year-old Bumgarner delivered on big expectations in 2011.