Oft-injured Carlos Quentin (OF, SD) missed the first two months of the season after going under the knife this spring to repair a knee. But since his return, he's pretty much been the slugging, slow-footed outfielder Padres brass thought they were getting when they traded for him last winter.

Going into the 2011 draft, it all seemed so simple—Adam Dunn (1B/DH, CHW) had hit 38+ HR for seven straight years, and had moved to a hitter’s park. But it was not to be; Dunn and his anemic performance dragged down numerous fanalytic teams. Those who took a chance on a recovery this year have gotten a mixed bag of results.

As the recipient of the richest contract ever offered to a relief pitcher, Jonathan Papelbon (RHP, PHI) entered 2012 with a lot to live up to. And through the first five months, he has done just that.

Since his breakout season in 2010, some evaluators have been waiting for superstar Jered Weaver (RHP, LAA) to come back down to earth. Instead, the lanky righty has continued to baffle hitters and disappoint critics by posting excellent numbers and he's currently on track to post his second straight sub-3 ERA...

Dexter Fowler (OF, COL) has been viewed as a five-tool threat since his early years in the Rockies farm system. But inconsistent play has frustrated owners still waiting on him to break out. Finally, there seems to be progress with Fowler batting over .300 with double-digit steals and home runs.

When Joe Mauer (C, MIN) signed his mega-contract in the spring of 2010, it looked like he’d be a mainstay behind the plate for years to come. But knee issues sidelined him for two months of 2011, giving Twins’ fans a scary look at life without him. While the Twins aren’t doing much winning this year, Mauer looks like he’s healthy.

Though the full-time debut seasons of Mike Trout (OF, LAA) and Bryce Harper (OF, WAS) could well be Storyline #1 when we look back on 2012 from afar, reality is that only one of them is an MVP candidate right out of the chute.

From the moment he arrived in Texas, Yu Darvish (RHP, TEX) brought instant star power and considerable talent to the Rangers starting rotation. Darvish dispatched the competition with relative ease during his first month in the big leagues, but hitters have caught up to him since and the Japanese hurler has been scuffling since the All-Star break.

Madison Bumgarner has stepped up his game this year, at least on the surface. And Aramis Ramirez keeps doing what he does. Will their production hold up to the discerning eye of BaseballHQ.com?

In the off-season, there was concern with how Miguel Cabrera (3B, DET) would handle the hot corner. When an errant ground ball fractured his orbital bone in spring training, those fears weren’t quelled. Fast forward to mid-August, and Cabrera is holding his own in the field.

It's NOT a head-scratcher: Carlos Gonzalez is a sure-fire stud.