White Sox' Dunn Named AL Comeback Player Of The Year

By Chuck Sudo in News on Oct 23, 2012 9:50PM

The Sporting News named White Sox first baseman/designated hitter Adam Dunn the 2012 American League Comeback Player of the Year today.

Dunn was certainly worthy of the award and hit the way he was expected to when the White Sox signed him as a free agent in 2011. His 2012 stats (.204 batting average, 41 home runs, 96 RBI, 105 walks and 87 runs scored in 151 games) were marked improvements over his 2011 numbers (.159 BA, 11 homers, 42 RBI, 36 runs scored and 75 walks in 122 games). Sox fans still developed ulcers and gray hairs watching Dunn strike out, but he led the major leagues in walks this season and was among AL leaders in pitches per plate appearance (1st), home run ratio (3rd), home runs (5th) and RBI ratio (7th). His 41 homers were the most by a left-handed Sox hitter since Jim Thome's 42 in 2006.

While Dunn was worthy of the award, it could have just as easily have gone to outfielder Alex Rios or pitcher Jake Peavy, each of whom had bounceback years. We'd argue that Rios' performance was even better than Dunn's and made him the Sox' MVP this season. But then we don't write for The Sporting News.