Baseball season is only just starting, but some teams are already thinking about October. Likewise, some MLB players already have next winter — aka payday — on their minds. Others simply want to shake off a forgettable 2016 and start anew.
As we all know, hope springs eternal.
Here, we’ll look at 10 players trying to prove something this season. Some, like Houston Astros pitcher Dallas Keuchel, will have to partly rely on team success for their resurgence. Others, such as Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Jose Bautista, have money on the line. Others still, like Oakland Athletics pitcher Sonny Gray, need to get the stink of 2016 off them.
Many of these players will be central to the pennant race. Boston Red Sox pitcher David Price, for example, could find himself starting games in the Fall Classic this year if things break right for the Red Sox. You could call Price an X-factor, but he undoubtedly has something to prove after a shaky 2016.
Here are 10 players with something to prove this season.