The MLB season is a long one, and sometimes a player's full-season worth of stats don't tell the entire story.
A poor first half can make it difficult to return a season stat line to respectability before the end of the year, which can in turn mask a stellar second-half performance.
Those are the players we're focusing on here.
Ahead, we've highlighted one player from each team who has far exceeded his first-half production since the All-Star break, emerging as an impact performer and perhaps positioning himself for future success, with the final months of this season as a jumping-off point.
Off we go!
American League East
Baltimore Orioles: SP Kyle Bradish
First Half: 10 GS, 7.38 ERA, 1.77 WHIP, 46.1 IP
Second Half: 8 GS, 3.09 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, 43.2 IP
The No. 9 prospect in the Baltimore farm system when the season began, according to Baseball America, Bradish made his MLB debut in April. The 25-year-old got off to a rocky start, but he has turned a corner since the All-Star break, including a pair of fantastic starts on the road against Houston (8.0 IP, 2 H, 0 ER) and Cleveland (7.0 IP, 2 H, 0 ER).
Boston Red Sox: 2B Christian Arroyo
First Half: 127 PA, .224/.278/.362, 8 XBH
Second Half: 124 PA, .342/.374/.470, 12 XBH
Arroyo has split his time between second base (27), right field (17), shortstop (13), third base (10), first base (6) and designated hitter (5) this year, and that versatility has made him a valuable bench piece. A career .235 hitter with an 83 OPS+ when the season began, he is swinging the bat as well right now as he has at any point in his career.
New York Yankees: RP Lou Trivino
Pre-Trade 39 G, 6.47 ERA, 1.88 WHIP, .326 BAA
Post-Trade: 15 G, 0.68 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, .204 BAA
The Yankees acquired Trivino as a buy-low throw-in of sorts in the Frankie Montas blockbuster, and he has done a complete 180 since moving to the New York bullpen. The 30-year-old tallied 32 saves in Oakland over the last two seasons, and he could wind up filling a valuable late-inning role during the Yankees' playoff run.
Tampa Bay Rays: SP Drew Rasmussen
First Half: 15 GS, 3 QS, 3.22 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, 4.8 IP/GS
Second Half: 8 GS, 3 QS, 1.84 ERA, 0.86 WHIP, 5.5 IP/GS
Rasmussen has been terrific since he was acquired from the Milwaukee Brewers last season in the deal that sent Willy Adames the other way, logging a 2.61 ERA and 1.02 WHIP in 175.2 innings in Tampa Bay. The biggest change since the All-Star break has been his ability to consistently pitch deeper into games, and that could be huge in October.
Toronto Blue Jays: IF Cavan Biggio
First Half: 158 PA, .716 OPS, 14 XBH (2 HR), 42 starts (45.2%)
Second Half: 88 PA, .779 OPS, 10 XBH (4 HR), 23 starts (53.5%)
Who would have guessed Biggio would start to receive more playing time following the addition of Whit Merrifield? With Merrifield hitting just .188 in 25 games since he was acquired at the deadline and Santiago Espinal regressing offensively, Biggio has started five of the team's seven games so far in September, splitting his time between first base and second base.