The All-Star break is almost over, meaning it’s time for the second-half of the MLB’s regular season. Some teams have been huge surprises in the first half (ie: Seattle) while others have been huge disappointments (ie: Minnesota). We already talked about the disappointing players, so now it’s time to cover the most surprising players. Below, you’ll find nine guys who have had break-out performances during the first-half of the 2018 MLB regular season.

9 of the Most Surprising Players From MLB’s First Half

Jesus Aguilar

Aguilar already has eight more home runs this year (24 in 272 AB’s) than his entire career prior to 2018 (16 in 337 AB’s). A Home Run Derby participant, he’s on pace for 40 dingers this year and leads the NL in home runs and OPS.

2014-17: .249 BA, .766 OPS

2018: .298 BA, .995 OPS

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Shin-Soo Choo

Choo has back-to-back disappointing seasons before busting out in 2018. In turn, he made his first All-Star appearance and went 1-for-2 with a run scored. He is on pace for 30 home runs and his highest batting average since 2010.

2016-17: .256 BA, .774 OPS

2018: .293 BA, .911 OPS

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Mike Foltynewicz

After several years of up-and-down performances, the guy with the hard-to-spell name finally put everything together. Foltynewicz, who started his career with the Astros, made the NL All-Star team this year and threw a scoreless inning of relief. He’s on pace for a sub-3.00 ERA this year while never getting below 4.00 in his previous four seasons.

2014-17: 4.87 ERA, 1.46 WHIP

2018: 2.66 ERA, 1.11 WHIP

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Marco Gonzales

After a solid start to his career, Gonzales has Tommy John Surgery and missed the entire 2016 season. In his return last year, though, it wasn’t too pretty. This season, he put his ugly 2017 to bed with 19 starts and a team-high 10 wins so far.

2015-17: 6.54 ERA, 1.83 WHIP

2018: 3.41 ERA, 1.16 WHIP

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Matt Harvey

Since joining the Reds in May, Harvey has revitalized his career. In his five starts before the All-Star break, he went 4-0 with a 1.86 ERA. Also, among all pitchers who have started a game for the Reds this year, Harvey has the lowest ERA.

2016-18: 5.93 ERA, 9-19 W-L (w/NYM)

2018: 3.64 ERA, 5-3 W-L (w/CIN)

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Matt Kemp

One of the best stories in all of baseball, Matt Kemp made his return to the All-Star Game after five seasons away. He’s on pace for his first .300-plus season since 2012.

2015-17: .269 BA, .780 OPS

2018: .310 BA, .874 OPS

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Max Muncy

Another Dodger to make our list, Max Muncy — who spent all of 2017 in Triple-A — has absolutely come out of nowhere in 2018. In his 96 MLB games before this year, he hit just five home runs. This year, in just 74 games, the utilityman has 22 bombs.

2015-16: .195 BA, .611 OPS

2018: .271 BA, 1.013 OPS

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Eugenio Suarez

Suarez has been a force in the middle of Cincinnati’s high-powered offense. He made his first All-Star appearance a few days ago and is on pace for his first season with a .300-plus batting average.

2014-17: .258 BA, .756 OPS

2018: .312 BA, .973 OPS

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Kirby Yates

A guy you’ve probably never heard of, Kirby Yates has excelled in the Padres’ bullpen this year. Of all pitchers in baseball with at least 20 innings pitched, Yates has the eighth-lowest ERA. This, of course, is only notable because his career before 2018 was all over the place.

2014-17: 4.78 ERA, 1.30 WHIP

2018: 1.43 ERA, 0.87 WHIP

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A Few Honorable Mentions:

C.J Cron (TB): On pace for 32 home runs this year after hitting 16 in 2015, 2016, and 2017.

Derek Dietrich (MIA): The best hitter in Miami’s no-name batting order, Dietrich is having a break-out season after years of playing a smaller role in the Marlins’ system. He’s on pace for career highs in all major offensive categories.

Jeremy Hellickson (WAS): After a down year in 2017, Hellickson has a 3.29 ERA in 13 starts for the Nationals.

Juan Soto (WAS): The youngest player in Major League Baseball and the first-ever to be born in 1998, Soto is hitting .301 and looks to be the team’s centerpiece if Bryce Harper leaves at the end of 2018.