MLB's 2017 All-Surprise Team

May 6, 2017; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Rays designated hitter Corey Dickerson (10) at bat against the Toronto Blue Jays at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Over the first two months of the 2017 MLB season, a bunch of surprise names have been dotting the statistical category leader boards.

We are now more than two full months into the 2017 MLB regular season. At this point, sustained success can usually be considered more than a simple hot streak.

A look across the statistical leader boards of Major League Baseball reveals some surprising names. As fans vote for their favorites to appear in the starting lineups at the 2017 MLB All-Star Game, few of these players have a shot to win.

However, if they can keep up their strong performances of these first two months, some will undoubtedly find their way on to the rosters of the NL and AL squads at the mid-summer classic.

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Surprises don't stop with individual player performances. A look at the current standings reveals a number of surprise teams across the Major League Baseball landscape.

SURPRISE TEAMS

For instance, who would have predicted back in March that the Minnesota Twins would be leading the AL Central Division at this point? Or that the Angels and Rays would still be squarely in the AL Wildcard race this late?

The Milwaukee Brewers are tied with the Chicago Cubs in the NL Central. The Colorado Rockies are on top of the NL West heap. The Arizona Diamondbacks are in that western race, and are solidly in control of an NL Wildcard spot.

Who knows how long these surprise teams will continue to impact the 2017 MLB season? But while they are producing at such an impactful level, let's take a shot at naming some players to an "All-Surprise Team" in Major League Baseball.

Jun 1, 2017; Miami, FL, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks third baseman Lamb (22) at bat against the Miami Marlins at Marlins Park. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

MLB 2017 ALL-SURPRISE TEAM INFIELD

1B – Justin Bour, Miami: for a while, it looked as if this position would be a battle between Mark Reynolds of the Rockies and Eric Thames of the Brewers. They each still deserve mentions, but the spot has to now go to Bour. With a .295/.369/.589 slash line, the 29-year old is not some one-dimensional slugger. But slug he does, with 16 homers to lead the National League. He also has 40 RBI, giving him an outside shot at a 50-homer, 120+ RBI season.

2B – Starlin Castro, Yankees: Castro has always been considered an offense-first player. But now at age 27, he finally appears to be reaching the full potential envisioned for him when he was a young Cubs prospect. Castro's .315/.352/.489 slash line represent easy career highs across all categories. His nine homers, 31 RBI, and 38 runs scored have him on pace to approach 30 homers and 90 RBI, with a possible 110+ runs scored campaign.

LEFT-SIDE INFIELD

SS – Zack Cozart, Cincinnati: Cozart turns 32 years old in August, and is in his seventh big league season. He has established a base line for performance and production, and this ain't it. To this point, the Reds shortstop has put together a .344/.432/.622 slash line with nine homers, 33 RBI, 32 runs scored, and 27 extra-base hits. Maybe it's health and a new batting stand (see below video.) In any event, this is truly impressive stuff.

3B – Jake Lamb, Arizona: Lamb may not be a total surprise. He did bomb 29 homers and drive in 91 runs for the Dbacks a year ago, after all. But this year, the 26-year old has taken his game to the next level. His .280/.368/.559 slash line reveals increased performance across the board. He has 14 home runs and 46 RBI, on pace for a possible 40 HR-120 RBI campaign.

Next: MLB 2017 All-Surprise Catcher and Outfielders

May 23, 2017; Bronx, NY, USA; New York Yankees left fielder Hicks (31) is congratulated in the dugout after hitting a solo home run against the Kansas City Royals during the fourth inning at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Andy Marlin-USA TODAY Sports

MLB 2017 ALL-SURPRISE TEAM CATCHER and OUTFIELDERS

Catcher – Alex Avila, Detroit: now in his ninth season in Major League Baseball, Avila reminds me a bit of Cozart at shortstop. He has established a base line of production, and is far outpacing it. So far, Avila has a .317/.432/.625 slash line with eight homers, 23 RBI, and 16 runs scored. In short, the 30-year old has turned back the clock a half-dozen years to his 2011 AL all-star and Silver Slugger season.

SURPRISE OUTFIELDERS

Outfield – Aaron Hicks, Yankees: along with Castro, a prime reason that the Yankees are surprising leaders in the AL East Division race. Hicks wasn't even a starter as the season opened. But injuries gave him more of a shot, and he has more than taken advantage. Thus far, Hicks has a .321/.432/.577 slash line with eight homers, 31 RBI, 30 runs scored, and seven stolen bases. These numbers blow away career norms for the 27-year old now in his fifth big league season.

Outfield – Corey Dickerson, Tampa Bay: another player who has solid production in his past, Dickerson has cracked 24 homers in two of the last three seasons. But his big 2014 came with Coors Field as a home park, leading to some questions. There is no possible way to question a .336/.378/.602 slash line, which is what he has put together this year with the Rays. Dickerson is on pace for 35+ homers, 120+ runs scored, and perhaps most incredibly a run at a 90 extra-base hit season.

Outfield – Aaron Altherr, Philadelphia: in a season in which almost nothing has gone right for the rebuilding Fightin' Phils, Altherr has been nothing but right. Coming into the year he was expected to be the fourth outfielder. But an injury to Howie Kendrick opened up more playing time. Altherr has taken advantage, posting a .295/.382/..545 slash line with nine homers, 31 RBI, and 27 runs scored. This could be a true breakout for the 26-year old, who may be making a long-term place for himself.

Next: MLB 2017 All-Surprise Team Pitchers

May 7, 2017; Denver, CO, USA; Colorado Rockies relief pitcher Holland (56) delivers a pitch in the ninth inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

MLB 2017 ALL-SURPRISE TEAM PITCHERS

SP – Ervin Santana, Minnesota: you're going to find that the arms here are all familiar names. But they all have very unfamiliar results to this point in the season. Santana more than any of the others. The 34-year old in his 13th season has pitched like a true ace for the first time in his career, and for the game's biggest surprise team. With a 7-3 record, Santana has a pair of complete game shutouts, the only pitcher this year who can make such a claim. He has allowed just 43 hits over 81 innings, and has stellar 2.44 ERA and 0.926 WHIP marks.

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SP – Jason Vargas, Kansas City: Vargas has matched Santana with a 7-3 record, and has stellar 2.08 ERA and 1.096 WHIP marks. He has surrendered just 60 hits over 69.1 innings with a 54/16 K:BB ratio as well. He has also tossed a complete game shutout. The 34-year old is enjoying the best of his now 13 seasons, after making just a dozen total big league appearances over the last two years.

SP – Mike Leake, Saint Louis: a 29-year old in his eight season, Leake has a 5-4 record. It comes with outstanding 2.64 ERA and 0.947 WHIP marks. Having allowed just 59 hits over 75 innings with a 53/12 K:BB ratio, Leake has provided much-needed depth to the Cardinals rotation.

SP – Ivan Nova, Pittsburgh: Nova is a 30-year old in his eighth season of big league ball. He has a 5-4 record with a 2.92 ERA, 1.078 WHIP, and a 40/6 K:BB ratio. Nova has a pair of complete games as well, including a shutout.

PAIR OF SURPRISE CLOSERS

RP – Greg Holland, Colorado: a star out of the Royals bullpen from 2011-15, Holland was a key to Kansas City's back-to-back AL champs and 2015 World Series winners. He was also a 2013 and 2014 AL All-Star. However, he underwent Tommy John surgery after that 2015 Fall Classic, and missed the entire season a year ago. The Rockies gave the now 31-year old a shot by signing him at the end of January, and he has been a revelation. Holland leads all of MLB with 21 Saves. Despite pitching half of his games in the challenging Coors Field environs, he has allowed just 39 hits over 44.2 innings, striking out 49 batters.

RP – Bud Norris, Angels: Norris had been a starting pitcher for most of his now nine-year big league career before tasting some bullpen action in the last two seasons. Due to injuries and the ineffectiveness of others, he was given a shot at the closer role with the Angels. It was the classic "take the ball and run with it" outcome. Norris has Saved 10 games, with a 2.60 ERA and 1.048 WHIP. He has allowed just 17 hits over 27.2 innings, with a strong 36/12 K:BB ratio.

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