David Schoenfield, ESPN MLB, Sep 11, 2026. Every baseball season features surprise campaigns vital to playoff hopes. Last week we examined fallen stars; now let's look at 10 players who leveled up this year and changed their teams' fortunes.

Jacob Misiorowski, RHP, Milwaukee Brewers. Preseason: 9-8, 3.99 ERA, 1.8 WAR. 2026: 14-5, 1.95 ERA, 236 SO, 5.5 WAR. Nobody saw this dominance coming—1,000-plus pitches at 100 mph or faster, including a 105.5 mph fastball, fastest ever by a starter in the Statcast era. He's held batters to a .156 average, potentially the lowest ever by a starting pitcher. Milwaukee's top four 2025 starters combined for 104 starts but only six in 2026, yet Brewers starters rank fifth in ERA. Without him, Chicago would be closer in the NL Central.

Pete Crow-Armstrong, CF, Chicago Cubs. Preseason: .252/.303/.456, 26 HR, 4.7 WAR. 2026: .281/.375/.574, 41 HR, 9.2 WAR. After a slow start, mechanical changes and better selectivity led to an MVP-level season. The Cubs lead the majors in runs scored.