re: MLB Players who burst into the scene out of no where

Cecil Fielder. Was a 31st round draft choice out of high school. Goes to UNLV and is picked in the 4th Round by the Royals in 1982. Is then traded in 1983 to the Blue Jays. Becomes a part time player from 1985-88 where he hits a combined 31 homers. Signs with a Japanese team in 1989. Comes back in 1990 with the Tigers and hits 51 dongs becoming the first AL player since Roger Maris in 1961 to top the 50 homer mark. Hits 44 the next year and from 1990-92 wins three straight AL RBI titles after averaging only 21 RBI's a year from 1985-88.

Aaron Small had bounced between the majors and minors for 10 years when he caught lightning in a bottle with the 04 Yankees.

Best season was 71 app and a 4.28 era as a bullpen JAG for the A's.

In 2004 he went 10-0 with a 3.20 ERA in 15 starts.

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Andruw Jones

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I mean he was a top prospect at 16. Made his debut at 18 in 96 and hit a homerun in the 96 World Series and was a perennial all star from 2000 until 2006. I wouldn’t say he came out of nowhere


ETA: and was a gold glove centerfielder for ten years straight from 98-07

How bout johan Santana.

Also, I never heard of David Ortiz when he was on the twins.

Hoyt Wilhelm

His whole story really is worth reading.

He started in the minors in 1942, went to fight in WW2 including the Battle of the Bulge, and came back to play in the minors from '46-52.

He made his MLB debut at 29 and finished 4th in the MVP vote (ahead of Stan Musial and several other big names).

He won 124 games in relief (which is still the MLB record), finished his career with a 2.52 ERA, and was inducted into the baseball hall of fame.

Edit: He also went on to play until 1972, 16 days before he turned 50.