NEW YORK -
Toronto Blue Jays second baseman Aaron Hill and St. Louis Cardinals ace Chris Carpenter are Major League Baseball's 2009 comeback players of the year.
Hill, 27, earned the American League honours after establishing career highs with 36 home runs, 108 RBIs, 195 hits and 103 runs.
He was also named to the all-star team in a remarkable recovery after missing all but 55 games in 2008 because of a concussion and related issues.
In establishing a team record for most home runs by a second baseman, Hill also posted the third-highest home run total in AL history at the position, trailing only Alfonso Soriano's total of 39 in 2002 and 38 in '03.
Carpenter, who was drafted and developed by the Blue Jays, bagged the National League honours by going 17-4 with a 2.24 ERA over 28 starts.
The right-hander had made just four starts over the previous two seasons because of elbow and shoulder problems.
The 2005 NL Cy Young Award winner also posted a big-league best 11-game win streak from July 5-Sept. 7.
Toronto Blue Jays second baseman Aaron Hill and St. Louis Cardinals ace Chris Carpenter are Major League Baseball's 2009 comeback players of the year.
Hill, 27, earned the American League honours after establishing career highs with 36 home runs, 108 RBIs, 195 hits and 103 runs.
He was also named to the all-star team in a remarkable recovery after missing all but 55 games in 2008 because of a concussion and related issues.
In establishing a team record for most home runs by a second baseman, Hill also posted the third-highest home run total in AL history at the position, trailing only Alfonso Soriano's total of 39 in 2002 and 38 in '03.
Carpenter, who was drafted and developed by the Blue Jays, bagged the National League honours by going 17-4 with a 2.24 ERA over 28 starts.
The right-hander had made just four starts over the previous two seasons because of elbow and shoulder problems.
The 2005 NL Cy Young Award winner also posted a big-league best 11-game win streak from July 5-Sept. 7.
