No matter the method, every postseason contender’s roster is largely the result of a carefully executed plan carried out over multiple years.

Sometimes, though, players who either weren’t expected to play significant roles or weren’t on the radar at all on Opening Day come out of nowhere to become key contributors for playoff-bound clubs.

The players below certainly fit that bill. With the 2023 regular season in its final month, here are seven of the most surprising players making meaningful contributions for postseason contenders.

Mike Ford, 1B/DH, Mariners
Ford changed organizations seven times across 2021-22, going from the (deep breath) Yankees to the Rays to the Nationals to the Mariners to the Giants back to the Mariners to the Braves to the Angels. Ford landed with Seattle again on a Minor League deal this past January, beginning his fourth stint with the club. Called up in June, the 31-year-old has recorded 16 homers with 33 RBIs and an .839 OPS over 66 games, solidifying what was previously one of the most unproductive DH situations in baseball.

Mitch Garver, C/DH, Rangers
After missing a significant amount of time due to injuries in each of the previous three seasons, Garver was expected to fill a platoon role for the Rangers in 2023, splitting time with Jonah Heim behind the plate and Brad Miller at DH. However, he suffered another serious injury in early April and missed 48 games, during which Heim emerged as one of the best catchers in the AL. Garver continued to start on a part-time basis after coming off the IL, but when Heim and Miller both went down with injuries around the Trade Deadline, the chance to earn more playing time opened up. He has seized the opportunity, hitting .317 with 11 homers, 22 RBIs and a 1.086 OPS in 122 plate appearances since the start of August, starting all but four games in that span.

Jason Heyward, OF, Dodgers
Heyward surprisingly made the Dodgers’ Opening Day roster, but after he posted a .211/.280/.326 slash in 152 games for the Cubs across 2021-22, it was hard to imagine the 34-year-old would still be here five months later. Starting exclusively against right-handed pitchers, Heyward has posted 14 homers and an .837 OPS, which would be his highest in a non-shortened season since he had an .849 OPS during his 2010 rookie year. Heyward’s production in Los Angeles’ outfield has made it easier for the club to move around Mookie Betts, who has played 54 games at second base and 16 at shortstop in addition to his 98 appearances in right field this season.

Ryan O'Hearn, 1B/DH, Orioles
Coming off a .633 OPS from 2019-22, O’Hearn was designated for assignment twice last offseason, first by the Royals and then by the Orioles two days after Baltimore acquired him from Kansas City in a trade. He was subsequently outrighted to Triple-A, where he began the 2023 season. Five months later, O’Hearn is starting nearly every day for the O’s and hitting .303 with 11 homers, 50 RBIs and an .834 OPS over 289 plate appearances.

Davis Schneider, IF, Blue Jays
A 28th-round pick in the 2017 MLB Draft, Schneider barely cracked MLB Pipeline’s list of the Top 30 Blue Jays prospects entering this season, landing at No. 28. After excelling for Triple-A Buffalo, the mustachioed infielder finally got the call to join the big league club on Aug. 4. Schneider collected nine hits in his first three games and has continued to mash, helping the Blue Jays overcome the recent losses of Matt Chapman, Bo Bichette and Danny Jansen. He currently owns a .385/.512/.846 slash with seven homers through 20 games.

Robert Stephenson, RP, Rays
When he joined the Rays in a trade for infielder Alika Williams on June 2, Stephenson brought with him a career 4.91 ERA, a 9.6 K/9 and a 4.2 BB/9. He has proceeded to dominate with Tampa Bay while completely altering his pitch mix, which now includes a dominant cutter. Stephenson’s chase and whiff rates both rank in the 100th percentile this season, while his strikeout rate ranks in the 99th percentile. With a 1.40 ERA and a 32-to-3 K/BB ratio in his past 20 appearances, the 30-year-old has started to receive higher-leverage assignments out of the Rays’ bullpen of late.

Mike Tauchman, OF, Cubs
After spending 2022 playing in Korea, Tauchman returned to MLB on a Minor League deal with the Cubs this past January. Called up in May, the outfielder notched a .688 OPS prior to the All-Star break, in line with his .704 OPS from 2017-21. However, he has put up a .273/.368/.420 slash in the second half, setting the tone as the Cubs’ leadoff hitter against right-handed starting pitchers during a stretch in which the club has surged back into the postseason race.