Atlanta Braves
Dansby Swanson
Swanson was called up to the bigs at the end of the 2016 season and made his presence felt. He proved why he was the number one overall pick in the 2015 Draft. In 38 games with the Braves, Swanson finished with 20 R, 3 HR, 17 RBI, .302 AVG, .361 OBP, .442 SLG. In his first full season, expect Dansby Swanson to break out and be the up-in-coming star of the Braves.
Arizona Diamondbacks
Brandon Drury
At the age of 24, Drury has played in 154 professional games. In that time he has 142 H, 18 HR, 61 RBI, .275 AVG, .321 OBP, .449 SLG. Last year, Drury hit .282 AVG with 16 HR in 134 games. This spring, Drury is hitting .385 AVG with a 1.004 OPS. He will look to secure the job at second base for the Diamondbacks and have his breakout year.
Baltimore Orioles
Trey Mancini
Mancini burst onto the scene last year in just five games. He had 5 H, 3 HR, 5 RBI, .357 AVG, .400 OBP, 1.071 SLG during that time. He has rolled over that success by hitting .357 AVG, 3 HR, 13 RBI, 1.053 OPS this spring. The depth chart for the Orioles looks full, but it will be hard to deny playing time to Mancini with this continued success.
Boston Red Sox
Andrew Benintendi
Easy to say that the #1 prospect in the game (according to MLB.com) will have a breakout season. In 34 games last year, Benintendi had 31 H, 2 HR, 14 RBI, .295 AVG, .359 OBP, .476 SLG. He made flashy plays with his bat and glove and looks to have a great full season in left field for the Red Sox.
Chicago Cubs
Albert Almora Jr
The Chicago Cubs are looking for Almora to fill the shoes of Dexter Fowler, who signed with the St. Louis Cardinals this offseason. Last year, Almora played in 47 games hitting .277 with 3 HR and 14 RBI. He has matched that production this spring in just 59 AB, hitting .322 AVG, 3 HR, 12 RBI, .955 OPS. Almora, the 6th overall pick in the 2012 draft, will look to breakthrough this year for the defending champion Chicago Cubs.
Chicago White Sox
Carlos Rodon
The 3rd overall pick in the 2014 draft has yet to fill the potential that the White Sox had expected of him. That may change this year. Rodon may start the season on the DL, but a healthy Rodon, that is now in his third season, could look to finally fill that potential. He finished 2016 on a high note in his last two games, 14 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 21 K. Then, he followed that up with a strong spring debut striking out 5 in 4 innings and not allowing a run. If healthy, Rodon could have a big year for the rebuilding White Sox.
Cincinnati Reds
Cody Reed
Reed had a tough debut in 2016. In 10 starts, Reed posted an ERA of 7.36. Before March 27th, Reed was having a very productive spring posting a 3.24 ERA. Reed blew up for 10 ER in 3.2 IP against the Giants which ballooned his ERA to 7.08 for the spring. Reed will have a rotation spot with the Reds and look to show his full potential at the big league level.
Cleveland Indians
Erik Gonzalez
In 2016, Gonzalez played in 21 games for the Indians during the regular season before being cut from the postseason roster. During his time, Gonzalez hit .313 AVG, .353 OBP, .313 SLG. He didn’t have a HR or RBI during the season, but this spring he has 2 HR, 10 RBI while hitting .298 AVG and .816 OPS. Manager, Terry Francona, has said that the “sky is the limit” for Gonzalez.
Colorado Rockies
Jon Gray
Gray completed his first full season with the Rockies and showed a lot of promise. He finished the season at 10-10 with a 4.61 ERA and 185 Ks in 168 IP. With Chad Bettis fighting the unfortunate circumstances of cancer, the Rockies will look for Gray and Tyler Chatwood to carry more of the load. Gray, the 3rd pick in the 2013 draft, will try and prove he has the capabilities of being a top of the rotation guy for the Colorado Rockies.
Detroit Tigers
Daniel Norris
Daniel Norris has been through a lot in his short career. With the Toronto Blue Jays, he was sought to be the next top of the rotation guy for the team. Norris was sent to Detroit as the centerpiece for David Price and has yet to show the organization exactly what they expected of him. Norris finished the 2016 season with a 3.38 ERA in 13 starts. There are flashes of potential with Norris so this could be the year it all comes together and he pitches to his full potential.
Houston Astros
Alex Bregman
Bregman got called up to the bigs last season and played in 49 games. In that time, he had 53 H, 8 HR, 34 RBI, .264 AVG, .313 OBP, .478 SLG. A solid start to his professional career. This spring he played for team USA as the youngest player on the team. He played in 2 games, getting 4 AB and accumulating 2 hits. Bregman will start a lot of games at third for the Astros and prove why he was the 2nd overall pick in the 2015 Draft.
Kansas City Royals
Raul Mondesi Jr.
Mondesi famously started his professional career in the 2015 World Series, and since then he hasn’t had a whole lot of success at the big league level. He has played in 47 games, hitting 2 HR, 13 RBI, .185 AVG, .231 OBP, .281 SLG. A very poor showing of his true potential. However, this spring he is hitting .375 AVG, 3 HR, 6 RBI, 1.013 OPS. A much better showing of what is to come. Mondesi has obtained the starting job at second base so look for him to break out as a star player in the Royals franchise.
Los Angeles Angels
Jefry Marte
Marte has two seasons of professional ball under his belt which has produced mediocre numbers. After starting his career with the Tigers, Marte was shipped to the Angels where he has shown glimpses of hope. In 88 games last season, he hit 15 HR with 44 RBI. Marte will be looked at as a utility player with the Angels but after a strong spring (.311 AVG, 3 HR, 13 RBI, .952 OPS) he could be knocking at the door of a starting job.
Los Angeles Dodgers
Julio Urias
The phenom 19 year-old is now 20 and his first big league experience behind him. Last season, Urias pitched 77 innings accumulating a 3.39 ERA and 84 Ks. A great start to what will be a long and successful career. This year we will see Urias up in the bigs for an entire season, and with a filthy artillery of pitches he can find his way into the a key role in the Dodgers rotation.
Miami Marlins
Brian Anderson
Anderson has yet to make his big league debut, but that will certainly change after the performance he is currently putting on in Florida. He is currently hitting .385 AVG, 1 HR, 7 RBI, 1.095 during his time with the big league team. Starting in the minors will probably be the decision for Anderson, but a call-up will certainly be in his future sometime this season.
Minnesota Twins
Byron Buxton
The former #1 overall prospect in the MLB has dealt with a lot of misfortune in his professional career. In 138 professional games, he has 94 H, 12 HR, 44 RBI, .220 AVG, .274 OBP, .398 SLG. Buxton is still young (23) and has a the tools to be an all-star player. This could be the breakout year that Buxton needs to align himself with the hype.
Milwaukee Brewers
Keon Broxton
After going up and down between the minors and bigs last year, Broxton will look to solidify himself as the everyday centerfielder for the Brewers in 2017. A lot is being expected of Broxton as an everyday player and so far in the spring he has shown that he is capable of being in such a role. In 52 AB this spring, Broxton has .346 AVG, 3 HR, 10 RBI, 1.039 OPS. Hopefully Broxton can guide the young Brewers as one of their key-players.
New York Mets
Robert Gsellman
The rich get richer. A rotation that already includes Noah Syndergaard, Jacob DeGrom, Matt Harvey and Steven Matz will also have the backup of Zach Wheeler, Seth Lugo and Robert Gsellman. Gsellman looks to obtain a rotation spot regardless if an injured Matz can start the season off the DL. In his first 7 games at the big league level, Gsellman posted a 2.42 ERA with 42 Ks in 44.2 IP. This spring he has posted a 2.31 ERA and 1.07 WHIP which has helped him obtain a rotation spot in an already stacked group of starters.
New York Yankees
Greg Bird
After the Yankees loss Mark Teixeira to retirement, they looked to either Tyler Austin or Greg Bird to take over in the everyday role at first. After Austin fractured his foot, the battle for first came down to Bird and newly acquired Chris Carter. Bird blew everyone out of the water this spring. He hit .447 AVG, 7 HR, 13 RBI, 1.612 OPS. Absolutely crazy numbers which has solidified his role as the everyday first baseman. Now, expect Bird to roll over this success to the regular season.
Oakland Athletics
Ryon Healy
Healy burst onto the scenes last season in a big way. He won AL Rookie of the month for September, which ended a very successful freshman campaign. His average of .305 was highest on the team and among other AL Rookies. A slugging percentage of .524 was 2nd highest among rookies in franchise history. Healy will look to continue this success and become the all-star the athletics so desperately need.
Philadelphia Phillies
Roman Quinn
Quinn was called up last year by the Phillies and played in 15 games. In those games, Quinn had 10 R, 15 H, .263 AVG, .373 OBP, .333 SLG. Not a bad start to his professional career. He has looked good this spring hitting .289 AVG, 1 HR, 6 RBI, 4 SB in 21 games. He will start the season in the minors, but look for him to get called up at some point and make some noise.
Pittsburgh Pirates
Jameson Taillon
Taillon has been considered a top pitching prospect of the game since being drafted 2nd overall in the 2010 draft out of high school. He finally had his big league debut last year, starting in 18 games. During his time at the bigs, he went 5-4 with a 3.38 ERA. In 12 innings this spring, he has struck out 10 and held his ERA to 3.65. The Pirates will look for Taillon to be their #2 starter behind Gerrit Cole.
San Diego Padres
Hunter Renfroe
The starting right fielder for the San Diego Padres will be 25 year old Hunter Renfroe. He came bursting onto the scene last season hitting .371 AVG, 4 HR, 14 RBI, .389 OBP, .800 SLG in his first 11 big league appearances. He has continued swing the hot bat this spring with a .304 AVG, 2 HR, 12 RBI, .831 OPS in 22 games. There isn’t much depth for the Padres at right field so they will weigh heavily on a breakout year from Renfroe.
San Francisco Giants
Tyler Beede
Beede has yet to pitch in the big leagues, but the Giants #1 prospect has looked very good in the minors and spring training. Last year in AA, Beede posted a 2.81 ERA while striking out 135 in 147.1 innings. This spring, he has a 0.96 ERA in 9.1 IP. He is capable of a late season call-up and fireworks.
Seattle Mariners
Mitch Haniger
The starting right field position looks to be secured by Haniger. This is due to killing the cover off the ball and some great defensive plays this spring. In 21 games, he has maintained a .412 AVG with a 1.151 OPS. Haniger’s regular season stats show a .229 AVG in 34 games so hopefully he will be able to carry over this spring success into when it really matters.
St. Louis Cardinals
Jose Martinez
Martinez has come a long way but has performed well on the big league stage. Last season, he hit .438 AVG, .500 OBP, .500 SLG in 12 games with the Cardinals. If those numbers seemed like a fluke, he has continued to scrape in the spring. In 24 games, he has hit .380 AVG, 4 HR, 15 RBI, 1.248 OPS. The 28 year-old rookie will be a utility man in the outfield for St. Louis but could make some noise if given the opportunity.
Tampa Bay Rays
Blake Snell
Snell has been a top pitching prospect for the Rays for a few years. Last year, he got his chance to prove why. In 19 games, Snell posted a 3.54 ERA, and in 89 innings, struck out 98. Very good stats in a tough division. Look for him to build on those numbers and be a top of the line starter for Tampa.
Texas Rangers
Mike Hauschild
Hauschild has yet to pitch at the professional level, but it looks as though he will be given that opportunity this season. No better time like the present for this 27 year-old. He looks to have captured the final spot in the Rangers rotation due to some injuries and a strong spring. In 20 innings, he has struck out 18 and maintained a 2.70 ERA. Might be tough for Tyson Ross, Andrew Cashner, or Chi Chi Gonzalez to get a rotation spot back if Hauschild continues to pitch well, as they move onto the regular season.
Toronto Blue Jays
Marcus Stroman
This is a name that many people already know. Stroman looked stellar in 2015 but then tapered off a bit in 2016. Well in 2017, Stroman looks as strong as ever. He dominated Puerto Rico in the Championship of the World Baseball Classic and was awarded the MVP award. The prediction now is that Stroman will continue this success to be an elite pitcher in the American League.
Washington Nationals
Trea Turner
Turner is a phenomenal baseball player, plain and simple. Last season, he hit .342 AVG in 73 games and added 13 HR, 40 RBI, 33 SB. A natural shortstop, was forced to play centerfield and still looked superb. Now Turner will be back at shortstop, and we will be able to see what he can do in a full season.
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