I am going to divide this into a couple of post, because I have a couple people you need to watch out for this year. Some of these guys will surprise you more that others, and some you might have just expected. This list is not in any order of talent, or how i expect these guys to finish.
1. Andrew Heaney- This guy is a smaller left handed pitcher that was traded to the Angels, and being traded to the Dodgers earlier this off season. He only gave a small sample size in the MLB, but I believe this guy has good off speed, and control of his body. You know the Angels believe in him the way I do, because they traded Howie Kendrick for Heaney. He will not be the number one pitcher in the Angels rotation, but he has the chance to move his way up.
2. George Springer- This guy was on track to do some incredible things as a rookie before he got injured. Playing in only 78 games Springer hit 20 home runs, and 51 RBI's. There was a down side to his game for he didn't hit for average finishing with a .231 average, and strikes out a lot. I think you can look by some of those things if he is getting 40 home runs a year. I believe the average will improve, but he will continue to strike out until he gets a little older.
3. Willy Peralta- This guy has grown in the 3 threes he has been in the league. Two seasons ago he became a starter for the Brewers, and last year broke out with his true potential. He finished with a record of 17-11 with a 3.53 ERA in 32 starts. The thing he needed to work on over the offseason was cutting down the amount of people he lets on base. He gives up a lot of hits, but can work his way out of it. That is a dangerous pitcher to be, if he knows how to pitch his way out of trouble he got himself into. Once he cuts those down he will become the Ace of that rotation.
4. Jonathan Schoop- The Orioles have a new look team this up coming season, and will be leaning on some new names in that offense. Schoop has rare power from the second base position. Was almost a full time starter last year, and finished with 16 home runs, and 45 RBI's. Those numbers don't look as good when you have a Nelson Cruz, Adam Jones, and Chris Davis in the line up. Now Cruz is gone, and it was discovered that Davis took steroids, and will probably decline to the numbers he used to have. That gives room for Schoop to get some more home runs, and drive in more runs. He also is a good defender, and can cover some ground for his size.
5. Josh Harrison- A guy that was the ultimate utility player last year for the Pirates. They just couldn't seem to find a permanent spot for him in the lineup, so they decided to put him everywhere. He can play all the outfield, and infield positions. He made the All-Star game with a .315 average, 13 home runs, 52 RBI's with 18 stolen bases. To be asked to play a new position everyday, and have a different spot in the line-up, and still make the All-Star game that says a lot. He has incredible potential, and will finally have a spot at 3rd base this year, and can get comfortable.
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