Baltimore Orioles: The Top 5 Candidates to Have a Breakout Season

Competing in one of the toughest divisions in MLB, the Baltimore Orioles are in a constant struggle to bring in the kind of talent to match the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees in the AL East.

Adding Tommy Hunter, Chris Davis and Taylor Teagarden from the Texas Rangers was a start. Trading Jeremy Guthrie to the Colorado Rockies brought back a replacement starter and some bullpen help.

Their rotation situation is relatively wide open, and with talented youngsters, motivated veterans and international talent looking to grab a spot, that should create the kind of competitive atmosphere to push certain players to new levels.

With a good mix of young pitching and veteran position players, the Orioles should be in every series they play this season. Manager Buck Showalter has rejuvenated the energy of the franchise, leaving hope in the hearts of Baltimore fans each time they head to Camden Yards.

Looking for another season to trend in the right direction in 2012, here are five guys that are poised to have a breakout year, and ultimately help Baltimore move back into contention.

SP Wei-Yin Chen

After signing Chen to a three-year contract with a club option for 2015, the Orioles have invested in his ability to get hitters out at the major league level.

The 26-year-old left-handed starter from the Japanese Central League is a veteran in his own country, after spending the last four seasons with Chunichi. He compiled a 36-30 record with a 2.48 ERA and logged over 160 innings in three of those four seasons.

Since the Orioles traded Jeremy Guthrie in early February, Chen is in the mix to be one of the top starters in the rotation. Early in camp, Showalter is already impressed with what he brings to the table, being able to locate his fastball to live hitters and mix his secondary pitches well. 

Chen could be a stalwart in the rotation for years to come, so this season could be the first step to establishing himself as a solid MLB starter.

C Matt Wieters

Wieters has fallen off since his impressive rookie season in 2009, when he hit .288 with nine home runs in only 96 games. While his games, ABs and stats are up since then, it seems like his production should be higher.

After the Taylor Teagarden acquistion, the Orioles now have two quality catchers. Wieters is the starter and the more polished of the two, but if Teagarden can provide excellent defense and spell the starter from time to time, I think production will go back up.

132 games at catcher is almost too much in this day and age. With Teagarden now on board, limiting Wieters to around 100 games behind the plate and giving him some games at first base and DH could help drive his batting average and RBI up.

Since this is only his fourth professional season, Wieters still has plenty of room for improvement and time to make necessary adjustments to his approach. 2012 could be the year he turns the corner behind and at the plate.

CF Adam Jones

You could argue Adam Jones has been a consistent performer for Baltimore over the past four seasons, therefore eliminating him from the "breakout" category. But when I watch a player with his athletic ability and power, I want him to dominate.

Jones put up 25 home runs and 83 RBI last season, earning him around $6.15 million after his arbitration-avoiding deal. The 26 year old will anchor the outfield, and likely be looking for his big long-term extension going into 2013. 

For the Orioles, hopefully Jones puts the motivation from that contract and putting Baltimore back on the baseball map as his tools for improvement. If he can cut down on strikeouts and increase his stolen bases and batting average, Jones could put the Orioles and himself in a very favorable position in 2012, and he could wind up being one of the better bargains in all of MLB.

SP Zach Britton

The 24-year-old lefty had a solid rookie season, going 11-11 with a 4.61 ERA with the big league club. Britton split time between AA Bowie and AAA Norfolk and Baltimore, but he will be a full-time starter for the Orioles in 2012.

The one-time Texas A&M commit will be asked to shoulder a heavier load than he did in 2011, especially with Jeremy Guthrie no longer anchoring the rotation.

Britton, who was also the No. 28 prospect prior to the 2011 season as rated by Baseball America, will look to lower his ERA and maintain his level of conditioning after logging 154 innings during his rookie season.

If he can do those things, he will likely look upon 2012 as successful in his young career. He will also give the Orioles another quality starter in a very young, yet talented starting rotation.

SP Tommy Hunter

Tommy Hunter had a breakout season with the Texas Rangers in 2010. Going 13-4 after entering the rotation mid-season, he led MLB in winning percentage and pitched in the postseason during their first World Series appearance.

After another injury-ridden 2011 that landed him with the Orioles in the Koji Uehara deal, Hunter went 3-3 over 11 starts in August and September. His 5.06 ERA left something to be desired, especially considering the success he had in the Rangers' hitter-friendly park.

Another ripple effect of the Guthrie trade is that Hunter is likely the No. 1 starter for the Orioles this season. On paper, that seems to be the most likely option, but with virtually every spot in the rotation up for grabs during spring training, he will have to pitch well to stay.

Hunter has the talent to rebound from a tough season and be the kind of pitcher that made Uehara expendable. Time will tell if 2012 will be that year.