Jason Heyward and 6 MLB Players Who Must Rebound for Team's Sake

The following seven players struggled this past season and are integral parts to their team's past, present, and future successes. Whether or not the players can return to form or fully attain their potential remains to be seen.

However, their teams invested significant amounts of money into these players and it's time these seven players responded.  

7. Jason Heyward

Atlanta Braves outfielder Jason Heyward was expected to flourish right away after joining the major league team to start the 2010 season.

Heyward's plate discipline surpasses seasoned veterans around the league and his power rivals silver slugger winners. So, what was missing from the highly-touted prospect? Maybe it was his batting stance, maybe he was too patient at the plate. 

Whatever the issue is, Heyward has the tools to improve in 2012. He enters his third MLB season in the primed for a breakout year. The Braves are counting on Heyward to turn it around and if he doesn't, questions will begin to surface about him not being as good as advertised. 

6. Ichiro Suzuki

Ichiro Suzuki struggled like never before in 2011. He batted just .272 with 184 hits, after 10 seasons of hitting .300-plus and 200 or more hits. The Seattle Mariners finished last in the AL West in 2011 and his unexpected decline contributed significantly to the team's fall.

Suzuki turned 38 after the end of last season, so perhaps his age has finally caught up to him. For his sake (he's a free agent after this year) and for the status of the Mariners in 2012, Suzuki must bounce back from his career-worst year. 

5. Carl Crawford

It's no secret Boston Red Sox outfielder Carl Crawford played horrific in 2011. He was one of the many reasons why the team blew their 8.5 game lead in the AL Wild Card last September.

Crawford stole only 18 bases after stealing more than 45 in seven of hid eight prior seasons. 

Recently, news came out that Crawford re-injured his wrist and will begin the 2012 season on the disabled list. 

The Red Sox aren't paying Crawford $142 million over seven years to sit on the sidelines. When he returns to the field, he needs to play with a vengeance and look as good as he has ever. He needs to play with a chip on his shoulder. 

4. Chase Utley

Philadelphia Phillies second baseman Chase Utley continues to undergo rehab due to chronic knee pain. The former NL MVP and five-time All-Star has spent a lot of time on the disabled list in the past couple of seasons.

The Phillies need Utley back on the field performing like the younger Utley did. Last year he hit .259 with 11 homers in 2011 and also missed 49 games. Those kind of numbers are not what the Phillies are looking for, especially in a hitter's park. 

3. Jayson Werth

Clearly the Washington Nationals overpaid to sign outfielder Jayson Werth prior to last season. Werth is a Scott Boras client and was rewarded with a seven-year, $126 million deal.

What's done is done. The Nationals can't undo the transaction and will be financially handicapped in the years to come because of the deal. 

After hitting .232 in the first year of the deal, Werth needs to improve on that total. First of all, he needs to show the Nationals they didn't make as big of a mistake as it initially appeared. Second, the Nationals have a chance to compete in the upcoming year and if Werth hits like he did in Philadelphia, they just might. 

2. Jason Bay

Here's another outfielder in the NL East struggling to live up to expectations.

In two seasons with the New York Mets, outfielder Jason Bay sports just a .251 batting average with 18 homers. Something clearly has not been right since he switched cities from Boston to New York. 

Perhaps it's because of the shift from a hitter's paradise to a pitcher's best friend. Regardless, Bay's slump is prolonged and is better defined as a "decline."

His starting left field job is no longer safe and now has the pressure to produce in the sport's largest market. 

1. Max Scherzer

With the offense that Detroit Tigers pitcher Max Scherzer has supporting him, Scherzer doesn't need to be great for the team to have success. He just needs to be good.

He won 15 games in 2011, but sported a 4.43 ERA. With the offense led by Prince Fielder and Miguel Cabrera, Scherzer could improve his win total to 20 games with quality innings next season.

The Tigers are counting on a legitimate No. 2 starter to counter ace Justin Verlander. If Scherzer is playing at the top of his game, the Tigers could make it to the World Series.