MLB Predictions 2012: 9 Rookies Ready for a Breakout Year

The 2012 Major League Baseball season will play host to a lot of interesting rookies to watch.

Yoenis Cespedes from Cuba, Yu Darvish from Japan and Bryce Harper (the first overall pick in the 2010 MLB Draft) are three of the biggest names looking to make a splash in 2012.

Some rookies will have starting jobs on Opening Day. Others will have to work their way up by continuing to impress in the minors.

There is one factor they all have in common: they want to impress in 2012.

Here are nine rookies poised to have a breakout season for their ball clubs.

9. Yu Darvish, SP, Texas Rangers

The hype surrounding Japanese phenom Yu Darvish is off the charts.

Of course, similar propaganda surrounded Daisuke Matsuzaka. Throughout the hubbub, Matsuzaka followed an up-and-down rookie season with the Boston Red Sox by going 18-3 with a 2.90 ERA. However, since that highly successful 2008 season, injuries have derailed his career.

Do I think that Darvish will follow in Matsuzaka’s footsteps by not living up to the hype? No. In fact, I think that Darvish is a lock to win the AL Rookie of the Year in 2012.

In 2011, Darvish posted an 18-6 record with a 1.44 ERA in the Japanese League. To dig a little deeper, Darvish had a 7.67 strikeout-to-walk ratio and a WHIP of 0.828 in 232 innings pitched. His numbers were astounding.

Darvish came back down to earth a little bit during spring training with a 3.60 ERA, but he’s still shown that he’s a very good pitcher.

In four total starts, Darvish struck out 21 batters in just 15 innings pitched. He’s displayed his filthy breaking ball and has proven he can put hitters away.

Since he's playing in Texas (a notorious hitter’s park), don’t expect the gaudy numbers that Darvish posted in Japan. However, I fully expect Darvish to impress in 2012.

8. Yoenis Cespedes, CF, Oakland Athletics

Yoenis Cespedes was certainly a mystery heading into the 2012 campaign.

Other teams had their reasons for not signing him this offseason. Whether teams hadn't seen enough of Cespedes to gauge his talents, or they felt that the competition in Cuba was too weak to properly evaluate him, or they just did not want to take a risk, there were a lot of factors working against him.

In stepped the Oakland A's, a notoriously low-budget team that rarely makes big moves in free agency.

They signed Cespedes to a four-year $36 million contract, which (excuse the pun) came out of left field.

However, the calculated risk by Brad Pitt, excuse me, Billy Beane, has appeared to pay off (at least early on).

In his second career MLB game, Cespedes hit his first Major League homerun.

With one of the smallest sample sizes imaginable, Cespedes is hitting .333 with a homer, a double and two RBI after his first two Major League games.

No doubt Cespedes still has a lot to prove, but I think he's poised to impress in 2012.

7. Bryce Harper, RF, Washington Nationals

At just 19 years old, former No. 1 overall pick Bryce Harper will start the 2012 season in Triple-A Syracuse.

However, everyone in the baseball community knows it's only a matter of time before Harper gets the call to the The Show.

But when?

That's the question on a lot of fans' minds.

Obviously, Harper will have to raise eyebrows at the Triple-A level. He won't get called up if he's struggling no matter how badly the fans want to see him. The organization owes it to Harper to put him in the best position to succeed moving forward.

In my opinion, there are three major contributing factors to answer the "but when?" question.

1. Harper's AAA Performance

If Harper tears it up in the minors, expect the Nationals to make that decision sooner rather than later. Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo has made it clear that Harper is MLB-ready, they just don't want to rush him.

2. Injuries

If any of the Nationals outfielders suffer an injury early in the season, Harper has to be the replacement, the Karma Gods would be making too much sense at that point.

3. Team's Performance

This factor can work on both ends of the spectrum. If the Nationals are playing well, adding Harper would make them a better team. If the Nationals are not playing well, adding Harper makes sense to give him looks at the major league level.

Be patient, fans. It may not be long before we see Harper in the show.

6. Jesus Montero, C, Seattle Mariners

Jesus Montero came to the Seattle Mariners via the Michael Pineda trade with the New York Yankees.

The Yankees needed pitching, the Mariners needed hitting. Overall, I think this was a fair trade for both sides.

Montero should be an everyday player for the Mariners this season. Whether he spends the bulk of that time at DH (due to Miguel Olivo playing catcher) or at catcher to improve his feel for the game defensively, Montero will get plenty of looks.

In 18 games played for the Yankees last season, Montero put up impressive numbers. He had a .328 batting average, .406 on-base percentage and .590 slugging percentage to accompany four doubles, four homers and 12 RBI.

Montero has all of the tools needed to become an All-Star caliber player. Who knows, he may even make the All-Star game this season.

5. Matt Moore, SP, Tampa Bay Rays

Matt Moore’s 2011 postseason performance raised a lot of eyebrows. Moore looked more like a 10-year MLB veteran than a 22-year-old rookie.

In two games (one start) Moore went 1-0 with a 0.90 ERA and a 0.60 WHIP, striking out eight batters in 10 innings.

As opposing teams get a better scouting report on Moore, he may not have as much success, but he’s a big reason why analysts think the Rays have one of the best pitching rotations in all of baseball.

Moore will join a pitching rotation in Tampa Bay that already has David Price, James Shields and last year’s AL Rookie of the Year, Jeremy Hellickson.

Maybe Moore can keep that AL Rookie of the Year award in house, but he has to compete with Yu Darvish and others.

4. Ryan Lavarnway, C, Boston Red Sox

Ryan Lavarnway can hit, plain and simple.

Last year at Triple-A Pawtucket, Lavarnway hit .295 with 18 homers and 55 RBI.

Although scouts haven’t been wowed by his defense, his bat often makes up for his shortcomings.

Prior to the signing of backup catcher Kelly Shoppach, I thought that the Red Sox would replace long-time captain Jason Varitek with Lavarnway to back up Jarrod Saltalamacchia.

Nevertheless, it could be seen as a blessing in disguise because Lavarnway can continue to polish his game in the minors.

Despite starting the year in Triple-A, I expect Lavarnway to be a difference maker for the Red Sox this season. The Red Sox have been riddled with injuries during the last few seasons and if that trend continues into 2012, Lavarnway could fill in at catcher, first base or DH.

3. Mike Trout, Outfielder, Los Angeles Angels

When a baseball player has the complete package—hitting for power, hitting for average, fielding, running and throwing with no holes in their game—they're referred to as a five-tool player.

This term gets thrown around a lot with Mike Trout, and for good reason. He steals bases, he hits homers, he bats for a great average and he has impressive range in the outfield.

With that said, Trout is going to start the year in Triple-A.

Unfortunately for Trout, the Angels' depth chart in the outfield is simply too crowded at the moment. The Halos are trying to trade outfielder Bobby Abreu, but haven't had much success. Torii Hunter, Vernon Wells and Peter Bourjos have the starting spots for now, so Trout may have to wait for an injury before he gets his chance in the Majors.

Nevertheless, Trout is one of the top prospects in all of baseball and he'll surely get some MLB at-bats before the end of the season.

2. Tyler Pastornicky, SS, Atlanta Braves

Unlike Mike Trout who has been buried on the depth chart in Los Angeles, Tyler Pastornicky will be a starter on Opening Day. Admittedly, this is a huge advantage for any rookie, as long as they can take advantage of the opportunity.

The jury is out on Pastornicky as far as how well he will perform with the Braves in 2012.

He’s played well at both the Double-A and Triple-A levels, but that doesn’t always translate to success in the majors.

Despite winning the shortstop battle to gain the starting job, Pastornicky had a lackluster spring performance. In 25 spring games, Pastornicky hit just .221 with no home runs.

Nevertheless, having the starting job from Opening Day should aid Pastornicky’s confidence. Also, the Braves have a lot of talented hitters on the roster to mentor the rookie.

Although Pastornicky's spring numbers don't indicate him having a huge year, I think that being surrounded by veteran players that will shoulder the load offensively should allow him to relax and just play ball.

1. Trevor Bauer, SP, Arizona Diamondbacks

According to MLB.com, Trevor Bauer is the Arizona Diamondbacks top prospect.

Due to his quirky delivery to home plate, Bauer has been drawing comparisons to San Francisco Giants' ace Tim Lincecum.

After being drafted third overall in the first round of the 2011 draft by the Diamondbacks, Bauer reached the Double-A level in his first year. If he continues to tear through the minors, he may make a huge difference for the Diamondbacks down the stretch, especially if the Diamondbacks make the playoffs again.

Bauer has even drawn interest from Los Angeles Angels' new addition C.J. Wilson, who has been impressed by his work ethic.

Although Bauer will have to impress in Double-A and Triple-A before he gets his chance, I wouldn't be surprised if the D-Backs' hot prospect pulls a Matt Moore and makes a difference in a meaningful playoff series.