One Thing Bryce Harper, Each Top 2012 Call-Up Must Fix to Hit Superstar Status

Someone forgot to tell Mike Trout that rookies are supposed to struggle in the big leagues—it’s basically a rite of passage. Sure, he got his feet wet last season, but that doesn’t mean he was destined to become the best player in baseball.

Obviously, Trout is an outlier who's not from this planet.

For all rookies not named Trout, the 2012 season has been much more of a challenge. While all the players on this list have been the talk at baseball at some point, the adjustment process has led to noticeable struggles.

Here’s a look at 10 rookies and the adjustments they must make in order to become potential superstars in the major leagues.

Bryce Harper

Harper has pulverized fastballs (8.0 wFB) since getting the call in late April, but had to adjust to a steady diet of breaking balls after his first week (2.9 wCB). However, he still hasn’t learned to effectively recognize or barrel a good changeup, as evidenced by a -2.1 wCH pitch value, according to FanGraphs.com.

Will Middlebrooks

Prior to landing on the disabled list with a fractured wrist, 66.7 percent of the time when Will Middlebrooks pulled the ball, it was on the ground. However, when he drives the ball to center and right field, those rates drop to 32.4 percent and 21.6 percent, respectively.

He excelled in the minor leagues by utilizing his power to all fields. Now, in the major leagues, he’ll be forced to trust his hands and plate coverage.

Manny Machado

Manny Machado has already proven that he can destroy hanging breaking balls. In fact, according to FanGraphs, he is mashing them to a tune of a 2.1 wCB pitch value.

Against fastballs, on the other hand, his pitch value sits at an unimpressive -1.8 wFB. Considering that he'll likely hit towards the bottom of the Orioles order for the remainder of the season, the 20-year-old should be aggressive with fastballs early in the count.

Trevor Bauer

Although Bauer turned in one dominant start of his four in the major leagues, the others are tainted by high walk totals and general inefficiency.

When ahead in the count, the right-hander does not need to worry about giving opposing hitters a look at the reverse slider, especially if only for “show me” purposes. Rather, Bauer needs to attack opposing hitters with his non-experimental, plus offerings.

Josh Rutledge

Although Rutledge has been surprisingly successful this season—.331/.349/.605 in 31 games—the circumstances have been usual. One area where lots of young hitters thrive is when ahead in the count, when one presumably is more inclined to see a fastball. For Rutledge, however, that simply isn’t the case:

1-0: .271 (50 PA)

2-0: .200 (11 PA)

2-1: .125 (25 PA)

3-0: .000 (1 PA)

3-1: .167 (7 PA)

3-2: .250 (7 PA)

Relative to other offensive issues, Rutledge’s issue is something that can easily improve and should with more experience. 

Andrelton Simmons

Much like Machado, Simmons was successful (prior to hitting the disabled list with a broken hand) at the plate due to his ability to hit breaking balls—rather, they sped up his bat.

He’s registered pitch values of 1.9 wSL and 3.3 wCB this season, but has struggled against fastballs (-2.4 wFB). Especially when he comes back from the hand injury, opposing pitchers will force him to hit middle-in fastballs.

Starling Marte

Marte has swung at 36.8 percent of pitches outside the strike zone since joining the Pirates, which despite being a small sample, is well above the league average of 26.8 percent.

This season at Triple-A Indianapolis, Marte offered at only 23.6 percent of pitches outside of the strike zone. Therefore, until his plate discipline improves, Marte's ability to lay off pitcher’s pitches will seemingly dictate his success at the plate.

Matt Harvey

When he’s on, Matt Harvey can be dominant. With a mid-to-upper-90s fastball, an upper-80s slider and a hard curveball, the right-hander has been nearly unhittable at times since making his big league debut.

However, he’s also endured outings where he didn’t have his best stuff; his fastball wasn’t as crisp while the slider lacked late, downward bite. So, Harvey will have to learn to be more of pitcher and less of a thrower on those days.

Mike Olt

Olt was thrust into an understandably tough situation, as he may not have a lock on a single position until 2014. Although he possesses plenty of raw power to all fields, he sometimes tries to generate more pull power and makes too much contact off his front side.

In the major leagues, the right-handed hitter will have to let the ball travel deeper and resist the temptation to chase elevated fastballs.

Anthony Rizzo

After batting .305 against left-handed pitching in 186 PA this season at Triple-A, he’s regressed considerably since reaching the majors (.179 in 59 PA). In general, Rizzo is more successful when he drives the ball to the opposite field (.412 in 34 PA), a habit that will improve his ability to hit left-handed pitching as well.