MLB Spring Training: 5 Players Who Are for Real, 5 Who Aren't

Ah, spring training. That magical time of year when no-name players put up All-Star stats, real All-Stars flirt with the Mendoza line, last-place teams win all of their games, and fans everywhere believe the exhibition results actually mean something.

Besides the glorious fact that baseball exists again, all we really have to look forward to before April 1 is the development of young prospects who might contribute to the big league club down the road—and this year, the craziness of the World Baseball Classic.

For every Gregor Blanco (.333, 13 stolen bases in 2012 spring training; 56 runs, 26 stolen bases in regular season) success story, there is a fraud like John Bowker (.312, MLB-leading 23 RBI in 2009 spring training; .194, seven RBI in regular season).

So who has the best shot at becoming the next Blanco? Who is building up the hopes of their fanbases, only to crush them with disappointment when the games actually count? Read on to see five young players and prospects who are for real and five who will be frauds in 2013.

Please keep in mind that all 10 of the following slides represents a player I believe will have a positive impact down the road. This is simply to point out who I think is ready for the big leagues right NOW.

**All stats as of 3/11/2013 from MLB.com**

Brandon Belt, 1B (San Francisco Giants)

Spring training stats: .455, 4 HR, 9 RBI, 1.410 OPS

Brandon Belt is teetering very precariously on what I call the James Loney Ledge. Both are tall, sweet-swinging, left-handed first basemen who have been golden prospects for years.

Belt has a chance to actually live up to the potential, unlike Loney, but it all starts with the 2013 season.

Last spring training, Belt put up very strong numbers, giving Giants fans hope that he'd finally turned a corner. And while his 2012 regular season wasn't terrible, he landed far below expectations in the power department again.

There's reason for hope, though. Belt is on pace to more than double his previous career highs in spring training, while cutting down on strikeouts by one-third. So is he the real deal in 2013?

My fellow Dodgers fans and I sure hope not. But my instincts say the 25-year-old is primed for his best season yet.

Verdict: For real

Jackie Bradley Jr., OF (Boston Red Sox)

Spring training stats: .519, 1 HR, 4 RBI, 1.321 OPS

The Boston faithful are excited about Bradley—and rightfully so. The 2011 first-round draft pick has been putting up stellar numbers as he catapults through their minor league system.

In 2012, between High-A and Double-A, Bradley hit .315 with a .430 on-base percentage and 24 steals.

So far in spring training, Bradley has been absolutely tearing up opposing pitching. Granted, these are all small sample sizes, but any thought that his start was simply a hot streak was shredded by Bradley going off for six hits in his last three games.

While Bradley likely will start the season in the minors, he's a viable option to replace Jacoby Ellsbury if and when the center fielder is traded or picked up as a free agent. Based on his slow adaptation to Double-A last year (he had much better stats in High-A),

I think Bradley needs another year of seasoning in the minors.

Verdict: Not for real

Matt Harvey, SP (New York Mets)

Spring training stats: 1-0, 2.00 ERA, 0.78 WHIP, 2 BB, 12 K

Matt Harvey was a revelation in New York last season, getting the call-up for 10 starts and becoming a strikeout machine (70 in 59.1 innings pitched). Mets fans are looking at a potential dynamite rotation in the future with Harvey and fellow top prospect Zach Wheeler, but is it their time yet?

In spring training, Harvey is trying to prove that the likely decision to start him in the rotation in 2013 is a good one. Though he's only had three starts, his strikeout rate is still fantastic (12 in 9 innings), and opponents are hitting a measly .152 against him.

Naturally, there will be some growing pains along the way. For example, both earned runs Harvey has surrendered this spring were on solo home runs. All young players experience them. But Harvey is ready to make the jump and join the rotation full-time, especially for a team unlikely to contend in 2013.

Verdict: For real

Trevor Bauer, SP (Cleveland Indians)

Spring training stats: 1-0, 1 SV, 2.57 ERA, 0.71 WHIP, 5 SO/1 BB

Trevor Bauer was masterful in the minor leagues for the Arizona Diamondbacks last season before struggling mightily when he was called up to the big league team. Furthermore, Arizona catcher Miguel Montero announced publicly (per Adam Green of Arizona Sports) that the kid was tough to work with and refused to learn or listen.

Though Bauer was obviously struggling against major league hitters in his call-up, part of the reason the D'Backs parted with him in a three-team trade this winter was this perceived lack of interest in listening to coaches and veterans. But Bauer is on track for a fresh start in Cleveland, and his spring stats show that he isn't lacking in abilities.

The problem is that Bauer was so bad in his call-up last year, I have a hard time believing this isn't a spring fluke (especially when he's yet to actually start a game).

I really believe Bauer will be a star pitcher down the road, but another half-season or more in the minors could do him good. If I'm the Indians, I look elsewhere for a fifth starter, at least to begin the season.

Verdict: Not for real

Domonic Brown, OF (Philadelphia Phillies)

Spring training stats: .432 AVG, 3 HR, 4 RBI, 1.252 OPS

Is this finally the year that Domonic Brown lives up to his potential and becomes a fixture in the Phillies lineup? I think so. Not only is the 26-year-old outfielder having the best spring of his pro career, he seems to have a renewed sense of confidence at the plate.

With Chase Utley and Ryan Howard potentially back in the lineup for a full year, this could be a monster addition to a team that is hoping to bounce back from an injury-filled 2012 to show it still belongs in the difficult NL East.

My faith in Brown is partially due to an increased awareness of the strike zone (five walks against six strikeouts), too. In his pro career, he averages about twice as many strikeouts as walks.

Brown has some very real, raw power behind his 6'5" frame and smooth swing. The Phillies are expecting him to start in left field and contribute every day. His improvements in judging the zone and getting on base more consistently have me singing the same tune.

Verdict: For real

Aaron Hicks, OF (Minnesota Twins)

Spring training stats: .371, 4 HR, 13 RBI, 1.178 OPS

If you missed this kid's three-homer game last week, shame on you. Aaron Hicks is an immense talent for a Minnesota Twins team in severe need of any kind of silver lining. The Twins felt good about parting with Ben Revere and Denard Span because they knew they had Hicks and fellow center field prospect Darin Mastroianni in waiting.

As you can see by his line, Hicks has all the makings of a star. What those numbers won't tell you is that he has very good speed, but gets thrown out stealing too often, or he strikes out quite a bit for a player of his type. Or his .975 fielding percentage in the minors in 2012 would have ranked him dead last among center fielders in the bigs last year.

There is tremendous upside. He can hit for average and power and will be a threat on the bases. But this is one of those guys whose spring-training numbers I have to chalk up as fluky.

He's close, and with a stop at Triple-A, he could get the instruction he needs, but for now, the Twins would be placing him on their Opening Day roster purely based off potential.

Verdict: Not for real

Michael Choice, OF (Oakland Athletics)

Spring training stats: .371, 1 HR, 9 RBI, .950 OPS

The 23-year-old sweet-swinging outfielder has been an exciting prospect for a couple years now, and A's fans are just salivating over the idea of him becoming a full-time member of the big league outfield. This spring, Choice is finally putting up the huge numbers to match his minor league stats.

After ho-hum spring training performances in previous years, Choice is starting to rip the cover off the ball in 2013. He only has one home run so far, but has driven in nine runs and is hitting just under .400. He's still striking out a bit too much and walking way too little, but his talent has shone through.

Billy Beane acquired some outfield depth this winter by trading for Chris Young, meaning that the only way Choice will get regular playing time in 2013 is if a couple guys get hurt or traded.

Choice is clearly trending in the right direction, and the plate discipline will come. I firmly believe this kid has muscled his way on to the big league roster at some point in the early months of the season.

Verdict: For real

Michael Wacha, SP (St. Louis Cardinals)

Spring training stats: 0.00 ERA, 1 SV, 6 H, 0.72 WHIP, 1 BB, 13 K, .167 BAA

Well, at least Michael Wacha knows he won't have to worry about getting the Montero treatment from his starting catcher. The uber-prospect got an exceptionally rave review from Yadier Molina, the game's best defensive catcher, after the two first paired up as a battery this spring.

That's high praise and very well-earned. Wacha, a member of the 2012 draft class, is making his presence felt at Cardinals camp and may have put himself on the fast track to the big leagues (especially given the bad break St. Louis suffered with Chris Carpenter's injury). I'm a huge fan of pitching, and really believe in Wacha, but I also have to be realistic.

In doing that, it's absurd to expect somebody with hardly any minor league experience to his name to not hit the usual bumps in the road that all young players face. There is no doubt in my mind that Wacha is on his way, but it will take at least another season, likely more, of dominance in the minors.

Verdict: Not for real

Yasiel Puig, OF (Los Angeles Dodgers)

Spring training stats: .452, 1 HR, 6 RBI, 0 BB, 6 K, 1.083 OPS

So far this spring, Yasiel Puig has arguably been the Dodgers' most impressive, consistent hitter. And that's saying something. The comparisons to fellow Cuban and A's outfielder Yoenis Cespedes are warranted, as Puig has shown an ability to spray the ball to every field with power and get down the line faster than should be humanly possible for someone his size.

The most worrisome stat is the half-dozen strikeouts. He displays a clear lack of patience at the plate. But for someone who swings freely, Puig does make a lot of solid contact. He is a smart hitter who is making rapid adjustments on the fly, which is a hugely important trait for a young player.

As a Dodger fan, I've watched him closer than most, and it seems that Puig is very similar to most raw, power-hitting prospects. Meaning, he can go one of two ways—the Carlos Pena route or the Cespedes route.

I believe it's the latter, which would be fortuitous for the Dodgers.

Puig has demonstrated a knack for fixing his own negative tendencies at the plate very quickly and may not have even scratched the surface of his own power. He also may have earned himself the first shot at a call-up if Carl Crawford can't get healthy.

Verdict: For real

Kevin Gausman, SP (Baltimore Orioles)

Spring training stats: 2.35 ERA, 3 BB, 9 K, 1.43 WHIP, .267 BAA

Those aren't the most eye-popping numbers in comparison to most players on this list, but I felt compelled to include last year's fourth overall draft pick for two reasons. First, he has great makeup and a fantastic repertoire. Second, the Orioles will need his services sooner rather than later.

Gausman will likely start the season in the minor leagues again, but he's doing a pretty solid job of making the rest of the league take notice this spring. The strikeout-to-walk ratio is very impressive, as it was in his brief stint in Single-A after being drafted last season.

Simply put, Gausman is an ace in the making. The Orioles won't want to rush him to the big leagues, even if they are in dire need of help.

Luckily for them, they can take his spring performance with a grain of salt. The kid only has 22.2 innings under his belt (this spring included) and is at least a year away from even sniffing the show.

Verdict: Not for real

You can follow Jeremy Dorn on Twitter @Jamblinman.