Projecting MLB's Spring Training All-Breakout Team, 1 Month Out
For established MLB players, spring training is a time to shake off the rust and prepare for the upcoming season, and in the grand scheme of things, stats don't mean a whole lot.
However, for others, spring training performance could be the difference between winning a spot on the Opening Day roster and kicking off the season in the minors.
As a result, there are always a handful of breakout performers each spring, and what follows is a position-by-position look at who could turn in a big preseason performance when camp kicks off a month from now.
With that in mind, the following is a collection of top prospects getting their first extended look in big league camp, non-roster invitees with a chance to make their way onto the roster and Rule 5 selections.
Catcher: Carlos Perez, Los Angeles Angels
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2014 Minor League Stats (Triple-A)
88 G, 301 AB, .259/.323/.385, 78 H, 16 2B, 2 3B, 6 HR, 34 RBI, 33 R
Overview
The Los Angeles Angels acquired 24-year-old backstop Carlos Perez from the Houston Astros this offseason, along with pitching prospect Nick Tropeano, in exchange for fellow catcher Hank Conger.
Chris Iannetta, who is in the final year of a three-year, $15.55 million, will be the starter behind the plate for the Angels once again this season.
However, the backup job is up for grabs now that Conger is gone, and while veteran Drew Butera has to be considered the front-runner for the job, Perez has a chance after a strong showing in the Venezuelan Winter League.
Perez hit .329/.365/.500 with 11 doubles, four home runs and 21 RBI in 41 games as the starting catcher for Leones del Caracas.
Jett Bandy is also on the 40-man roster, and he'll be in big league camp along with non-roster invitees Jackson Williams and Charles Cutler, but a strong showing from Perez could be enough for him to find his way onto the Opening Day roster.
First Baseman: Mark Canha, Oakland Athletics
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2014 Minor League Stats (Triple-A)
127 G, 465 AB, .303/.384/.505, 141 H, 28 2B, 3 3B, 20 HR, 82 RBI, 83 R
Overview
A consistent offensive producer in the minors since being taken in the seventh round of the 2010 draft, Mark Canha will finally have a chance to show what he can do at the big league level after being scooped up by the Oakland A's.
The 25-year-old was taken with the No. 2 pick in the Rule 5 draft by the Colorado Rockies, then traded to the A's, where he will have a chance to crack the Opening Day roster.
After trading off All-Stars Josh Donaldson, Brandon Moss and Derek Norris, the Athletics will be looking for creative sources of offense this spring, and Canha could be exactly the kind of cheap production they're looking for.
Canha is a .285/.375/.474 career hitter over five minor league seasons, and he is capable of playing both corner infield and outfield positions for a team that values versatility.
Second Baseman: Jose Peraza, Atlanta Braves
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2014 Minor League Stats (High-A, Double-A)
110 G, 469 AB, .339/.364/.441, 159 H, 20 2B, 11 3B, 2 HR, 44 RBI, 79 R, 60 SB
Overview
A high-ceiling prospect since being signed out of Venezuela back in 2011, Jose Peraza emerged as the top prospect in the Atlanta Braves organization with a breakout performance last season.
The 20-year-old has topped 60 stolen bases the past two seasons, and he knows how to use his speed offensively, putting the ball in play more times than not with just 17 walks and 47 strikeouts in 499 plate appearances in 2014.
Incumbent second baseman Tommy La Stella was traded to the Chicago Cubs this offseason, leaving the Braves with recently signed veteran Alberto Callaspo as their starting second baseman heading into the 2015 season.
He's just keeping the position warm for Peraza, and all signs point to him being handed the everyday job at some point during the upcoming season. A strong spring performance could expedite his arrival, and he will no doubt get an extended look in camp.
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Third Baseman: Jake Lamb, Arizona Diamondbacks
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2014 Minor League Stats (Double-A, Triple-A)
108 G, 392 AB, .327/.407/.566, 128 H, 39 2B, 5 3B, 15 HR, 84 RBI, 63 R
2014 MLB Stats
37 G, 126 AB, .230/.263/.373, 29 H, 4 2B, 1 3B, 4 HR, 11 RBI, 15 R
Overview
The Arizona Diamondbacks are expected to give Cuban slugger Yasmany Tomas every chance to win the starting third base job this spring, but there is still a chance he winds up as a corner outfielder long term.
Part of the reason for that is top prospect Jake Lamb, who got his first taste of big league action down the stretch last year after Martin Prado was traded to the New York Yankees.
The 24-year-old Lamb might be the best defensive third base prospect in baseball right now, and he is no slouch with the bat either, hitting .321/.406/.553 in parts of three minor league seasons.
A breakout performance this spring could be enough for the Diamondbacks to change course on their plans for Tomas, with Lamb opening the season at the hot corner and the highly touted Cuban defector pushing someone like left fielder David Peralta to the bench.
Shortstop: Francisco Lindor, Cleveland Indians
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2014 Stats (Double-A, Triple-A)
126 G, 507 AB, .276/.338/.389, 140 H, 16 2B, 4 3B, 11 HR, 62 RBI, 75 R, 28 SB
Overview
It was tempting to pick Pittsburgh Pirates international signing Jung-ho Kang here, but it's still hard to tell just what kind of player the Korean infielder is going to be at the MLB level. Instead, we'll go with one of the top prospects in all of baseball and someone who is expected to earn an everyday job at some point in 2015 in Francisco Lindor.
The No. 13 prospect in the league entering last season, according to Baseball America, Lindor was taken eighth overall in the 2011 draft.
He's been on the fast track since day one, and the 21-year-old has more than held his own as one of the youngest players at each level of his progression through the Cleveland Indians system.
Lindor is expected to open the season in the minors, with Jose Ramirez manning the shortstop position in Cleveland for the time being, but it wouldn't be at all surprising to see him called up shortly after the Super 2 deadline passes.
A strong spring would only further cement his early arrival.
Left Fielder: Jesse Winker, Cincinnati Reds
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2014 Minor League Stats (High-A, Double-A)
74 G, 282 AB, .287/.399/.518, 81 H, 20 2B, 15 HR, 57 RBI, 57 R, 5 SB
Overview
One of the best pure hitters in all of minor league baseball, Jesse Winker also flashed some decent power last season with 15 home runs in just 282 at-bats, and it's his bat that will be his ticket to an everyday job in the big leagues.
"Winker's maturity and excellent size, strength and natural ability will carry him to a healthy batting average as a force at the plate," wrote Bernie Pleskoff of MLB.com.
The Cincinnati Reds' decision to trade for veteran Marlon Byrd likely means Winker will spend at least one more season in the minors, and understandably so, as he has played just 21 games at the Double-A level to this point in his career.
However, that doesn't mean he can't still turn some heads this spring after being announced among the team's non-roster invitees to big league camp.
Expect the 21-year-old to be challenging for a job next spring, and he has the potential to be a key building block for the next wave of talent in Cincinnati.
Center Fielder: Rusney Castillo, Boston Red Sox
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2014 MLB Stats
10 G, 36 AB, .333/.400/.528, 12 H, 1 2B, 2 HR, 6 RBI, 6 R, 3 SB
Overview
With just 10 pro games under his belt, Cuban outfielder Rusney Castillo didn't have much of a chance to show Boston fans what he's capable of last season.
However, there's a reason the Red Sox shelled out a record $72.5 million over seven years to sign the Cuban defector.
Speed is the biggest weapon in the 27-year-old's arsenal, but he also has some legitimate power potential after bulking up and adding 20 pounds of muscle last year prior to signing with the team.
The everyday center field job looks to be his heading into camp, and while regular-season results are what the Red Sox are banking on, spring training could for all intents and purposes be his coming-out party.
Right Fielder: Mikie Mahtook, Tampa Bay Rays
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2014 Stats (Triple-A)
132 G, 489 AB, .292/.362/.458, 143 H, 33 2B, 6 3B, 12 HR, 68 RBI, 56 R, 18 SB
Overview
The No. 31 pick in the 2011 draft after a standout college career at LSU, Mikie Mahtook fell off the prospect map a bit after a disappointing 2013 season at the Double-A level.
He responded well to a promotion to Triple-A last season, though, and it looks like he'll have a chance to compete for a big league job this spring.
With Wil Myers traded to the San Diego Padres this offseason, the Tampa Bay Rays' right field job is up for grabs heading into spring training.
The front-runner for the spot right now is probably Kevin Kiermaier after he turned in a breakout season of sorts last year, but his production dropped off significantly in the second half when he hit just .220/.284/.335 in 173 at-bats.
Brandon Guyer will also be in the mix for playing time, but a strong spring performance from Mahtook could put him in position to be the primary right fielder to open the season, and that should provide him with plenty of motivation.
Starting Pitcher: Daniel Norris, Toronto Blue Jays
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2014 Minor League Stats (High-A, Double-A, Triple-A)
26 G, 25 GS, 12-2, 2.53 ERA, 1.118 WHIP, 43 BB, 163 K, 124.1 IP
2014 MLB Stats
5 G, 1 GS, 0-0, 5.40 ERA, 1.500 WHIP, 5 BB, 4 K, 6.2 IP
Overview
Despite trading away the likes of Noah Syndergaard, Justin Nicolino and Anthony DeSclafani, the Toronto Blue Jays still have a good amount of young pitching talent, and left-hander Daniel Norris might be the best of the bunch.
A second-round pick back in 2011, Norris opened last season at High-A Dunedin, but a breakout performance allowed him to climb three levels before making his big league debut in September.
Now, the 21-year-old will have a chance to win the No. 5 starter spot this spring after the Blue Jays traded J.A. Happ to the Seattle Mariners in exchange for outfielder Michael Saunders.
Depending on what the team decides to do with the closer spot, his biggest competition for the job could be fellow top prospect Aaron Sanchez. That is if he doesn't wind up slotted in the ninth-inning role.
Either way, expect Norris to make a significant impact for the Blue Jays in 2015—and a big spring would likely allow him to open the season with a rotation spot.
Relief Pitcher: Sean Gilmartin, New York Mets
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2014 Minor League Stats (Double-A, Triple-A)
26 GS, 9-7, 3.71 ERA, 1.297 WHIP, 44 BB, 133 K, 145.2 IP
Overview
The No. 4 prospect in the Atlanta Braves system heading into the 2013 season, according to Baseball America, Sean Gilmartin now has a chance to make an impact for the division rival New York Mets.
Taken with the No. 14 pick in the Rule 5 draft, Gilmartin will have a chance to stick as the second left-hander out of the Mets bullpen alongside Josh Edgin.
Gilmartin has been a starter his entire career since being taken with the No. 28 pick in the 2011 draft, but his plus command (career 2.5 BB/9) and decent overall repertoire should also play well in the bullpen.
The 24-year-old will be contending with Dario Alvarez, Jack Leathersich and non-roster invitee Scott Rice for a roster spot this spring, and with a strong showing he could emerge as a key piece for a Mets team that is expected to be in a position to contend this year.
All stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference, unless otherwise noted.
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