Dodgers' 3 Potential Breakout Candidates to Watch in Spring Training

Spring training has begun for the Los Angeles Dodgers, as pitchers and catchers reported to Camelback Ranch on Thursday, Feb. 19.

There will be a lot of new faces at the training facility as a result of the team's major roster overhaul this winter. The organization saw a new front office take the reins and execute several high-profile trades to help bolster the defense up the middle and starting rotation depth.

Most of these deals grabbed headlines because of the popularity of the players who left town (Matt Kemp and Dee Gordon), but some of the new additions acquired in return may end up helping the Dodgers in more ways than the casual fan might expect. Other players already with the team will also be expected to step up and fill voids.

Here are three potential breakout candidates to watch in spring training.

Brett Anderson

Left-hander Brett Anderson has not pitched more than 45 innings in a season since 2011, but the Dodgers can consider him a breakout candidate because injuries always seem to derail his potential.

Gene J. Puskar/Associated Press

Los Angeles signed Anderson to a one-year, $10-million contract that included a $5 million signing bonus and an additional $4 million in incentives, per Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times.

When healthy, Anderson is considered one of the better left-handers in baseball. It's why the Oakland Athletics made him their Opening Day starter as recently as 2013.

He was limited to just eight starts a season ago with the Colorado Rockies because of a broken left index finger and lower back surgery. Anderson went 1-3 with a 2.91 ERA in those games and comes to the Dodgers with major injury risk attached.

While general manager Farhan Zaidi acknowledges the inherent gamble in signing a player that is very familiar with the disabled list, he maintains confidence in Anderson's production as a No. 5 starter, per Eric Stephen of True Blue LA:

"

As far durability goes, he hasn't been a consistent year-in, year-out 200-inning guy, obviously, so there is some risk. I do have a difference of opinion of lumping him in with guys who finished last year with arm issues. Brett had a freak thumb issue, and a very minor back issue that we feel won't be an issue going forward.

"

Since undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2012, Anderson has not experienced any arm or shoulder injuries. His recent stints on the disabled list consist of a broken foot, breaking a finger while batting and a back strain.

Chris Hatcher

For most Dodgers fans, Chris Hatcher was just a name attached to the deal that sent Dee Gordon and Dan Haren to the Miami Marlins.

Mitchell Layton/Getty Images

A minor league lifer prior to last season, the extent of the 30-year-old's major-league experience consisted of just 33 games dating back to 2010—when he had six at-bats as a catcher. After converting to a pitcher in 2011, Hatcher finally made it back to the show last season and performed admirably under the radar.

He turned in a 3.38 ERA and 2.56 FIP with 60 strikeouts and just 12 walks in 56 innings for the Marlins. Hatcher also ranked 23rd in FIP and 20th in xFIP among relievers with at least 30 innings pitched, per FanGraphs. What's more, his fastball averaged 96.3 mph in 2014, per Brooks Baseball.

These are impressive numbers, and the Dodgers are looking for Hatcher to improve upon them in 2015. Look for Hatcher to become a key member of the team's bullpen as it attempts to recover from a disastrous 2014 campaign, one that saw the Los Angeles relief corps rank 22nd in ERA, 20th in fielding independent pitching (FIP) and 26th in walk rate.

If anything, Hatcher's recent success indicates that he could prove to be more than just a throw-in from the recent blockbuster.

Joc Pederson

There's hardly anything left for Joc Pederson to prove in the minor leagues.

The Dodgers' top outfield prospect slashed .303/.435/.582 with 135 hits and 78 RBI in 121 games at Triple-A last season, becoming the Pacific Coast League's first player since 1934 to hit at least 30 home runs and steal 30 bases in the same season, according to Mike Axisa of CBSSports.com.

Gus Ruelas/Associated Press

These impressive numbers earned Pederson PCL MVP honors and a September call-up to the big club, where he batted .143 in a very small sample size that consisted of 39 plate appearances.

Following the season, the 22-year-old traveled to the Dominican Republic to play winter ball for the Leones del Escogido. He slashed .265/.351/.361 with three doubles, a home run, a triple, 13 runs scored, 10 walks and 33 strikeouts in 22 games with Escogido, per Stephen.

Dodgers manager Don Mattingly considers Pederson the "best defensive center fielder" in the organization, per Steve Dilbeck of the Los Angeles Times, and the rookie will have an opportunity to earn an everyday job at the position during spring training.

Pederson heads into Camelback Ranch as the No. 18 prospect in baseball, according to a recently released list from Baseball Prospectus.

The one concern that Los Angeles may have with Pederson is his strikeout rate. Last season in Triple-A, he whiffed 149 times. However, Pederson also worked more than 100 walks for the second year in a row, displaying valuable patience at the plate.

The challenge for Pederson is simple: Beat out veteran Andre Ethier for the starting gig in center field.

If he can clear that initial hurdle, the sky's the limit for this hyped, young talent.

All statistics courtesy of FanGraphs unless otherwise stated.

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