Cincinnati Reds: 4 Potential Breakout Candidates to Watch in Spring Training

According to Odds Shark, Las Vegas has set the Reds' over/under win total at 77.5. This number indicates one of two things, perhaps both: Vegas thinks that 2014 was an accurate representation of the Reds, or Vegas doesn't like the Reds' new starting rotation. 

It's difficult seeing how a replication of 2014 could be a realistic expectation for a team that, prior to last year, had won at least 90 games in three out of four seasons. So I think that low expectations stem more from the fact that at the moment, two of the Reds' five spots in the starting rotation are empty, with no one of significant merit expected to fill them.

The Reds are likely finished playing add-on via free agency, so the focus shifts to the 40-man roster and who can improve their outlook from within. Vegas already knows about Jay Bruce, Joey Votto and the rest of the guys looking to rebound in 2014.

But there are a few guys at spring training who have the potential to break out, make the roster and become valuable assets for the team. The following is a short list of those guys, starting with guys who probably won't make the roster right out of spring training and ending with guys we should see at the start of April.

1. Felix Perez, OF

Anyone who has been following Reds coverage on Bleacher Report should be very familiar with Perez by now; I've only written about him every other article, but with good reason. Perez has been extremely serviceable in Triple-A Louisville. 

In eight minor league seasons, Perez is slashing .278/.332/.402. Last season, Perez slashed .280/.325/.450. He's hit double-digit home runs the past two seasons, so he definitely offers pop. 

Perez isn't some up-and-coming prospect. Maybe at one time, he was. Per Rotoworld, Perez was forced to forfeit a $3.5 million signing bonus from the New York Yankees for falsifying his age at the time. So he was good enough for Yankees to spend nearly $4 million when he didn't have a single year of MLB experience.

ESPN.com's Jorge Arangure Jr. (via MLB Trade Rumors) offers a different perspective, saying that several scouts feel the Yankees made out better without having to pay someone they considered not worth the money. 

Now after eight minor league seasons, Perez has received his first invite to spring training. Considering how weak the Reds bench was last year, I think the opportunity is ripe for Perez to finally make the big leagues and be a healthy contributor to the Reds off the bench.

2. Raisel Iglesias, RP/SP(?)

By now, everyone knows who Raisel Iglesias is. What we don't know is in what capacity he's going to help. In his most recent body of work, Iglesias was virtually unhittable in the Arizona Fall League (AFL).

Iglesias only threw seven innings; in that span, he struck out seven, walked three and only allowed one hit.

Manager Bryan Price seems really excited at Iglesias' potential as a starter, per Rosecrans:

"

(I saw) four pitches with command — that spells out starting pitcher, especially when it's plus-stuff across the board. He was 93-97, so the velocity is there. The action on his fastball is there, much better changeup than I anticipated seeing and two quality breaking balls and a good feel.

"

If Iglesias can fill a spot on the rotation and deliver the kind of performance he did in his brief stint in the AFL, the outlook on the 2015 Reds should improve exponentially.

3. Brennan Boesch, OF

The Reds signed this 29-year-old former third-round draft pick to a minor league deal in the offseason. Boesch spent the majority of the 2014 season with the Los Angeles Angels' Triple-A affiliate, slashing .332/.381/.636 and hitting 25 home runs with 85 RBI.

This kind of performance got him called up to the Angels last August, where, in a very limited sample size, his stellar performance didn't make the transition with him. In just 27 games with the Angels last year, Boesch slashed .187/.203/.293, hitting just two home runs and seven RBI in that time.

In five years of MLB experience, Boesch is slashing .256/.309/.412. He's averaging just under 10 home runs a year. 

Boesch is a 6'4", 235-pound left-handed slugger who offers a solid bat off the bench. If he can impress this spring, there's no reason why he can't begin the season with the club.

4. Burke Badenhop, RP

Another former Detroit Tigers draft pick, this 32-year-old right-hander was a modest offseason pickup for the Reds. In 70 games last year with the Boston Red Sox, he finished with a 2.29 ERA and an 0-3 record. He had 5.1 strikeouts per nine innings and a 2.11 strikeout-to-walk ratio. 

He finished with a decent WHIP of 1.26 and surrendered 70 hits in about 70.2 innings pitched. But what's best about this addition is the role he would fill.

The Reds already have the back end of their bullpen down. Aroldis Chapman, Jumbo Diaz, Sean Marshall (we hope), Sam LeCure and who knows—maybe J.J. Hoover. What the Reds really need is a strong middle-relief guy, and this right-hander satisfies the need.

Badenhop's 61 percent ground-ball rate was the seventh-highest among qualified relievers last season, according to FanGraphs, a season in which he experienced his best professional season in his seven-year career. 

This was by all measures a steal for the Reds, who secured his services for just $1 million in 2015. I like him to start the year in the bullpen.