The 2015 MLB All-Breakout Team with 1 Month to Go
The 2015 MLB season has had no shortage of breakout stars.
Whether it's Kyle Schwarber mashing home runs, Carlos Martinez and Hector Santiago developing into dependable starters or Joe Panik and Matt Duffy solidifying the San Francisco Giants lineup, plenty of players have become important contributors out of relative obscurity.
With just over a month to go in the season, here we identify Bleacher Report's 2015 MLB All-Breakout Team. The criteria for this list aren't cut and dried, but we made the selections with these two things in mind:
- 2015 is the first time any of these players have produced at a high level.
- We tried to stay away from top prospects like Carlos Correa and Kris Bryant, who always figured to make an immediate impact.
With so many worthy players to choose from, there are bound to be disagreements. Let us know who you think should have made this list in the comments section below.
Who will join Schwarber, Martinez, Santiago, Panik and Duffy on our All-Breakout Team? Read on to find out!
Right-Handed Starter: Carlos Martinez
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2015 Stats: 13-6, 2.91 ERA, 154.2 IP, 9.08 K/9, 3.14 BB/9, .242 BAA
This isn't Carlos Martinez's first taste of the big leagues. In fact, the St. Louis Cardinals right-hander has appeared in 16 postseason games over the past two seasons.
But in 2013 and 2014, the 23-year-old struggled in the regular season. In 57 games (seven starts) last year, he posted a 4.03 ERA.
Those struggles are a distant memory for Martinez now. In 2015, he's posted a 2.91 ERA in 24 starts.
Martinez is known for his electric array of pitches. His fastball routinely flirts with triple digits, while his curve and changeup give him two different off-speed options to fool hitters.
But what most people wouldn't guess is that Martinez is one of the game's top ground-ball inducers. Thanks to a two-seamer that generates grounders over 67 percent of the time, Martinez ranks fifth in MLB in ground-ball rate.
Strikeouts and ground balls. That's a recipe for success.
There were plenty of right-handers to choose from, but Martinez's body of work gives him the nod over Noah Syndergaard and Taylor Jungmann.
Honorable Mention: Noah Syndergaard, Taylor Jungmann
Left-Handed Starter: Hector Santiago
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2015 Stats: 7-8, 3.13 ERA, 149.2 IP, 8.30 K/9, 3.07 BB/9, .224 BAA
Hector Santiago has made 23 or more starts in three straight seasons, but nobody could have expected him to be the best pitcher on the Los Angeles Angels this season.
In 25 starts, Santiago has a 3.13 ERA over nearly 150 innings. The southpaw has also improved both his strikeout and walk percentages from 2013 and 2014 to this season.
Santiago has always featured a tough sinking fastball, but he's relied on it much more this season. The 27-year-old has thrown it nearly 60 percent of the time in 2015, which is up considerably from just over 34 percent last year.
That decision has paid dividends. Opposing hitters have managed just a .207 average against Santiago's sinker and are whiffing over 22 percent of the time.
Santiago has also been good at wiggling out of jams, as he ranks second behind only Zack Greinke in strand rate this season. Sure, that means some luck is involved, but Santiago has allowed opponents to hit only .207 with runners on base.
The Angels are barely treading water in the American League West, but Santiago has done his part to keep the team afloat. Despite a lack of quality lefties to choose from, he's deserving of a spot on this list.
Honorable Mention: Robbie Ray, Carlos Rodon
Relief Pitcher: Roberto Osuna
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2015 Stats: 1-4, 1.87 ERA, 55 G, 16 SV, 10.30 K/9, 1.87 BB/9, .179 BAA
Since relief pitching is arguably the most fickle position in baseball, it's no surprise that there were a host of worthy candidates to choose from here.
But Roberto Osuna's impact on the Toronto Blue Jays bullpen, which was among the league's worst units for most of the season, cannot go unnoticed.
Osuna's ascent to the big leagues has been a quick one. The right-hander hadn't pitched above High-A before cracking Toronto's big league roster out of spring training.
But the 20-year-old has handled his expedited path to The Show with the poise of a savvy veteran. In 55 appearances, he has a 1.87 ERA and is striking out 30 percent of the batters he faces. He also ranks sixth among relievers in FanGraphs' WAR.
In a year dominated by impact rookies, Osuna has been among baseball's best.
"If the awards certainly were 'The Most Valuable Rookie,' the answer would be Roberto Osuna, because without him that Blue Jays bullpen is nowhere close to where it is right now," Jon Morosi of Fox Sports told Jeff Blair and Arash Madani on Prime Time Sports last week (h/t Geoff Lowe of SportsNet).
Jeurys Familia, Kevin Siegrist, Carson Smith, Chasen Shreve and a handful of other relievers have compelling cases. But a 20-year-old who was in High-A last season and now has a sub-2.00 ERA and a near-perfect save record takes the cake.
Honorable Mention: Jeurys Familia, Kevin Siegrist
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Catcher: Yasmani Grandal
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2015 Stats: .268/.377/.460, 15 HR, 44 RBI, 41 R, .837 OPS
The Los Angeles Dodgers have such a star-studded roster that other players who deserve recognition can slip through the cracks.
Case in point: When president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman and general manager Farhan Zaidi snagged catcher Yasmani Grandal in the Matt Kemp trade this offseason, did anyone really think Los Angeles was getting the better player?
While Kemp has been inconsistent in San Diego, Grandal has blossomed into the sweet-swinging backstop we caught glimpses of when he played in 60 games for the Padres in 2012.
After struggling with strikeouts in 2013 and 2014, Grandal has mashed in 2015. He's hitting .268 with an ultra-impressive .377 on-base percentage. Among catchers with at least 300 plate appearances, Grandal ranks second in the majors in that category.
Grandal is still whiffing over 20 percent of the time, but that's an improvement from last season. More importantly, the 26-year-old has posted a 14.7 percent walk rate. That total would rank eighth in MLB if he qualified for the leaderboard.
When he does make contact, Grandal punishes the baseball. He boasts a hard-contact rate over 30 percent and is slugging .460.
Grandal still isn't a defensive whiz behind the dish, but the presence of A.J. Ellis has allowed him to focus on producing at the plate. Stephen Vogt's magical first half made him the early favorite, but Grandal has quietly been one of the Dodgers' best hitters this season.
Honorable Mention: Stephen Vogt, Caleb Joseph
First Base: Ben Paulsen
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2015 Stats: .276/.325/.474, 10 HR, 40 RBI, 35 R, .799 OPS
No position has had a better season in MLB than first base. Paul Goldschmidt, Joey Votto, Anthony Rizzo and a host of others have stolen headlines with their stellar play.
But in the shadow of those superstars, a 27-year-old rookie has made the most of his opportunities with the Colorado Rockies this season.
Despite raking during a cup of coffee in the majors to close 2014, Ben Paulsen began the season in Triple-A. He was promoted in May, and the good work that's followed indicates he has no intention of returning to the minor leagues.
Paulsen is slashing .276/.325/.474 in 88 games. The 6'4", 205-pound power hitter has suffered through his share of strikeouts, but he's also proved to have immense pop in his bat. Paulsen has gone deep 10 times this season and has an isolated power of .198.
The batted-ball statistics don't lie, as Paulsen is making hard contact over 33 percent of the time. Although he's considered a slugger, he still hits the ball on the ground or on a line more often than not. When Paulsen does hit it in the air, however, it leaves the ballpark close to 17 percent of the time.
Coors Field has a way of turning unknowns into formidable major league hitters. Paulsen's numbers may be enhanced by the Rocky Mountain air, but he's still played his way into Colorado's future plans.
Honorable Mention: Mark Canha, Travis Shaw
Second Base: Joe Panik
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2015 Stats: .309/.374/.443, 7 HR, 35 RBI, 56 R, .816 OPS
Before you say Joe Panik broke out in 2014, hear me out.
While he played exceptionally well down the stretch last year for the San Francisco Giants, he still had plenty to prove in 2015. There's a big difference between being thrown into the fire like Panik was in 2014 and beginning the year as a team's key component for the season ahead.
Plus, Panik has been outstanding. The 24-year-old is hitting .309 with a .374 on-base percentage. He's also chipped in seven homers and has scored 56 runs.
Among major league second basemen, Panik ranks second in OBP, third in WAR and fourth in slugging percentage and batting average. If defensive metrics are your thing, he ranks fourth at his position in FanGraphs' defensive rating and third in UZR/150.
The numbers don't lie. The 2011 first-round pick is just starting to scratch the surface of his potential.
Panik has accomplished all this despite missing almost the entire month of August with a back issue. He is, however, likely to come back soon, according to Alex Pavlovic of CSNBayArea.com.
Panik's return will do wonders for the Giants, who remain in the hunt for a National League playoff spot. He proved what he's capable of in the second half of 2014, but he's developed into an All-Star this season.
Honorable Mention: DJ LeMahieu, Addison Russell
Third Base: Matt Duffy
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2015 Stats: .305/.344/.450, 10 HR, 60 RBI, 59 R, .795 OPS
As impressive as Joe Panik has been for the San Francisco Giants this season, he was a first-round pick once upon a time. But teammate Matt Duffy? Nobody expected an 18th-round selection to be such a vital piece for the defending World Series champions in 2015.
But Duffy has done just that. The 24-year-old is hitting over .300 with a .450 slugging percentage. Duffy may not have the impressive plate discipline of Panik, but his slender frame is capable of hitting the ball out of any ballpark.
When a rookie enjoys the type of success that Duffy has in 2015, critics will look at his BABIP to see if he's benefiting from unsustainable luck. Duffy's .350 average on balls in play is high, but his 1.98 ground ball-to-fly ball ratio and 14 percent soft-contact rate indicate this isn't abnormal.
Kris Bryant, Joc Pederson and Noah Syndergaard all have solid claims for National League Rookie of the Year honors. But as USA Today's Jorge L. Ortiz argued earlier this month, Duffy may actually be having the better season.
"He even compares closely to highly touted rookies Joc Pederson of the Los Angeles Dodgers and Kris Bryant of the Chicago Cubs, power hitters who have attracted national attention," Ortiz wrote. "Bryant trails Duffy in OPS, slugging percentage and wins above replacement, and Pederson trails in SLG and WAR."
Those numbers have fluctuated throughout August, but Ortiz's words remain food for thought. Duffy may not have had the same prestigious prospect ranking as some of his rookie peers, but he's produced like a top talent.
Honorable Mention: Jung-Ho Kang, Maikel Franco
Shortstop: Xander Bogaerts
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2015 Stats: .313/.343/.405, 4 HR, 61 RBI, 58 R, .747 OPS
Xander Bogaerts has always been surrounded by hype. The Boston Red Sox signed him off the international market in 2009, and he was ranked the No. 2 overall prospect in MLB by Baseball America after the 2013 season.
Bogaerts, however, suffered through some growing pains in his first season in 2014: He hit just .240 with an on-base percentage under .300.
But with a year of experience under his belt, Bogaerts has lived up to the hype that's followed him since he inked his signature as a teenager. The 22-year-old is hitting .313, slugging over .400 and has driven in 61 runs.
Looking at Bogaerts' numbers, it's easy to see why he's enjoyed such improvement.
After whiffing over 23 percent of the time a season ago, he's cut his strikeout rate to a respectable 14.9 percent. Ironically, Bogaerts has done so by swinging more frequently. He's also done a much better job of making contact with pitches out of the zone, which indicates he's adjusting to pitchers' attempts to get him to chase bad pitches.
2015 hasn't gone as planned for the Red Sox, but the development of Bogaerts and fellow youngster Mookie Betts is a satisfying silver lining.
"In Xander Bogaerts and Mookie Betts, the Red Sox have discovered not only the youngest survivors from the wreckage but also the two leaders of the next generation of Red Sox stars," Michael Silverman of the Boston Herald wrote.
In 2015 alone, top prospects Kris Bryant, Carlos Correa and Miguel Sano have quickly adapted to the major league game.
But they are the exception to the rule. Bogaerts took some time to live up to expectations, but he's proved he can be the impact player many believed he would be.
Honorable Mention: Adeiny Hechavarria, Brad Miller
Outfield: David Peralta
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2015 Stats: .299/.363/.509, 13 HR, 68 RBI, 49 R, .872 OPS
David Peralta's path to the big leagues has been quite the journey. He was originally signed as a pitcher by the St. Louis Cardinals but struggled on the mound and underwent multiple surgeries on his throwing shoulder.
After he was released by St. Louis in 2009, Peralta was out of the league until 2013. Eventually, he decided to make a comeback as an outfielder. After a successful stint in the independent leagues, Peralta signed with the Arizona Diamondbacks and was assigned to High-A.
Peralta flashed what he was capable of last season, but he's established himself as an everyday regular for the Diamondbacks in 2015. The 28-year-old is hitting .299 with quality on-base and slugging percentages.
He's done so by absolutely crushing the baseball. Peralta ranks in the top 25 in MLB in hard-contact percentage and in the top 20 in soft-contact percentage. He has also nearly doubled his walk rate by significantly cutting down on chasing pitches outside the zone.
While Peralta was relatively unknown during his ascent to the big leagues, people are beginning to notice him now. Dave Cameron of FanGraphs (via FoxSports.com) believes he's MLB's most underrated player:
"Peralta checks all of the boxes for a classic underrated player. He's a solid contributor across the board with no real glaring weaknesses. He lacks a standout skill that shows up in the highlight reels. He got to the big leagues late, and his arrival was accompanied with zero fanfare. While previous indy leaguers have generally topped out as solid role players—Daniel Nava and Chris Colabello are two of the other success stories—Peralta looks like he might be blossoming into one of the better all-around outfielders in baseball.
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If Peralta continues to produce at this level, he won't be underrated for long. He's just another addition to a quality collection of position players that Arizona has assembled over the last few seasons.
Outfield: Billy Burns
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2015 Stats: .296/.336/.389, 3 HR, 31 RBI, 59 R, 25 SB, .724 OPS
The Oakland A's haven't had much to cheer about in 2015, but at least the club has found its future center fielder in Billy Burns.
After starting the season in Triple-A, Burns has solidified his spot on the Oakland roster with a quality batting average and blazing speed. The 26-year-old is flirting with a .300 average and on pace to swipe more than 30 bases.
Offensively, Burns plays to his strengths. He hits the ball on the ground almost 50 percent of the time and has a 55.6 bunt hit percentage. He doesn't walk much, but he makes consistent contact. That allows him to use his speed to leg out infield hits.
David Barclay of BaySportsNet.com made the case for Burns to be named American League Rookie of the Year:
"Despite missing the first month of the season, Burns has played the second-most games of any rookie in the American League. His impact and almost immediate transition into the leadoff role, regardless of the team's slumping status, is indisputable. The answer to the question is yes, Billy Burns should be this year's Rookie of the Year.
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Burns may not win the trophy, but he definitely deserves to be in the conversation. He ranks seventh among rookies in average and has stolen the most bases among first-year players.
Burns has shed the fourth outfielder label this season by recognizing what he does well and tailoring his game to those strengths. Because of that, he's asserted himself as the A's center fielder for the foreseeable future.
Outfield: Kyle Schwarber
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2015 Stats: .266/.363/.545, 12 HR, 35 RBI, 37 R, .909 OPS
In just over a year, Kyle Schwarber has emerged as one of the game's top young hitters.
MLB.com rated him as the 72nd-best prospect at the beginning of the season. The 22-year-old eventually moved into the top 10 after a torrid stretch in Double- and Triple-A. Schwarber posted on-base percentages over .400 at both stops while also mashing 16 total home runs.
Since joining the Chicago Cubs, Schwarber hasn't slowed down. The rookie is slugging .545 and has hit 12 homers in just over six weeks of games. More importantly, he's shown an ability to draw walks. As he matures and lowers his strikeout rate, Schwarber's OBP will only improve.
Despite being fairly pull-happy, Schwarber hits the ball as hard as anybody in baseball. His 39.4 percent hard-contact rate would rank 12th in baseball if he qualified for the leaderboard. Pitchers may be able to get Schwarber to swing and miss, but he punishes them when he makes contact.
The Cubs obviously saw something in Schwarber when they selected him with the fourth overall pick in the 2014 draft. But this good, this early? Nobody saw that coming.
"It's an incredible transition he's made," Cubs president Theo Epstein told Bob Nightengale of USA Today. "We certainly didn't call him up with the thought of carrying our offense or even sparking our offense."
But Schwarber has done just that. As the Cubs gear up for an October run, their young slugger will need to play a big role. If his initial days in the big leagues are any indication, he is ready for the challenge.
Honorable Mention: Mookie Betts, Randal Grichuk, Michael Taylor, Ender Inciarte
Stats courtesy of FanGraphs and accurate as of Aug. 29.
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