Little-Known MLB Players Who Will Have Breakthrough Years in 2016
Every year in MLB, we're treated to the out-of-nowhere emergence of more than one new star.
While it may be out of the blue to most of the baseball world, players like Matt Duffy, Mookie Betts and Xander Bogaerts all showed signs that a breakout was on the horizon during the previous season.
There are a handful of MLB players that fit that mold once again as we close in on the start of the 2016 campaign. Over the next few slides, we'll identify a handful of under-the-radar players that are poised to become the league's next breakout stars.
Hurlers like Anthony DeSclafani and Trevor May provided their teams with quality production last season, even if their ERA said otherwise. Digging deeper into the stats proves that with a year of experience and a little better luck, both hurlers are candidates to take the next step in 2016.
In terms of position players, Enrique Hernandez, Ender Inciarte and David Peralta provided glimpses of their abilities last season, too. If each player can put together a full season of production, they'll continue their ascent to MLB stardom.
Let us know what you think in the comments section below. Are you excited to see these players on your team this season? Who else do you think has breakout potential?
Let's dive right into our list.
Anthony DeSclafani, Cincinnati Reds
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Lost in the deconstruction of a once-elite Cincinnati Reds roster in 2015 was the emergence of rookie Anthony DeSclafani.
The right-hander made 31 starts for the Reds in 2015, logging more than 180 innings. DeSclafani posted a 4.05 ERA in those outings, striking out over seven hitters per nine innings while walking under three hitters per nine.
What's the big deal? A 4.05 ERA isn't a stat that normally hints at a breakout on the horizon.
But DeSclafani pitched much better than that mark indicated last season. He was hurt by a .318 average on balls in play, which was good for the 10th-highest mark in MLB. Considering DeSclafani ranked in the top 40 in MLB in generating soft contact, a significant improvement is not out of the question in 2016.
The stuff is there, too. DeSclafani touched 96 mph with his heater this season and mixed in several different pitches throughout the year. His most effective secondary offering was a slider that resulted in a strikeout over 34 percent of the time.
DeSclafani battled through a rough season for the Reds overall, and proved he can be a reliable piece of the rotation moving forward. With a full season under his belt and some better luck on balls in play, expect the 25-year-old to take the next step in 2016.
Enrique Hernandez, Los Angeles Dodgers
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Enrique Hernandez may not be the biggest of names on the Los Angeles Dodgers roster, but he's proven he could be an effective major leaguer in a small sample size last season.
Hernandez slashed .307/.346/.490 in 76 games last year. He also went deep seven times and was a near-3.0 win player in limited time due to injury. The 24-year-old played so well for L.A. when he was healthy last season that he seemingly supplanted rookie Joc Pederson as the team's center fielder in late August before an untimely hamstring injury.
Like many successful hitters, Hernandez's success stemmed from an ability to generate hard contact. He ranked in the top 25 in minimizing soft contact among hitters with at least 200 at-bats. A .364 average on balls in play may seem unattainable, but a 23 percent line-drive rate and 32 percent hard-contact rate say otherwise.
Throw in a likable personality, and Hernandez has won over his teammates and a large portion of the Dodgers fan base.
"Hernandez, 24, is an excitable boy who plays with great energy, an element often missing from these Dodgers," said Steve Dilbeck of the Los Angeles Times. "Sometimes he may appear to get carried away—a rally banana?—and you wonder if he’s not stepping out too far for a young player, but he has been well received by veteran teammates and management."
With so many question marks in L.A.'s lineup—Pederson, Yasiel Puig, Carl Crawford, Chase Utley—Hernandez will have a role in some form or fashion in 2016. If he can stay on the field, his playing time will increase accordingly.
Ender Inciarte, Atlanta Braves
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To be fair, Ender Inciarte became more widely known by the casual MLB fan when he was included in the Shelby Miller blockbuster earlier this winter.
Still, the new Atlanta Braves outfielder is one of the most underrated players in baseball. As he continues to showcase his well-rounded game, Inciarte will emerge as one of the game's top young outfielders.
That's because Inciarte really does do it all. Last season, the 25-year-old slashed .303/.338/.408 and stole 21 bases for the Arizona Diamondbacks. He struck out just over 10 percent of the time, which bodes well for continued offensive success considering his speed.
Inciarte is talented offensively, but he's already one of baseball's best defenders. He recorded 25 defensive runs saved last season, which ranked behind only Tampa Bay's Kevin Kiermaier among major league outfielders.
The beauty of Inciarte's defensive ability is that he's equipped to handle every situation. He'll start in center field for the Braves in 2016, but he has the tools to transition to a corner spot if need be.
"With Atlanta's outfield being in such a flux, Inciarte's versatility will be even more valuable," said Scott Coleman of Talking Chop. "He has the range for center field and the arm for a corner spot. It also allows the Braves to give Mallex Smith the time he needs in the minor leagues."
Inciarte was a big reason why many pundits viewed the Miller trade as an overwhelming victory for the Braves. With full reign in Atlanta in 2016, Inciarte will prove to be a key centerpiece for Atlanta's rebuilding project.
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Trevor May, Minnesota Twins
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The Minnesota Twins used Trevor May as a starter and a reliever in 2015, but there's plenty of evidence that supports the right-hander is deserving of a permanent role in the rotation next year.
May appeared in 48 games for the Twins, including 16 starts last season. He posted a 4.00 ERA in 114.2 innings pitched, including a 4.43 mark as a starter. Those numbers aren't ideal, but May's 3.25 FIP indicates he ran into some bad luck last season.
The biggest development in May's game has been improved control. He walked nearly four hitters per nine innings in Double-A in 2013, and posted a 3.57 mark in Triple-A the following season. But after issuing 22 walks in 45.2 innings of work in 2014, May only walked 26 hitters in a vastly bigger sample size this year.
May finding better command is a scary scenario for major league hitters. The 6'5" hurler regularly reaches the upper-90s with his fastball, which he powers with a power curve and changeup. If the 26-year-old can get ahead with strike one, his off-speed offerings will become even more effective.
There seems to be some trepidation about moving May out of a bullpen role and into the rotation in 2016. He struggled as a starter at times last year, but he has the stuff and the willingness to improve his weaknesses to become a staple of the Minnesota rotation for years to come.
David Peralta, Arizona Diamondbacks
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Before David Peralta emerged as a potential breakout star, his career looked like it would come to a premature end.
The Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder was originally signed as a pitcher by the St. Louis Cardinals, but failed to reach his full potential due to a series of shoulder surgeries. He was released in 2009 and was out of baseball entirely until 2013.
Peralta decided to make a comeback as an outfielder, and Arizona took a flyer on him after a successful stint in the independent leagues. The 28-year-old impressed at High-A and Double-A, and wound up slashing .286/.320/.450 in 88 big league games to close 2014.
As eye-opening as that was, Peralta took his game to another level in 2015. He posted a slash line of .312/.371/.522, hit 17 homers and drove in 78 runs. Out of all the talented players in MLB, Peralta ranked 15th in the league in wRC+.
Even with those numbers, Peralta often felt lost in the shuffle among the likes of Paul Goldschmidt, A.J. Pollock and the since-departed Ender Inciarte.
That won't be the case in 2016. With Inciarte gone, Peralta will be asked to take on an even bigger role in the coming year.
But if last year—and his entire career up to this point for that matter—are any indication, Peralta is ready for the challenge.
Stats courtesy of FanGraphs unless otherwise noted.
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