Future MLB Superstars Off to a Quick Start in 2011
Every baseball season has its breakout stars. Scouts hype and over-hype players every March until we are ready to crown the next Babe Ruth.
In 2010 it was Carlos Gonzalez. This season is no different and the majors is full of young guns ready to step into the spotlight.
They may rise, they may fall, but all of these players are off to a very hot start in 2011.
Who will be this years breakout star?
Michael Pineda
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At 6'7" and 255 pounds, Michael Pineda is a beast.
Pineda features a mid- to upper-90s fastball that occasionally touches 100, a mid-80s split-change and a tight slider.
After an injury in 2009, Pineda dominated in the minor leagues last year and is off to a hot start in 2011.
The future is bright for Seattle if they are able to have a rotation with King Felix and Pineda.
Jose Tabata
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Tabata comes into the 2011 season having put together a short, but nice 2010 campaign.
Last season, Tabata hit .299 with four home runs, 35 RBI, 61 runs and 19 stolen bases.
He has all the tools to be a superstar in the outfield next to Andrew McCutchen. After adding on some size this offseason, Jose hopes to hit more home runs in an effort to build upon his successful 2010.
So far, in 11 games, here is his line: .325, three RBI, 11 runs and five stolen bases.
Tabata is scorching hot.
Alexi Ogando
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In 2010, Ogando provide stellar relief innings for the American League Champion Rangers. With an ERA of 1.30 and a WHIP of 1.12, Ogando made the case for a role in the rotation in 2011.
So far, he has shown that putting him in the rotation was correct.
After dominant outings against Seattle and Detroit, Ogando is yet to let up a run and has a 0.54 WHIP.
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Colby Rasmus
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After a decent rookie season in 2009, Colby Rasmus improved in every major statistical category in 2010. He had more home runs, RBI, runs, hits and stolen bases and a higher batting average and OPS.
Barring injury in 2011, Rasmus is one pace to improve in every category once again. The five-tool center field for the Cardinals has turned into a great player and a fantastic fantasy option.
It should be a big year for Rasmus in 2011.
Starlin Castro
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Castro may not be pleasing Cubs fans with his defensive decisions, but he is at the plate.
His stats in 2010 were not out of this world: .300/3HR/8SB. But Starlin is showing that 2011 is his year to break out.
In only 12 games, he has one-fifth of the amount of stolen bases and runs he had in 2010. He is also batting .389 with an OPS .160 higher than last season.
Drew Stubbs
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Stubbs put together a very quiet 20-HR, 30-SB season in 2010.
He will strike out a ton and hit around .260, but Drew Stubbs provides the blend of power and speed that every talent evaluator looks for.
Hitting slightly above his career batting average and scoring a ton more runs, Stubbs is on pace to hit slightly more home runs and put together a very strong 2011.
Zach Britton
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Britton opened a lot of eyes with his performance in the Futures Game and with his minor league numbers in 2010. With the hype surrounding Chris Tillman and Brian Matusz, Britton went relatively unnoticed.
In 2011, it is impossible not to notice Zach Britton.
So far, in two starts, he is 2-0 and has only allowed one run.
He dazzled the Rays and Rangers with is sinking fastball and hard-breaking slider, inducing a ton of ground-ball outs. So far, he has a 1.67 ground-ball-out-to-fly-ball-out ratio.
Jaime Garcia
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Jaime Garcia came seemingly out of nowhere in 2010. After a brief relief stint with the Cards in 2009, Garcia started 28 games in 2010 and finished third in Rookie of the Year voting.
He looks to build on his 13-8 record and 2.70 ERA in 2011.
He has started very quickly, going 1-0 with a 0.60 ERA and 18 strikeouts in 15 innings.
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