Predicting the Breakout Athletes of 2012

If you would have asked me last year who some of the breakout athletes of 2011 would be, I would have totally rattled off names like Cam Newton, Rob Gronkowski, James Shields, Tim Thomas and J.J. Barea.

Okay, I'm lying.

But I am good at predicting these sorts of things, I swear. I've had Jered Weaver on my fantasy team the past two years. I drafted Aaron Rodgers for my fantasy team the year he was named the Packers starting quarterback. For years, I've been predicting that Arian Foster would one day become one of the NFL's best running backs.

Okay, so that last one is also a lie. But who will be the breakout athletes in sports in 2012?

Let's find out.

20. Christina McHale

She's only 19, she's ranked 43rd in the world (the second-highest American ranking behind only Serena Williams) and she's already beaten the world's top-ranked singles player, Caroline Wozniacki.

America, it's time to get behind Miss McHale. She's our next great hope in the world of tennis.

19. Dee Gordon

Full disclosure: Dee Gordon helped me win a fantasy baseball championship this year. I sort of love the man.

You see, late in the year I needed a guy I could plug in for some stolen bases to try and steal that category every week. Lo and behold, the Dodgers stud delivered, hitting .304 with 24 stolen bases in only 56 games played down the stretch.

The Dodgers have some great young talent on their squad. Gordon is going to steal a lot of bases and score a lot of runs for them this year.

18. Vontaze Burfict

This crazy human being is going to take the NFL by storm next year with his hard-hitting ways, especially if my beloved Eagles keep losing and have the damn sense to select him to help out a linebacker corps that is more porous than a mesh shirt.

Yes, he'll get some penalties. Yes, he'll be accused of being dirty from time to time.

No, opponents will not enjoy getting crushed by him when they carry the ball.

He ain't perfect; he's Burfict. And that's the next best thing.

17. Andy Dalton

I suppose you could make the argument that Dalton's surprisingly good rookie season—2,644 yards, 17 touchdowns, 12 interceptions—is already a breakout year.

But I say he's only going to get better, especially with a wide receiver like A.J. Green to throw to. Things are looking up in Cincinnati.

16. DeMarcus Cousins

With 14.1 PPG and 8.6 RPG in his rookie campaign, DeMarcus Cousins showed his vast potential. Well, that and the inconsistencies of a young player.

But Cousins has nowhere to go but up. So long as he comes to camp in shape and ready to go, he's going to continue his ascent toward being one of the best power forwards in the game.

15. Trent Richardson

Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you next year's NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year.

Trent Richardson is as complete a back as you'll see come out of college. He's powerful, agile, has excellent vision, is fast enough and oh, did I mention how powerful he is?

I don't know if he'll go crazy in quite the same way Adrian Peterson did in his rookie campaign (1,341 yards, 13 total touchdowns), but 1,000 yards and 10 scores are a definite.

14. Michael Pineda

Michael Pineda is the best young pitcher you might not be aware of.

In his rookie campaign, Pineda posted a 9-10 record with a 3.74 ERA, 173 strikeouts and a 1.10 WHIP in 28 starts. If Seattle didn't suck so badly, his record would probably look a lot better.

Look for Pineda to team with Felix Hernandez to give Seattle one of the best one-two pitching punches in baseball next season.

13. Aldon Smith

Most of the talk for Defensive Rookie of the Year this year has centered on Von Miller, and justifiably so—he has 10.5 sacks, 57 tackles and two forced fumbles this year and might make the Pro Bowl.

But over in San Francisco, there is another rookie who very quietly has accumulated 9.5 sacks this season.

Somehow, Aldon Smith has slipped under the radar this year. It might be because people are justifiably enamored with fellow rookies such as Miller, A.J. Green, Cam Newton, Andy Dalton and Patrick Peterson.

It might be because he is still adjusting to a new position—outside linebacker in the 3-4 scheme—which means he is only going to get better moving forward.

And that, my friends, is a scary prospect.

12. Nicolas Batum

Nicolas Batum spent his summer improving his game for French League and Turkish Airlines Euroleague team SLUC Nancy, and expectations are high for the fourth-year player on the Blazers.

And if the Blazers use the amnesty clause to release Brandon Roy (though they've said they'll be keeping him), the young Batum could become an even more valued member of Portland's squad.

Remember the name. Batum's going to bring the game this year.

11. Mike Trout

Mike Trout may start the season in the minors for the Angels, but early returns suggest he is already one of the favorites to win the 2012 Rookie of the Year award.

That will happen when you are called up to the majors as a 19-year-old, or when you put up the following numbers before your call-up. From The Sporting News:

"

Trout hit .324 with nine homers, 28 stolen bases and a .415 on-base percentage in 75 games for Class AA Arkansas prior to the promotion.

"

He's quite the catch for a baseball team, wouldn't you say?

10. Brek Shea

You may be looking at the next star for the men's US National team in soccer.

Shea was voted as the FC Dallas MVP for this MLS season. From ESPN:

"

Only 21 years of age, Shea notched 11 goals and four assists while appearing in 31 games, starting 30. Shea made his U.S. Men’s National Team debut on October 12, 2010 and has one assist in seven appearances this year. Five of Shea's goals were game winners, the most in MLS.

"

Look out, 2012. Shea has arrived.

9. Matt Moore

Here's the scenario: You've only made one start in your entire major league career this year when your manager comes and tells you you'll be starting Game 1 of the ALDS against the Texas Rangers.

So what do you do? Oh, you just pitch seven scoreless innings and only allow two hits while striking out six and getting the win.

Say hello to Matt Moore, everybody.

The Rays have been listening to offers for the bevy of starting pitching they have. If they move a player like James Shields, expect Matt Moore to become a vital—and successful—part of their rotation this season.

8. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins

Okay, so I'm totally cheating here. After all, it isn't so hard to predict big things for Nugent-Hopkins' 2012 when he started the season in 2011 by scoring 12 goals and tallying 17 assists in only 27 games.

But hey, he's going to tear it up in 2012 as well, so I think it is fair to say he belongs on this list.

7. Eric Hosmer

Eric Hosmer hit .293 with 19 home runs and 78 RBI in only 128 games during his rookie season this year.

Be afraid in 2012, American League pitchers. Be very afraid.

6. Lolo Jones

Lolo Jones was considered by many to be the favorite in the 100 meter hurdles at the 2008 Beijing Games. And had she not tripped on a hurdle, she would have won the race.

Look for Jones to be one of the biggest stories—and stars—at the 2012 London Games.

Go get 'em, Lolo.

5. Mike Stanton

I know what you are thinking: Mike Stanton hit 34 home runs and 87 RBI in his sophomore campaign! He already had a breakout year!

Here's what I'm thinking: Take it easy with the exclamation points. Also, I fully expect him to improve upon his .262 average and his RBI totals.

Stanton could become the type of player that hits 50 home runs and 125 RBI per year. If he reaches those heights, well, you can see why I believe 2011 may have only been an appetizer for the breakout year he is about to have.

4. John Wall

He'll teach you how to Dougie, and he'll beat you off the dribble.

John Wall had a solid rookie year, scoring 16.4 points per game and dishing out 8.3 assists per contest, but he is primed to take the next step this season, and it isn't a leap of faith to do so. Derrick Rose went from 16.8 to 20.8 PPG between year one and year two, and Wall's 8.3 dimes per game last year were more than Rose has ever averaged.

And Rose won the MVP in just his third year. Wall may not be quite as good as Rose, but as young point guards go, he's the next best thing.

And that's a very, very good thing to have on your team.

3. Claude Giroux

You could make the argument that Giroux had his breakout season last year, scoring 25 goals and accumulating 76 points for the Flyers.

But Giroux already has 15 goals and 32 points after 25 games for the Flyers, putting him on pace for 105 points this season.

2. Alex Morgan

I've said it before, and I'll say it again—Alex Morgan will not only become the next face of women's soccer in America, she is going to be a star for the National Team.

Look for her to continue her ascent at the 2012 London Games.

1. A.J. Green

Ochocinco who?

You could make the argument that a rookie hauling in 50 passes for 832 yards and seven touchdowns in 12 games is already a breakout campaign.

But I think Green is only brushing the surface of the types of numbers he is capable of compiling. He has the talent—and the quarterback in Andy Dalton—to be a top-five receiver in the NFL.

I think that will happen next season. I don't know how environmentally conscious Andy Dalton is, but I know he'll be going Green for the rest of his career.

My name is Timothy Rapp, and I put the "grrrr" in Swagger.