2017 Breakout Candidates

[Angelsjunky]

By "breakout" I mean performing at a significantly higher level than the player has done previously.

For me the biggest breakout candidates on the major league club are Tyler Skaggs and Alex Meyer. I also think that Cron, Calhoun and even Espinosa could all have career years. But Skaggs is the main one who I think, if healthy, could really breakthough to being a legit #2-3 starter.

 

[Second Base]

I think Espinosa, Skaggs, Richards, Meyer and Pounders will all perform much better than they did last year. 

I envision some regresssion for Simmons, Maybin, Nolasco and yes, even Pujols.

I also expect to see the farm make an entire leap forward with players panning out, acquisitions, another solid draft and finally being active in the international market. I don't know much about other farms, but I wouldn't be surprised if we are middle of the pack by the end of next season in terms of farm rankings, whether those are accurate or not.

[Docwaukee]

Obvious breakout:  Skaggs

'Where the hell did that come' from breakout:  Simmons

It's about time breakout:  Richards

Surprise contributor:  Sherman Johnson

Where did this guy come from breakout:  Vicente Campos and Abel De Los Santos (out of the pen)

Not really a breakout breakout:  CJ Cron (he'll be a little better than he's been but play a full season).  

I don't believe it half season breakout:  Espinosa

[mtangelsfan]

Love the 80's

[Troll Daddy]

Escobar's defense

[ettin]

In no particular order:

Tyler Skaggs

Garrett Richards

Matt Shoemaker (performs even better than last year)

Mike Moustakas (when we acquire him )

Cameron Maybin (will continue most of his 2016 excellence)

Mike Morin

Blake Parker

Luis Valbuena

Andrelton Simmons

Matt Wieters (when we sign him )

Keynan Middleton

Alex Meyer (out of the bullpen)

Sherman Johnson (if we don't trade him )

 

[Angelsjunky]

Worth saying twice, eh ettin? (by the way, is your name after the two-headed monster?)

Some folks are saying Garret Richards. Do y'all actually think he'll improve on 2014? When I say "breakout" I mean a new level of performance than we've seen so far, as i said in the OP. I don't see him getting better than that, although I suppose a stabilization at that level would be a kind of breakout.

[JustATroutFan]

Can't be Richards. You Angels fans do remember that Richards had a great year in 2014, right? 13-4 with a 2.61 ERA in 168.2 innings that year.  JC Ramirez might though. Angels added three really good defenders in Espinosa, Maybin, and Valbuena this offseason. Ramirez pitched well for the Angels last year after getting traded from the Reds. Could have an even better season with better overall defense.

[totdprods]

Hmmm. I'll throw Cameron Maybin some love, and go with the hope that he figured things out last year. Buoyed by a decrease in k's, increase in walks, and focusing more on line drives than home runs, he picks up right where he left off, losing just a tick off his slash due to a normalization of the Almighty Babip. He still hits .310/.375/.410, steals 35 bags, plays above average defense, and Eppler is prescient enough to sign him to a 2/$24m extension in June, days before a move to lead-off and torrid hot streak propels him to an AL All-Star reserve.

On the pitching side, I also think either Skaggs turns into a top of the rotation arm or Meyer becomes an elite 2-inning reliever.

 

[Glen]

13 hours ago, mtangelsfan said:

Love the 80's

https://youtu.be/u7xjcTv7Uwo

https://youtu.be/wg89EnutpOk

[Broad Street]

I think Morin returns to form and helps dominate in what is going to be a very solid bullpen.

[WeatherWonk]

I never realized how good the 80s were, until they were gone and rap/hip hop reared it's ugly head in the 90s. It's been downhill ever since. 

Skaggs and Cron need to have breakout seasons.

I'd like to see Kole hit over .280 once again.

[ukyah]

On 1/26/2017 at 1:38 PM, mtangelsfan said:

Love the 80's

i never realized isabella rosellini sang that song.

[ettin]

I can't get that damn song out of my head now thanks.

[Hubs]

I think the most likely Angels due for a breakout are Kole Calhoun and actually Mike Trout. I can see Trout putting up an 1.100 OPS. This would happen if he was able to hit to a .345-.355 BA. That would push his on base from last year up 30 points to close to .475. Which is unreal but it has happened. And his slugging then would have to top .600 but he's been close to that and I can see it happening. 

Calhoun I think could come through with a .290 / .380 / .500 line if he put it all together. He could be right around a .900 ops if everything goes right.

Pitching wise it's got to be Skaggs, but I can see someone like JC Ramirez taking a himuge step forward and grabbing a rotation spot with a sub 4.00 ERA.

I'd most like to see Espinosa hit for Average and power and Simmons hit for more doubles power (and an OPS near .800) But don't think either is more likely than a step forward from Trout and / or Calhoun. 

In the Minors I think it's David Fletcher and Taylor Ward who both have a chance for breakouts. Ward is good defensively but offensively he was up and down in his first full year. He could have a huge year with the bat which would go a long way to being on this team in 2018. And same goes for Fletcher who could be this teams 2b if he can hit. 

[Angel Oracle]

Ever time I hear David Fletcher, the name Eckstein stands out.

That obviously is meant as a good thing.  It's nice having some depth at 2B in the minors.   The thought of Pennington being here beyond 2017 is not the most reassuring thing.