In baseball one thing is certain over the course of the season, the superstars are going to perform. What generally depends on how successful your team is during the season is the production of players that you don’t expect to produce as much as they do. This can also be known as “breaking out”, or in terms of this article, a “break out season.”
Generally candidates to have a break out season will either be highly-touted younger players making their debuts, or players that haven’t necessarily put up the biggest numbers that will be taking on a bigger role, potentially with a new team. Let’s take a look at one breakout candidate for each AL East team, a division where potential breakout players could help decide who wins the division in 2021.
Baltimore Orioles – 1B/OF Ryan Mountcastle
Ryan Mountcastle made his major league debut during the shortened 2020 season where he hit .333 with 5 HRs and 23 RBIs in 126 at-bats. Mountcastle currently ranks at the #77 prospect in baseball according to MLB Pipeline, and should take over as the full-time first baseman for the rebuilding Baltimore Orioles this season. Mountcastle should be ready to contribute in the big leagues full time this season, and should be considered one of the preseason favorites to win the AL Rookie of the Year in 2021.
Boston Red Sox – 3B/1B Bobby Dalbec
Similar to Mountcastle, Bobby Dalbec made his major league debut during the shortened 2020 season. Dalbec, the #93 prospect in baseball according to MLB Pipeline, made 80 plate appearances during his first MLB go-around where he hit for a .263 average with 8 HRs and 16 RBIs, while also having an impressive .959 OPS for the Red Sox. After trading away Mookie Betts last season and OF Andrew Benintendi this offseason, Boston appears to be in full rebuild mode, and Dalbec should get plenty of opportunities to impress this season for the Red Sox as he is one of the young pieces Boston may build around.
New York Yankees – SP Deivi Garcia
The Yankees rotation will look a lot different in 2021 than it looked in 2020. Cole, Kluber, Severino, and Taillon are locks to be in the rotation for New York, with the fifth spot in the rotation up for grabs. Garcia made his major league debut during the 2020 season where he went 3-2 with a 4.98 ERA while striking out 33 batters in his six starts for New York. The young talented right-hander impressed at times in 2020, and should be considered a prime candidate to fill the fifth spot in the rotation for the Yankees.
Tampa Bay Rays – OF Randy Arozarena
Arozarena broke out in a big way during the 2020 MLB Postseason where he put up historic numbers for the American League Champion Rays. Arozarena hit .377 with 10 HRs, 14 RBIs, and an insane 1.273 OPS in 77 at-bats during the 2020 Postseason in one of the better playoff performances we’ve ever seen. The #34 prospect in baseball according to MLB Pipeline has impressed so far in his short MLB career, and we now get to see what Randy Arozarena is capable of in a complete 162 game season.
Toronto Blue Jays – SP Nate Pearson
One of hardest throwing young pitchers in baseball, Nate Pearson is a prime candidate to breakout in 2021. The #10 prospect in baseball according to MLB Pipeline, Pearson is the top right-handed pitching prospect in baseball with a fastball that sits between 96-100 mph. Pearson made his major league debut in 2020 appearing in five games where he finished 1-0 with a 6.00 ERA while striking out 16 in 18 innings pitched. The Blue Jays will be one of the better young teams in baseball, and a breakout season from Pearson would help Toronto potential make the Postseason in 2021.
For more MLB coverage, click here.
