Top 10 MLB breakout candidates in 2017

6. Blake Snell

The Tampa Bay Rays must always be very careful not to bring their top prospects up to the big leagues too soon. It’s not always related to their development, but rather financial control. Blake Snell was probably ready to start the 2016 campaign in the big leagues, but he did not make his debut until the end of April.

Snell carries his rookie status into 2017. Overall, he made 19 starts last year, spanning 89 innings. The Rays were careful to limit his innings, as they did not have much to play for. Snell finished his first season in the big leagues with a 3.54 ERA and a very solid total of 98 strikeouts. There will be no holding him back in 2017.

The lanky left-hander can dial his fastball up to 97 when he needs to, and throws it with explosive sinking action. When he locates his heater down in the zone, there is not much hitters can do with it. Snell backs up his fastball with a changeup that is particularly effective against right-handed hitters and a slider that has good late-breaking action away from lefties. His curve was also better than expected last season, and he got 27 strikeouts with it.

Snell could stand to be more economical with his pitches, as he typically approached 100 pitches by the sixth inning last year. On a team like Tampa Bay, where pitchers rarely get to face a lineup a third time, that may not be as much of a concern. There is no holding back Blake Snell this year, and he should form a formidable one-two punch with Chris Archer this season.