Top 30 MLB breakout stars in 2017

Minnesota Twins

2017 MLB Breakout Pick: CF Byron Buxton

Now that the Chicago Cubs have won the World Series, will the term “wait ‘til next year” be used to describe Byron Buxton’s breakout potential?

Considered among the top prospects in all of baseball every year after being selected No. 2 in the 2012 draft, Buxton is a potential five-tool player that has yet to live up to the hype. He has a .220/.274/.398 career slash and has struck out in a staggering 34.5 percent of his plate appearances to date.

Of course, Buxton has appeared in just 138 major league games split across two seasons, and he is just 23 years old – so it’s far too early to throw around words like “bust.” Plus, there is plenty of optimism to believe “this is the year.”

Following an August demotion back to Triple-A, Buxton returned to the Twins September 1 and went on a red-hot tear that included nine home runs in his final 29 games. Given the fact he had just one homer in 63 major league games earlier that season and just three prior career long balls in the big leagues, a September power surge was a huge boost of confidence.

Buxton offers more that just raw power at the plate. He is one of the fastest players in the game, and plays center field as well as anyone on the planet. Once his offense comes around – particularly his plate discipline – Buxton is sure to be one of Major League Baseball’s brightest stars

One More for the Future: SP Jose Berrios