MLB 2015: Seven (Mostly) Unheralded Players Primed for Big Seasons

Monday we took a look at some unheralded pitchers in line for breaking out in 2015. Today, we go turn our attention to the rest of the diamond for a couple names to file away.

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Avisail Garcia, White Sox

The White Sox earned plaudits for their active winter, which added Adam LaRoche and Melky Cabrera to the lineup. Perhaps the most-significant addition is a full season from Garcia. A torn labrum limited the ex-Tigers prospect to 172 at bats in 2014. At 6-foot-4, Garcia certainly has the frame to develop into a slugging corner outfielder and a .408 slugging percentage over 141 games in the Majors is reason for optimism. There are certainly worse places to bat in baseball than behind Jose Abreu. It feels like we’re only scratching the surface here on the 24-year-old’s potential. Long term, the White Sox have to be pinching themselves they parlayed an out-of-contract Jake Peavy for a future stud corner outfielder they plucked from a division rival in a three-way deal.

Kole Calhoun, Angels

When you play in the same outfield as Mike Trout, you’re going to be overshadowed. Quietly, Calhoun — mostly unheralded while moving through the Angels system — posted a four-win season in 2014 with a .272/.325/.450 line, along with a 122 OPS+ over 127 games. Whatever the resolution is in the Josh Hamilton situation, Calhoun is going to be in the Halos’ lineup from Opening Day. Calhoun might not develop into a “star” but he’s got 25 homer potential and costs Los Angeles under a million bucks. Not too shabby.

Kolten Wong, Cardinals

After a third-place finish in the Rookie of the Year voting (and big postseason home run) big things are expected from Wong, a second baseman. A year ago he managed 12 homers and 20 stolen bases in around 400 at bats is impressive. Less impressive is 21 walks. Wong certainly has power and he develops a little more patience at the plate, he’ll make the potent St. Louis lineup all that more impressive 1-8.

Marcus Semien, Athletics

Semien is one of the pieces Oakland got back in the Jeff Samardzija trade, and the club hopes he settles in to fill a void at shortstop created by the loss of Jed Lowrie. Shortstop is the key with Semien, who only played six games there in parts of two seasons with the White Sox. Oakland likes his range and some say he could develop 20+ homer power — which looks a lot better coming from a shortstop than a third baseman. Semien’s lifetime slash line over 85 games with the White Sox is only .240/.293/.380 but in 387 games across minors it’s .273/.374/.465 which is reason for optimism.

Seth Smith, Mariners

Smith is 31 years old and on his fourth team. He’s never racked up more than 500 at bats in a season, mostly because he can’t hit lefties. Not very exciting, admittedly. Against righties its another story, where he’s amassed a lifetime .453 slugging percentage and solid .347 on-base percentage. Now with the Mariners, Smith is going to be counted on to extend the Seattle lineup beyond Robinson Cano, Nelson Cruz and Kyle Seager. If he can make some strides vs. lefties — his .205 lifetime batting average says otherwise — he could finally get enough at bats to stand out from the crowd. Whatever he does, Smith remains a useful player albeit mostly an unknown one since he’s played exclusively on the West Coast (we’ll count Colorado) during his eight-year career.

Stephen Souza Jr., Rays

Souza made a contribution in Washington — making a highlight reel catch to save Jordan Zimmermann’s no-hitter. Even so, there wasn’t a spot in the Nationals outfield for Souza, so he got traded and wound up in Tampa where he’ll get every chance to play this summer. Souza put together a huge season in the minors in 2014, hitting 25 homers and batting .345. He attributes his late-ish success (he’s already 26) on ditching partying and renewing his faith.

Joc Pederson, Dodgers

When a team trades a one-time MVP-level player to make room for you, as the Dodgers did with Matt Kemp, there are going to be expectations. Pederson, a Top 10 prospect, is being touted by everyone after hitting 33 homers in 121 games in Triple A last year, earning Pacific Coast League MVP honors in the process. How good will Pederson be in Los Angeles? The Dodgers would probably accept mediocre offense numbers, so long as he plays a competent center field — which allows Yasiel Puig to play in right. Since the Dodgers figure to be very good and made all sorts of moves in the winter, Pederson is going to get talked about a lot. If he lives up to the expectations or not will be worth watching since the Dodgers appear to be counting on him from Day One.