MLB players most likely to break out in 2017

The athletic Anderson was strong on arrival with the White Sox last season, hitting .283-9-30 with 10 steals in 99 games. He could get more responsibility this season, including a shot at the leadoff spot after the team traded Adam Eaton.

Bell handled the bat well in his MLB debut late last season with more walks than strikeouts. He has the ability to add double-digit home runs to a strong on-base rate.

The favorite for AL Rookie of the Year, Benintendi had an .835 OPS in 118 plate appearances during his MLB debut. His incredible eye makes Benintendi's floor quite high.

While Berrios was out of his element in his rookie season, his minor league numbers indicate a much more capable pitcher. He had a 2.51 ERA in 17 starts at Triple-A Rochester last season and owns a 2.89 ERA for his minor league career.

The former No. 1 prospect in the game, Buxton finally found himself last September with nine home runs. Minnesota could put him in the leadoff spot with a strong spring.

Conforto underwent the feared sophomore slump last season and spent much of the year in the minors. He still has 21 MLB home runs in only 478 at-bats, and his minor league success indicates a better all-around hitter.

Dahl looked great in his rookie debut, and he's expected to build on last season. Colorado's left fielder hit .315-7-24 in 222 at-bats and has shown similar minor league production.

The likely fifth starter in Atlanta, Foltynewicz rounds out a veteran-laden pitching pitch. His plus arm was on full display last season with more than eight strikeouts per nine innings and control that continued to improve.

Arguably Baltimore's ace after last season, Gausman could take another step forward if he's able to keep the ball in the park. He had nearly one strikeout per inning and a 3.61 ERA in 30 starts but won only nine games.

Signed to a five-year, $47.5 million contract after leaving Cuba, Gurriel is expected to be Houston's starting first baseman this season. He struggled in his MLB debut, but the 32-year-old showed big power as a pro in Cuba.

An under-the-radar prospect for Pittsburgh, Kuhl pitched well in his rookie season with a 4.20 ERA in 14 starts. He has strong control and posted a 2.37 ERA in 16 starts at Triple-A Indianapolis last season.

Marte gets a new start after struggling in Seattle last season, but his 2015 production and minor league history show a much better player. With the help of a hitter-friendly home ballpark in Arizona, Marte should be able to put last season's struggles behind him.

McCullers has electric stuff and an extreme ground ball rate, but he missed much of last season with shoulder and elbow issues. He was effective while on the mound and has a 3.22 ERA in consecutive seasons. Putting together a full year could give McCullers Cy Young consideration.

Montgomery is battling with veteran Brett Anderson for the Cubs' fifth starter job this spring. The winner could be set for a big year given both of them posting strong ground ball rates and Chicago's outstanding defense. For Montgomery's purposes, he posted a 2.52 ERA in 100 innings between the Mariners and Chicago last season.

Colorado let Nick Hundley walk and didn't pursue another catcher with the knowledge that Murphy would be arriving. He brings big power, hitting 20-plus home runs three times as a pro, and will be bolstered further by Coors Field.

Musgrove needs some help to crack the Houston starting rotation out of spring training, but he probably won't be far behind. He's shown pinpoint control in his minor league career with just over one walk per nine innings and had a 4.06 ERA in his MLB debut last season.

Nola slowed last season before being shut down with an elbow injury, but he entered spring healthy. Despite his poor overall ERA last season, Nola had an ace-like K/BB ratio above 4.00 with nearly 10 strikeouts per nine innings. The former first-round pick shows huge upside.

Norris is a former top pitching prospect who has continued to improve his peripherals, albeit with limited health. He had more than one strikeout per inning and a 3.38 ERA in 69.1 innings for the Tigers last season and could be primed for another step forward.

The Pirates have been known to work wonders with veteran pitchers in recent seasons, and that included Nova last year. He had a 3.06 ERA and walked only three batters in 64.2 innings after being traded from the Yankees in 2016. Fans should be excited after he signed a contract extension.

An oft-injured lefty, Paxton reworked his mechanics and displayed increased velocity last season. The results were nearly one strikeout per inning and sub-2.0 walks per nine innings with Seattle. With Felix Hernandez regressing, Paxton could emerge as the team's ace.

Ray struggled to keep the ball in the park, but he missed bats at an incredible rate for Arizona last season. The lefty had more than 11 strikeouts per nine innings, showing dominant upside.

Santana showed big power potential last season but missed about half the year due to injuries. He has 19 home runs in only 423 career at-bats, showing big power ability if he can stay healthy.

Schebler started to show strong power during the second half of last season, hitting eight home runs over the last two months. That was after hitting .311-13-43 in 75 games at Triple-A Louisville. The opportunity will be there for Schebler to help all year.

Smith enters the season as a likely fourth outfielder for Tampa Bay, but he should find plenty of playing time. While Smith struggled in his rookie debut with Atlanta, he hit .295 against right-handed pitching and has a career .296 minor league batting average with as many as 88 steals in one season.

Triggs is battling for a rotation spot after pitching brilliantly late last season as a starter. He had a 2.70 ERA in seven starts, with only one walk in 26.2 innings. If his command continues, Triggs should easily help Oakland's rotation.