MLB Preview: 5 Spring Training players to watch

3B Jake Lamb – ARI

A former sixth round pick, Jake Lamb has a career slashline of .321/.408/.552 in over 1000 minor league plate appearances. He projects as a player capable of hitting 10-15 home runs, but that’s being conservative.

Lamb has three home runs this spring and 13 RBI. He’s also hitting .391 with a 1.209 OPS and is a lock to get everyday starts at third base, due mainly to the fact Yasmany Tomas proved himself a liability there last season. Also, Lamb will be aided by the protection of a stout lineup in Arizona this season. The left-handed hitter should get his fair share of pitches to turn on in 2016.

Lamb makes solid contact and puts the ball in play. With that will come plenty of opportunities to drive runners in and score runs for his club. His line drive rate in 2015 was 22.7 percent, ranking him 10th amongst all MLB third basemen with a minimum of 350 plate appearances, where as his hard hit percentage of 36.3 ranked him even higher at fifth.

Lamb’s percentage of balls hit in play last year was 64, which is the exact same number of reigning AL MVP, third baseman Josh Donaldson.

Next: Kenta Maeda