MLB Prospects: 5 Possible Breakout Stars

4. David Dahl, CF, Colorado Rockies

Although Dahl is listed as a center fielder, the current state of the Rockies defense means that he’ll be shoved into a corner. Dahl will likely play a majority of the season in the left field corner where his good defensive ability will play up even more than it would in center. While he could definitely handle the responsibilities of center field, his overall value will see a rise with him in a corner.

On the offensive side of things, Dahl is very skilled. When he was drafted he was thought to be a bat first type player. Clearly his prospect profile has changed with time and his increasing talent defensively, but the bat remains as solid as it was expected to be during those early reports. Dahl struggled with injuries during his time in the minors, which halted his development for some time. Now that he’s healthy and received the call-up, there doesn’t appear to be much in his way.

Dahl hits the ball hard, but isn’t necessarily a power hitter. He saw his power numbers increase during the past season, which only means he’ll greatly benefit from playing half his games in Coors field, even if the help is somewhat insignificant. With power comes the tendency to swing and miss, and Dahl is no different. However, his approach and plate discipline have improved over the past year, so there’s a chance that he can improve in those areas similar to the way that Kris Bryant has over the past couple seasons.

Like most of the players on this list, there are a couple flaws to the player’s game. If those flaws are fixed, the player will have no problem having a breakout season. Dahl is not eligible to win the Rookie of the Year award, but he could be one of the best up and comers in the game next season. If he can lower his strikeouts, increase his walks, and continue to hit for power, there’s no doubt that he would be considered a breakout player in 2017.