AL East potential breakout prospects to watch

SURPRISE, AZ - NOVEMBER 03: AFL West All-Star, Estevan Florial #13 of the New York Yankees hits a triple during the third inning of the Arizona Fall League All Star Game at Surprise Stadium on November 3, 2018 in Surprise, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

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Brendan McKay, LHP/1B – Tampa Bay Rays

Can someone who was drafted in the top five, and a top 25 prospect really be a breakout?

McKay was the talk of the two-way player town before Shohei Ohtani come around. However, he struggled a bit at the plate in 2018. Despite his good plate discipline, walking 48 times and striking 52 times, he hit just .214 with a .757 OPS across three levels.

Across those three levels on the mound, McKay posted a 2.41 ERA and 11.8 K/9 in 78.1 innings.

Keith Law, ESPN’s prospect insider, recently put out his top 100, in which he praises McKay’s arm. Saying that McKay’s arm is major league ready, but his bat is behind in the developing process.

Though he was drafted as a two-way player, and has played all of his professional ball as a two-way player, there were concerns that it wouldn’t stick.

All current signs point to McKay sticking with just pitching for now, and he’ll likely need to stay another year in the minors, unless the Rays need him for a stretch run, or, as an opener.

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