MLB: 5 young pitchers poised for breakouts in 2023

MLB pitching breakout candidate: Hunter Greene

Hunter Greene was drafted second overall in 2017, and was ranked as high as #21 in MLB.com’s prospect rankings. Because of that, his debut was highly anticipated in 2022. Well that, and the fact that he had a blazing 100 mph fastball.

Last season, however, was an absurd case of a tale of two seasons for Hunter Greene.

Heading into the All-Star break, Greene sported a 5.78 ERA, 5.42 FIP, and 2.29 HR/9 innings. Major league talent had no problem catching up to that blazing fastball, and he was getting hit hard.

However, from the All-Star break onward, he had a 1.02 ERA, 1.70 FIP, and .25 HR/9. That’s an incredible 180-degree turn for a pitcher in his rookie season. He had an absurd 12.99 K/9 as well. All of a sudden, Greene had no problem missing bats.

Full disclosure, I do not expect Greene to put up his second half numbers for the entirety of 2023, but it does prove that he is capable of taking that next step. Confidence is an immense factor here as well, and his second half he should have no shortage of that.

Greene seemed to be an ace in the making his entire time in the minor leagues, and he appears to be heading towards stardom in 2023.