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10 MLB players set to explode in 2017

MLB teams

Kevin Gausman, starting pitcher, Baltimore Orioles

For the first time in his brief career, we got to see a full Major League season out of Gausman. He threw 179.2 innings in 2016.

The Orioles can’t really afford to be even that conservative with Gausman in 2017. Not if they want to contend.

They aren’t going to get enough quality innings from the starting rotation, and quite frankly the Baltimore bullpen in front of Zach Britton isn’t good enough to consistently carry the load. Buck Showalter will have to take the reigns off of Gausman, letting him pitch deep into games.

That’s a good thing, though.

The 2016 results gave reason for long term hope. In those 179.2 innings, Gausman posted a 3.61 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and struck out nearly a hitter an inning. It’s also important to remember that he’s only 26. In many ways, he’s still learning how to pitch.

Given the numbers that a relatively raw version of Gausman posted in 2016, it only stands to reason that a slightly more mature version will be even better in 2017.

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