After proving that he was deserving of a bigger opportunity with a strong performance in a utility role in 2012, Matt Carpenter took full advantage once the St. Louis Cardinals handed him the starting second base job last season. His age-27 season resulted in an All-Star selection, Silver Slugger Award and fourth-place finish in MVP voting. That’s what you call a “breakout performance.”
While he may have put himself on the radar the previous season, his 2013 “breakout,” which included a league-leading 55 doubles, placed him on a whole new level.
Here is one 2014 breakout candidate from each team, who has a chance to be viewed in a whole different light by the end of the season.