SPECULATOR: 10 steps to prospect stardom, 2022

The "A-Rod 10-Step Path to Stardom" has been a longtime staple in the Baseball Forecaster (page 52 in the 2022 version). It's our annual reminder that even the best prospects rarely hit the ground running. A more common path to stardom is filled with highs and lows; from a poor initial MLB cameo to a minor league demotion, to another crack in the majors; rinse and repeat.

We all know the Mike Trout example—he slashed .220/.281/.390 in his 2011 debut before becoming Mike Trout—but there are plenty of others who needed a couple of tries before it started to click. The Acuñas, Tatis's, Sotos, and (Julio) Rodíguez's of the world are the exceptions, not the rule.

So this week, we'll peg a current player on each of the 10 steps on the A-Rod...

Almost!

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