RESEARCH: Anticipating first-time SP breakouts

One of the keys to building a winning pitching staff is to have breakout performers in your starting rotation.

BaseballHQ.com's Starting Pitcher Buyers Guide routinely helps you to identify pitchers with breakout potential. Today, we'll look back at the profiles of all starting pitchers who have broken out in the last five years to identify the traits that fueled their newfound success.

From 2010 to 2014, a total of 107 starting pitchers increased their 5x5 value by at least $10 from one year to the next (minimum $10 5x5 value in year two). This total has not been influenced by a large number of breakouts in one or two seasons; there have consistently been 20-25 starting pitchers per season that accomplish this feat.

Nearly half of...

Almost!

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