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The List


Special to ESPN.com

A baker's dozen of players that assorted scouts, managers, coaches and GMs think will have breakout seasons:

  • Mike Lowell, 3B, Florida. 10 homers and a .446 slugging percentage in the second half, coming off the chemotherapy. This year, he blossoms.

  • Eric Chavez, 3B, Oakland. 35 homers would be no surprise. The best hitter of all those young A's.

  • Jeffrey Hammonds, OF, Colorado. Now that he's healthy, all he needs is 500 at-bats for a monster year.

  • David Ortiz, 1B, Minnesota. The Twins need power. He has it.

  • Corey Koskie, 3B, Minnesota. 30 homers, 100 RBI possible if they'll play him every day.

  • Daryle Ward, 1B-OF, Houston. The outfield is a problem defensively, but he can hit and hit for power.

  • Jorge Posada, C, Yankees. Now the job's his to reach the 30-home run potential.

  • Sidney Ponson, RHP, Baltimore. With a little more consistency, can improve upon 4.71 ERA.

  • Brian Rose, RHP, Boston. He was great last year until his arm hit a wall. But fully healthy, and throwing his change to righties, he can win 12 games and throw 200 innings.

  • Junior Cruz, OF, Toronto. Just relax.

  • Shannon Stewart, OF, Toronto. The next extraordinary AL leadoff man? Power, speed, patience, toughness.

  • Jason Isringhausen, closer, Oakland. He broke in last September, and his stuff has 40 saves written all over it now that he's left New York.

  • Brad Fullmer, 1B, Montreal. Coach Perry Hill is running a private defensive camp for him, and he's going to get his 500 at-bats.

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