{"id":17648,"date":"2026-01-20T10:48:05","date_gmt":"2026-01-20T18:48:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportrelay.com\/mlb\/?p=17648"},"modified":"2026-01-20T10:51:20","modified_gmt":"2026-01-20T18:51:20","slug":"breakout-candidates-for-each-al-west-team","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportrelay.com\/mlb\/2026\/01\/20\/breakout-candidates-for-each-al-west-team\/","title":{"rendered":"Breakout Candidates for Each AL West Team"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>2025 was an interesting year for the American League West. The <a href=\"http:\/\/sportrelay.com\/mlb\/category\/astros\">Houston Astros<\/a> failed to win the division for the first time in a full season since 2016. The <a href=\"http:\/\/sportrelay.com\/mlb\/category\/athletics\">Athletics<\/a> moved to Sacramento and played all their home games at a minor league ballpark. The <a href=\"http:\/\/sportrelay.com\/mlb\/category\/mariners\">Seattle Mariners<\/a>, who had made two postseason appearances between 2000 and 2022, came one game away from making the World Series. Simply put, it was the season of the unexpected out west. What you can expect, however, is for the following AL West breakout candidates to enjoy breakout campaigns in 2026.<\/p>\n<h2>Athletics \u2013 Outfielder Denzel Clarke<\/h2>\n<p><a id=\"WMAM_vsASDRI0GKrgDHm4A\" class=\"gie-single\" style=\"color: #a7a7a7; text-decoration: none; font-weight: normal !important; border: none; display: inline-block;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gettyimages.com\/detail\/2223817630\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Embed from Getty Images<\/a><script>window.gie=window.gie||function(c){(gie.q=gie.q||[]).push(c)};gie(function(){gie.widgets.load({id:'WMAM_vsASDRI0GKrgDHm4A',sig:'TUsTLgJS3fhWfp5btnmp8pUbiuteMDYg_K_XDennmAU=',w:'594px',h:'396px',items:'2223817630',caption: true ,tld:'com',is360: false })});<\/script><script src='\/\/embed-cdn.gettyimages.com\/widgets.js' charset='utf-8' async><\/script><br \/>\nFew players are more exciting to watch than <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/c\/clarkde02.shtml\">Denzel Clarke<\/a>, especially in the outfield. Last season, he posted a ridiculous 13 outs above average in 47 games, a number that ranked in the 98th percentile. At the plate, however, it was a different story.<br \/>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\nIn those 47 games, Clarke struck out 61 times. He also drew only six walks, while posting an OPS of .646. Thankfully, he swings the bat well, evidenced by his average bat speed of 74.3 MPH. If his offense improves, Clarke could be in for a big season in 2026.<\/p>\n<h2>Houston Astros \u2013 Outfielder Cam Smith<\/h2>\n<p><a id=\"ZetFNxw5SKxlPGxE_O1quw\" class=\"gie-single\" style=\"color: #a7a7a7; text-decoration: none; font-weight: normal !important; border: none; display: inline-block;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gettyimages.com\/detail\/2207425455\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Embed from Getty Images<\/a><script>window.gie=window.gie||function(c){(gie.q=gie.q||[]).push(c)};gie(function(){gie.widgets.load({id:'ZetFNxw5SKxlPGxE_O1quw',sig:'5_uTJ1H5PFnu6VBavQ6Vy5ESV3QXXDHItMC_w5FgMoE=',w:'594px',h:'396px',items:'2207425455',caption: true ,tld:'com',is360: false })});<\/script><script src='\/\/embed-cdn.gettyimages.com\/widgets.js' charset='utf-8' async><\/script><br \/>\n2025 was a tale of two halves for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/s\/smithca07.shtml\">Cam Smith<\/a>. After being acquired from the <a href=\"http:\/\/sportrelay.com\/mlb\/category\/cubs\">Chicago Cubs<\/a> in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/t\/tuckeky01.shtml\">Kyle Tucker<\/a> trade, Smith made his major league debut on opening day and looked like a Rookie of the Year candidate. On July 4th, Smith was hitting .292 with an OPS of .805. By season\u2019s end, though, his average had dropped to .236, with his OPS sitting at .671.<br \/>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\nOn the positive side, his defense in right field was above average, even though he never played the position before 2025. Smith is only 22 years old, but he showed last season that he can be one of baseball\u2019s best young players. Now, it\u2019s time to put it all together for a full season.<\/p>\n<h2>Los Angeles Angels \u2013 First Baseman Nolan Schanuel<\/h2>\n<p><a id=\"UOD13OwFRs54yEeiUQukfQ\" class=\"gie-single\" style=\"color: #a7a7a7; text-decoration: none; font-weight: normal !important; border: none; display: inline-block;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gettyimages.com\/detail\/2237672495\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Embed from Getty Images<\/a><script>window.gie=window.gie||function(c){(gie.q=gie.q||[]).push(c)};gie(function(){gie.widgets.load({id:'UOD13OwFRs54yEeiUQukfQ',sig:'-TrdTv2dTP0tI13UdhUBdAez9T10i3I-17WIemumJ14=',w:'594px',h:'396px',items:'2237672495',caption: true ,tld:'com',is360: false })});<\/script><script src='\/\/embed-cdn.gettyimages.com\/widgets.js' charset='utf-8' async><\/script><br \/>\nHaving not been to the playoffs in over a decade, bright spots are few and far between for the <a href=\"http:\/\/sportrelay.com\/mlb\/category\/angels\">Los Angeles Angels<\/a>, especially as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/t\/troutmi01.shtml\">Mike Trout<\/a> gets older. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/s\/schanno01.shtml\">Nolan Schanuel<\/a>, however, is one of them.<br \/>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\nOne of the game\u2019s most patient hitters, Schanuel struck out 12.6% of the time in 2025, a number that ranked in the 93rd percentile. He also whiffed only 15.0% of the time, which ranked in the 92nd percentile. But while he makes good contact, he doesn\u2019t hit for power. If that changes in 2026, Schanuel will become one of the most complete hitters in baseball.<\/p>\n<h2>Seattle Mariners \u2013 Third Baseman Ben Williamson<\/h2>\n<p><a id=\"mjLmPr3dTUV0DHRwntcXWA\" class=\"gie-single\" style=\"color: #a7a7a7; text-decoration: none; font-weight: normal !important; border: none; display: inline-block;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gettyimages.com\/detail\/2223142600\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Embed from Getty Images<\/a><script>window.gie=window.gie||function(c){(gie.q=gie.q||[]).push(c)};gie(function(){gie.widgets.load({id:'mjLmPr3dTUV0DHRwntcXWA',sig:'6vhzrndz_lfipfyTwpb7oazlmsDqvH_tuKEFTT1Y1S8=',w:'594px',h:'396px',items:'2223142600',caption: true ,tld:'com',is360: false })});<\/script><script src='\/\/embed-cdn.gettyimages.com\/widgets.js' charset='utf-8' async><\/script><br \/>\nUnless <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/s\/suareeu01.shtml\">Eugenio Suarez<\/a> returns to the Mariners, third base is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/w\/willibe03.shtml\">Ben Williamson\u2019s<\/a> job for 2026. He played all 85 of his games last season at the position, showcasing his defensive value. Offensively, however, it was a struggle.<br \/>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\nWilliamson delivered a measly .604 OPS last season, despite posting a .253 batting average. He also struck out a lot more than he walked and showcased little power with his bat. The Mariner lineup is strong, so Williamson\u2019s weaknesses will only be exemplified by his teammates. However, as a former second-round pick, the team knows he has what it takes to contribute in 2026.<\/p>\n<h2>Texas Rangers \u2013 Pitcher Kumar Rocker<\/h2>\n<p><a id=\"rIfHEEv6QGdF-p2mh5C0OQ\" class=\"gie-single\" style=\"color: #a7a7a7; text-decoration: none; font-weight: normal !important; border: none; display: inline-block;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gettyimages.com\/detail\/2207861134\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Embed from Getty Images<\/a><script>window.gie=window.gie||function(c){(gie.q=gie.q||[]).push(c)};gie(function(){gie.widgets.load({id:'rIfHEEv6QGdF-p2mh5C0OQ',sig:'_3BsY-6qp9qJhYDFpbTQXzBMKf3Cxsjf8UEDXvcSn50=',w:'594px',h:'396px',items:'2207861134',caption: true ,tld:'com',is360: false })});<\/script><script src='\/\/embed-cdn.gettyimages.com\/widgets.js' charset='utf-8' async><\/script><br \/>\nIt\u2019s hard to believe <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/r\/rockeku01.shtml\">Kumar Rocker<\/a> was drafted five years ago. Of course, health hasn\u2019t been his friend so far, but there\u2019s reason to believe he can produce in 2025. After all, he pitched in a career-high 14 games last season and generated a 49% ground ball rate.<br \/>\n&nbsp;<br \/>\nThe <a href=\"http:\/\/sportrelay.com\/mlb\/category\/rangers\">Texas Rangers\u2019<\/a> rotation is open, as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/k\/kellyme01.shtml\">Merrill Kelly<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/m\/mahlety01.shtml\">Tyler Mahle<\/a> left in free agency, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/c\/corbipa01.shtml\">Patrick Corbin<\/a> hasn\u2019t been brought back. Rocker has the potential and the physique, as he\u2019s 6-foot-5 and throws a 95 MPH sinker. The physique has always been there, but now it\u2019s time to tap into the potential for 2026.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Main Photo:<br \/>\n<a id=\"2MpqR79XTCJXcEzZROpABA\" class=\"gie-single\" style=\"color: #a7a7a7; text-decoration: none; font-weight: normal !important; border: none; display: inline-block;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gettyimages.com\/detail\/2171648865\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Embed from Getty Images<\/a><script>window.gie=window.gie||function(c){(gie.q=gie.q||[]).push(c)};gie(function(){gie.widgets.load({id:'2MpqR79XTCJXcEzZROpABA',sig:'8QWZCFwZowKS8hQGRj-NxKecT7td5ljP_fn_ZRAxTrw=',w:'594px',h:'396px',items:'2171648865',caption: true ,tld:'com',is360: false })});<\/script><script src='\/\/embed-cdn.gettyimages.com\/widgets.js' charset='utf-8' async><\/script><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>2025 was an interesting year for the American League West. The Houston Astros failed to win the division for the first time in a full season since 2016. The Athletics moved to Sacramento and played all their home games at a minor league ballpark. The Seattle Mariners, who had made two postseason appearances between 2000 [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":37,"featured_media":17652,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"pmpro_default_level":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[10,2],"tags":[2240,2252,2037,679,1405,961,640,216,1560,697],"class_list":["post-17648","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-al-west","category-mlb","tag-2026-mlb-season","tag-ben-williamson","tag-cam-smith","tag-denzel-clarke","tag-eugenio-suarez","tag-kumar-rocker","tag-kyle-tucker","tag-mike-trout","tag-nolan-schanuel","tag-patrick-corbin","pmpro-has-access","eq-blocks"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v25.0 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Breakout Candidates for Each AL West Team - Sport Relay<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The AL West had its most interesting season in decades in 2025, and these young breakout candidates should keep it that way in 2026\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/sportrelay.com\/mlb\/2026\/01\/20\/breakout-candidates-for-each-al-west-team\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Breakout Candidates for Each AL West Team - 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