Alex Presley

Presley missed close to two months with an oblique injury last season before finishing with a .244/.281/.346 batting line in 89 games (271 PA) for the Astros. He has some pop in his bat (six homers) and can play all three outfield positions, which makes him a valuable bench option for Houston. Jake Marisnick or Robbie Grossman will likely open the year as the Astros' top reserve outfielder, however, so consistent at-bats may be hard to come by unless injuries or improved performance demand otherwise.

Presley is the leading candidate to win the starting center field job for the Twins after a trade to Minnesota late last season revived his career. After posting an .804 OPS in 2011, Presley began the 2012 season as Pittsburgh's starting right fielder, but he failed to establish himself in the majors and spent most of 2012 and 2013 bouncing from Triple-A and the majors with lukewarm results. After he was traded to the Twins in the Justin Morneau deal, he was given a trial as the everyday center fielder and responded by hitting .283 and filling a void as the team's leadoff hitter. However, he had just a .699 OPS and strikeouts remained his bugaboo with whiffs in 17 percent of his plate appearances. Presley did hit .298/.372/.427 at Triple-A last season and has some speed on the bases, so there's some reason to think he'll be productive with the Twins. However, his window to keep an everyday job may be small with Aaron Hicks at Triple-A and top prospect Byron Buxton likely ready for the majors as early as June.

Plate discipline has always presented problems to Presley. Even when he hit .298/.339/.465 as a rookie in 215 at-bats, a 13:40 BB:K ratio loomed. Last year he struck out 72 times while walking on just 18 occasions. Despite starting 2012 as Pittsburgh's everyday left fielder, he was sent back to Triple-A in May after slogging through a 3-for-42 slump. For the season, he hit .237/.279/.405 in 346 at-bats with 10 homers and nine stolen bases. He finished fairly strong -- posting an .817 OPS over his last 18 games -- but it wouldn't be surprising to see him moved to another team. If he stays, he'll compete with the likes of Travis Snider, Jose Tabata and Starling Marte for playing time.

Pittsburgh thought it was simply rewarding an organizational depth guy when it brought Presley to the majors in September of 2010. It turns out that Presley might have been deserved the promotion all along. The left-handed hitting outfielder hit .330 in 348 Triple-A at-bats before the Bucs recalled him for an interleague play stint. Presley responded with two or more hits in nine of his first 17 games. A nerve issue in his left thumb sidelined him for the next month and he hit only .276 the rest of the way, compiling an overall slash line of .298/.339/.465 in 215 at-bats. Pirates general manager Neal Huntington said in the offseason that Presley enters 2012 as the team's starting left fielder, but Nate McLouth could force his way into the picture. A good season by Presley would see the 5-foot-9 left fielder hit .300 with 10-plus homers and 20 or more stolen bases. He'll get an opportunity to establish himself, but won't get much margin for error with McLouth and prospects Starling Marte and Robbie Grossman waiting in the wings.

Pittsburgh promoted Presley for an overachieving minor league campaign befitting the overachieving outfielder. Presley, all 5-foot-9 of him, hit .320 with an .867 OPS in 518 at-bats split between Double-A and Triple-A. He stole 13 bases and demonstrated a decent eye (75:41 K:BB ratio). That said, he's not one of the higher rated outfielders in the system and won't likely see PNC Park unless injuries strike and the team needs a one- or two-week fill-in. Presley, who hit .261 in 23 September at-bats for the Bucs, needs a lot to break right for him to get another chance in the major leagues.