Jake Esch

Despite failing to excel in Triple-A over the past two seasons, Esch was promoted to the big league ball club following David Phelps’ late August oblique strain. He didn’t fare any better in the bigs, posting a 5.54 ERA in just 13 innings over three starts. Major league hitters teed off against the 26-year-old rookie, hitting four home runs in his three short starts. He also struggled with walks, holding a walk rate of 4.15 BB/9. His major league sample size is small, but his Triple-A numbers don’t bode well for future success either. His 5.70 Triple-A ERA in 2016 combined with his 5.43 K/9 strikeout rate and 3.49 BB/9 walk rate don’t exactly inspire confidence. In 2015 and 2016, he has posted ERA numbers of 3.48 and 4.03, but when he has gotten the call to Triple-A, his ERA has elevated to above five each time. Esch won’t be expected to begin the 2017 season in the majors, but he could find his way back following any injuries in Miami’s rotation.