Jeff Locke

Locke saw his earned run average worsen for the third straight season in 2015, jumping from 3.52 to 3.91 to 4.49 (in a career-high 168.1 innings). While his average fastball velocity improved to 91.3 mph, he yielded more hits (178) than ever before. His 16.5 pitches thrown per inning were the fifth-most among NL starters. After parts of five seasons in the majors, Locke may find himself looking for a fresh start in 2016. He throws an impressive changeup but it seems like National League hitters have pretty much figured him out. As a result, a full-time shift to the bullpen may be on tap.

Locke doesn't throw hard (90.5 mph fastball) or strike many batters out (6.10 K/9), but a deceptive changeup keeps batters off balance. So long as he finds the strike zone -- he improved from 4.4 BB/9 in 2013 to 2.7 BB/9 last season -- he has a chance to be effective. The southpaw made nine unimpressive Triple-A starts (4.14 ERA, 1.46 WHIP) before Pittsburgh summoned him to the big leagues, where he compiled a 7-6 record, 3.91 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 89:40 K:BB ratio in 21 starts (131.1 innings). Locke, who will battle for the fourth or fifth spot in the rotation, has proven to be a streaky pitcher and can help fantasy teams for short periods of time when hot. The offseason re-acquisition of mentor A.J. Burnett can only help the still-impressionable left-hander.

Locke went from surprise All-Star pitcher to picked-over starter in 2013. The 26-year-old lefty held the staff together early on, when injuries to A.J. Burnett, Wandy Rodriguez and others threatened to derail the Pirates' season. Expected to battle for the team's fifth rotation spot in spring training, Locke went 9-2 with a 2.11 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and .226 BABIP. After that, his numbers slipped to a 6.66 ERA, 1.98 WHIP and .393 BABIP. The lefty's inability to command the strike zone resulted in his decline. At 26, he still has room to grow, especially after his rookie season, but it would be unwise to value Locke as anything more than an end-game pick.

Locke's modus operandi with the Pirates in 2012 was to pitch lights-out baseball for several innings and then get rocked for a big inning. Whether that's nerves, inexperience or endemic of his future career remains to be seen. Most likely, it's case of a little of all three things. On the plus side, he reached 94 mph with his fastball in several of his last starts. He isn't known as a particularly hard thrower, but if he finds a way to sustain that level, that could cure a lot of his struggles. The lefty has experienced minor league success mostly by mixing his pitches. Locke registered an impressive 131:43 K:BB ratio at Triple-A, and pitching for Pittsburgh mostly in September, the 25-year-old compiled a 5.50 ERA and 1.37 WHIP in 34.1 innings. He'll compete for the fifth starter's role in early 2013, but will have to impress with studs Gerrit Cole and Jameson Taillon right around the corner.

Lackluster describes Locke's first go-around in the majors last year. Pittsburgh felt the 24-year-old lefty was worthy of a big league shot despite pitching primarily for Double-A Altoona in 2011. Locke threw 125 frames for the Curve (4.03 ERA, 1.312 WHIP) before jumping to Triple-A. He gave up just seven runs in five starts for Indianapolis, prompting the Pirates to take a look at him in September. WIth a 6.48 ERA and 1.860 WHIP, Locke struggled in his four starts and looked even worse, if that's possible. The left-hander figures to start 2012 at Triple-A. Perhaps another experience in the high minors will wean him off of the deer-in-the-headlights look he displayed in his short stay with Pittsburgh.

Locke is a 23-year-old lefty with a 90 mph fastball and off-speed pitches decent enough to miss bats. Acquired as part of the package for Nate McLouth in 2009, Locke compiled a 12-5 record with a 3.56 ERA and 1.146 WHIP split between High-A and Double-A in 2010. He also finished with an impressive 8.7 K/9IP and 139:26 K:BB ratio. Locke came up big in the Double-A playoffs, fashioning a 1.54 ERA in 11.2 innings en route to a championship. Nothing stands out in particular with Locke, but he gets the job done. He'll likely get his first shot pitching at the Triple-A level in 2011 and his performance there will go along way toward determining whether he's another depth starter or a pitcher with fantasy-worthy potential.

Locke, Atlanta's second-round pick in 2006 out of high school, had an outstanding 74:8 K:BB ratio over 61 innings for Danville in the Appalachian League. While not overpowering, he has a low-90s fastball with good command. A strong season at Low-A could put him on the fast track for the majors.