Chih-Wei Hu

Hu's ERA last season was largely the product of an unsustainable BABIP (.120) and left-on-base percentage (80.7 percent) -- his FIP was all the way up at 5.16. But that was all in a small sample, and Hu's performance over 61.2 innings at Triple-A Durham was solid (3.06 ERA and 3.97 FIP). He pitched almost exclusively in relief, starting just four games after appearing in only nine games in relief in the first four years of his career. The move seemed to have a positive impact, as Hu's strikeout rate jumped up while his walk rate fell. If those improvements hold in Hu's second season in relief, he should provide real-world value as a solid middle reliever, though his fantasy value will be limited unless he makes a rapid and unexpected jump up the depth chart.

Hu provided plenty of reason for optimism in 2016 at Double-A Montgomery, where he posted a 2.59 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and surrendered only seven homers over 142.2 innings. He didn't fare as well in one start with Triple-A Durham, giving up seven earned runs over 4.2 innings. The 23-year-old righty has posted impressive strikeout rates at stops in the lower levels, but last season's 18.4 percent rate is more indicative of the type of pitcher Hu projects to be in the big leagues. He pounds the zone with a low-90s fastball and plus changeup, which is his best pitch, while also mixing in three other change-of-pace secondaries. The Taiwanese righty has advanced pitchability and should be able to serve as a No. 4 or No. 5 starter in the big leagues by the end of 2017. He could also move to the bullpen if there is a greater need there, as his fastball would play up, giving him a nasty fastball/changeup combination that would give hitters fits from both sides of the plate.