Detroit Tigers: Five Breakout Candidates to Watch in 2017

Detroit Tigers fans will see largely the same team next season. While the likes of Michael Fulmer and James McCann put themselves on the map last year, these five players could break out in 2017.

Detroit Tigers players wrapped up the 2016 season with an 86-75 record. Much of that was due to standout seasons from star veterans like Justin Verlander, Ian Kinsler and Miguel Cabrera.

However, the Tigers also found success thanks to the contributions of young players like Michael Fulmer, James McCann and Matt Boyd.

Fulmer would win American League Rookie of the Year thanks to a debut season that saw him notch a 3.0 WAR, a 3.06 ERA and 7.47 strikeouts per nine innings over 159 frames.

Meanwhile, McCann established himself as one of the elite defensive backstops in the league.

The 26-year-old finished as a Gold Glove finalist while throwing out 45% of would-be base thieves. Additionally, the catcher turned in a DRS of nine in 2016.

Boyd bounced back from a 2015 season that saw him post a 7.53 ERA. The Washington native did struggle in a handful of starts, but was largely solid last season.

His 2016 campaign included a 56.1 inning stretch form early July to early September that saw the 25-year-old pitch to a 2.56 ERA while holding batters to a .294 on-base percentage. The pitcher also struck out 52 hitters over that span.