The dreaded sophomore slump strikes yearly, leading to disappointment for those who excelled in their rookie seasons. There are other cases, however, in which the sophomore season serves as a bridge to a player’s prime. It can be a year to improve on the previous year's success, or work out the kinks and begin to put all the pieces together. Remember, after all, that you must fail first in order to succeed. And you must crawl before your walk, or run.

These three starting pitchers displayed their brilliance in flashes last year. Today I will take a look at whether they’re prepared to take the next step and become aces.

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Third Time's the Charm

Yordano Ventura, Kansas City Royals

After a brief cameo in 2013, Yordano Ventura’s first full season in 2014 saw him win 14 games. In the second half of that season, he went 7-3 with a 3.16 ERA, striking out 71 batters in 79.2 IP. The finest start of his year came in game six of that year’s World Series. With his team facing elimination, he threw seven innings of three-hit ball, forcing a game seven which the Royals went on to lose. Expectations were now high for Ventura heading into 2015, but he would disappoint for the most part.

The Royals played with an edge, and Ventura was the leader, sparking a number of brawls with what was widely perceived as bad attitude. It could’ve been acceptable if Ventura was effective on the mound, but he was far from it. Through his first 76.1 IP, he held a 5.19 ERA, eventually getting sent down to Triple-A. The Royals acquired Johnny Cueto, and Ventura was never ace of the staff again. His stint in the minors would be brief, however, as he would return following just three days, not making a single start. His first two starts in August appeared to show no change, as he gave up 11 runs in 12 IP, but from that point forward he was stellar.

Over his final 11 starts of the season, he went 7-1 with a 2.38 ERA and a 10.7 K/9 ratio. One big key to Ventura’s turnaround was his curveball adjustment, which appeared to work wonders. Now with Cueto gone, Ventura is right back on target to be the ace of the staff for the defending champions. If Ventura matured and can keep his temper in check, we could be looking at an ace available on the cheap, as he’s slated to go in the late rounds.

Marcus Stroman, Toronto Blue Jays

Following a solid 2014 rookie season, Long Island product Marcus Stroman was tabbed as a breakout candidate for 2015. Unfortunately, he tore his ACL in spring training of that year, and the expectation was the he would miss the entire 2015 campaign as he recovered from the injury. Then, after a stunning four-month recovery from an injury that usually takes six months to heal, he returned in September.

Of course, he was returning to a team that had shocked many by fighting for the AL East, eventually taking the crown. Incredibly, he returned on September 12th, tossing five innings and earning a win against the Yankees. Stroman would start three more games that season, picking up three more victories to go 4-0. His last start on September 30th saw him pitch eight innings of one-run ball against the Boston Red Sox. Behind David Price, he became Toronto’s number two starter into the postseason, winning game three of the ALCS.

Now that Price has moved on, Stroman has emerged as the clear number one starter for the Blue Jays heading into 2016. A prolific ground ball pitcher, his ACL injury did nothing to hurt his game, and he appears poised to really shock the world in 2016. His K/9 numbers in the minors have always been significantly high, and it’s not likely he’ll reach those numbers in the majors this season. If he’s able to raise that number to a major league career high, however, we’re looking at a ground ball machine that can get his fair share of strikeouts as well. Expect Stroman to excel as he becomes the ace of his staff.

Andrew Heaney, Los Angeles Angels

Arriving in Anaheim after a season in Miami, Andrew Heaney took a promising turn in his second season in the majors. After spending the first couple of months in the minors, the Angels called him up in June and he was stellar early on, going 5-0 in his first six starts.

He struggled to close out the season, however, going 1-4 in the final two months of the campaign. His 1.20 WHIP was still strong and his .284 BABIP was also encouraging. While his final two months weren’t impressive, they should certainly not discourage those watching Heaney. Major League hitters adjust quicker than those in the minors, and Heaney had no time to recover.

With a full spring training and season awaiting him in 2016, you can expect him to also make adjustments as he moves forward with his career with the Angels. Turning just 25 this coming June, Heaney could end up becoming an integral part of the rotation that features a pair of aging veterans in C.J. Wilson and Jered Weaver. His fantasy value will likely be diminished due to the end of his 2015 season, but keep an eye out for Heaney, who could become your best undrafted pickup of 2016.

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