Kevin Shackelford

Shackelford took seven-and-a-half years to reach the majors after getting drafted back in 2010 out of Marshall University by the Brewers. He's battled injuries over the course of his career, most notably a nerve issue in 2015. What stands out from a statistical perspective is the ridiculous spike in Shackelford's strikeout rate. Prior to 2017, he had not eclipsed 7.7 K/9 at any of his numerous minor-league stops. However, in 2017 he jumped to 11.7 K/9 at Triple-A Louisville and maintained a similar pace (11.2) upon his callup to the big leagues. His first big-league outings were a struggle, but he eventually stabilized and the Reds even started using him as a setup man late in September. He won't likely assume that role at the onset of 2018, but he's got a reasonable chance of making the Reds' Opening Day roster in 2018.