We’re just about two weeks away from the first spring training Cactus League games.

So if you’ve been longing for baseball since the Astros won the World Series last November, hang on just a little longer. We are almost there.

In the meantime, it’s worth considering some of the potential breakout stars of this season.

Last year held a star-studded rookie class to go along with the usual emergence of lesser-known talent.

While Julio Rodriguez, Adley Rutschman, Bobby Witt Jr. and Jeremy Peña impressed as rookies, there was also Dansby Swanson, who parlayed his first All-Star appearance and Gold Glove Award into a lucrative free-agent contract with the Chicago Cubs.

Let’s look at the young MLB players with breakout potential in 2023. The term “young” for our purposes is defined as no older than 27, or three years or less in the big leagues.

LHP Justin Steele, Chicago Cubs

Steele’s last seven starts flew under the radar as the Cubs did not factor into the postseason conversation.

But he was quietly one of the better starters in baseball during that time. He posted a 0.98 ERA and 31 percent strikeout rate across his last 36.2 innings pitched.

Steele, 27, struck out nine or more in three of his five starts in August. He was near impossible to barrel up, ranking in the top 95 percentile in barrel percentage (3.9). This is mainly because of the spin on his fastball and ability to change speeds.

Steele’s fastball spin also ranked in the top 95 percentile. He threw 1,155 fastballs last season and gave up just two home runs.

Before Kyle Schwarber jumped on the first pitch he threw in his July 22 start against the Philadelphia Phillies, Steele was 21 four-seam fastballs away from throwing the most without allowing a home run on the pitch.

Steele has five pitches but mostly relies on the fastball and slider. He’s acknowledged a third pitch would really help him take that next step.