Rays' Steven Souza: Pivotal season upcoming in 2017

Souza, who was playing his best baseball in September before season-ending hip surgery, is facing a pivotal season in 2017, Mike Nabors of MLB.com reports. "I'm my biggest critic," Souza admits. "I know what my flaws are, and I try to improve them every year. For me, it's just consistency, trying to find avenues to explore that and be consistent day in and day out."

Analysis:

The 27-year-old slugger was slashing .327/.407/.577 with four homers and six RBI over 52 at-bats in September before his season ended. Souza did set career highs in doubles (17), homers (17), RBI (49), average (.247) and slugging (.409) in 2016, but it was another high-water mark in a category of a much more dubious nature, strikeouts, that leaves plenty of room for improvement in the coming season. Souza fanned 159 times, leading to a 34 percent strikeout rate. For Souza, who felt increased pressure after being a centerpiece of the trade between the Padres and Rays that saw All-Star Wil Myers head to San Diego, the key will be trying to stay within himself, as he seemed to be doing before his season's abrupt end. "I think you start listening to a lot of who you should be and forget who you really are," said Souza. "A lot [of hype] about my power, I think coming over here, [saw me] trying to do too much and hit 70 home runs in one year, which is just ridiculous. One of the biggest things that was instrumental in my career was trying not to do so much and be a hitter. That's all I'm trying to do is get back to that."