Year in and year out, one of my biggest strategies in any fantasy draft is to take a chance on a rising young star in the later rounds. For some owners, it is hard to fill out a typical 25-man roster, so taking your chances with a rookie is as good as drafting a lower-tier player. Think of it this way, how many times do you rotate bench players in and out of your roster each year? Most likely, any player selected in the second half of your draft is game for being dropped to the waiver wire over the course of the season. Therefore, if taking your chances with a youngster does not work out, no need to worry… it is not like you wasted a big-time pick when you gambled.
There have been some great young names who have provided some big-time fantasy production in the past few seasons. From Florida SS Hanley Ramirez from 2006 or Milwaukee 3B Ryan Braun from a year ago, almost every season, a young rookie or prospect seems to make a huge impact out of nowhere. Were you lucky enough to snatch them up off of waivers? Better yet – did you research prior to your fantasy league’s draft in an attempt to learn about these players before they even blew up?
So, when all else fails in the latter rounds of your draft this year, take a chance with one of the following players. Remember, one of the underlying mottos of fantasy drafting is that championships are won in the late rounds. Zero in on these superstars in the making, and if nothing else, at least you will nab a solid youngster to hold onto if you are in a keeper league.
TOP BATTING ROOKIES/PROSPECTS
Jay Bruce, OF, CIN - Starting the 2007 season in high Class-A, Bruce shot up the ranks of the minors at an impressive rate. The former 1st Rounder selected by the Reds in 2005 spent 67 games in the Florida State League to begin the year before being promoted to Double-A ball, where he hit .333 with 4 HR and 15 RBI in only 16 games. Aggressively, Bruce was moved up to Triple-A… and his hot streak continued. Across three levels last season, he hit a combined .319 / .375 / .587 with 46 doubles and 28 home runs, and has shown that he has little left to prove in the minors. Bruce will most likely begin the season in Triple-A, but if he picks up right where he left off in ’07, there is no doubt that Cincinnati, a team looking to head in the right direction, will even hesitate to call him up.
Evan Longoria, 3B, TB - With all of the young talent that the Rays have ready to make an impact, Longoria is just another name to add to the list – and rightfully so. Most likely one of the most well-known prospects heading into the 2008 season, Longoria proved that he was major league-ready in ’07 after hitting for a combined line of .299 / .402 / .520 with 26 HR and 95 RBI at the Double-A and Triple-A levels. He has excellent presence at the plate with the ability to judge the ball very well and crank some power when the opportunity arises. There is still some debate on whether or not he will be Tampa Bay’s opening day starter at third, but if he is not, expect Longoria not to remain in the minors for much longer.
Colby Rasmus, OF, STL - With the exodus of OF Jim Edmonds and a lot of question marks remaining in the Cardinals outfield, Rasmus could see himself on the St. Louis roster much sooner than his projected 2009 arrival into the majors. Perhaps his .275 average from 128 games in the Texas League last season is not all that impressive, but the fact that he has some pop (29 HR) and can provide some much-needed speed (18 SB) is very appealing. With a slew of potential non-producers scattered in the Cardinals outfield heading into this season, Rasmus could possibly see his MLB debut after the All-Star break, as St. Louis looks ahead to next season.
Cameron Maybin, OF, FLA - A major component of the deal that sent 3B Miguel Cabrera and SP Dontrelle Willis to Detroit, Maybin has all of the tools to be an incredible addition to a Marlins team looking to rebuild. He struggled a great deal last season in 24 major league games, batting a paltry .143 with 21 K, however, Maybin tore up the minors in 2007. In high Class-A (83 games) and Double-A (20 games), he hit .304 and .400 respectively, and what he lacks in power, Maybin surely makes up for in speed. It looks as though Maybin will start the season in centerfield for Florida, providing additional speed to an already quick lineup.
Travis Snider, OF, TOR - Though he will be only 20-years-old on Opening Day, Snider is a beast of a young man, standing 6’1” and weighing 245 lbs. The former 1st Round pick of the Blue Jays in 2006 earned Player of the Year honors in the Appalachian State Rookie League after his first season in the minors. In 2007, Snider was a Class-A All-Star representative, hitting .313 with 16 HR and 93 RBI over 118 games, and led the Midwest League in slugging percentage (.523), doubles (35), extra-base hits (58) and RBI (93). He may still be a year out from making his MLB debut, as Snider still must climb up the ranks of the minors. Nevertheless, do not be surprised if you see his name as a late-season call-up for Toronto in 2008.
Other Notables:
Mike Moustakas, SS, KC
Matt Wieters, C, BAL
Jacoby Ellsbury, OF, BOS
Geocany Soto, C, CHC
Joey Votto, 1B, CIN
TOP PITCHING ROOKIES/PROSPECTS
Clay Buchholz, RHP, BOS - We all know Buchholz and remember the no-hitter he threw last season against Baltimore. His 3-1 record and 1.59 ERA in four starts for the BoSox in 2007 stands out, but what we have seen is really only a snapshot of how excellent this youngster really is. In my Top MLB Offseason Fantasy Impact Moves article, I made a case that not dealing away Buchholz (among others) for SP Johan Santana could have been the smartest thing that Boston GM Theo Epstein did this offseason – but why? Buchholz dominated the minors in 2007, posting a 1.77 ERA and a 3.96 ERA in Double-A (87 innings) and Triple-A (39 innings) respectively. Across the two levels, he struck out a combined 171 batters (more than a batter per inning) while only walking 35. Buchholz has great command over his pitching arsenal, and with some question marks at the backend of the Red Sox rotation, he should see himself as the fifth starter heading into the 2008 season.
Joba Chamberlain, RHP, NYY - Chamberlain took the majors by storm in limited action last season and impressed with the best of them. In 24.0 IP of relief work last year, he went 2-0 with an astounding 0.38 ERA and 0.75 WHIP. Nevertheless, before suiting up in Yankee pinstripes, Chamberlain flew through the ranks of the minors – posting a combined record of 9-2 with a 2.45 ERA and a 135/27 K/BB ratio in 88 innings of work (high Class-A, Double-A and Triple-A). Relying on a fastball which reaches the mid-90’s, along with a wicked slider, Chamberlain is beginning to develop his arsenal even further by perfecting his curveball and changeup heading into this season. With much speculation about him being a starter in ’08, Chamberlain will most likely begin the year in the bullpen, but may eventually work his way into the rotation. Either way, the 22-year-old throws gas and has incredible command, and will be a key addition to any fantasy club this season.
Clayton Kershaw, LHP, LAD - Projected to be a year out from making his major league debut, Kershaw has impressed so much in Spring Training that the Dodgers organization has kept him around for much longer than anticipated. Last season, across low Class-A and Double-A ball, Kershaw posted an impressive 12.0 K/9 and held opponents’ batting averages to a measly .201 in 122.0 IP. Many scouts tout him as one of the premier left-handers in the minors right now, and though he will most likely begin the 2008 season in the Double-A ranks, Kershaw may very well find himself with the Dodgers after the All-Star break.
David Price, LHP, TB - Price was the first left-handed pitcher to be taken No. 1 overall in the draft since 1991, so you know that this kid is something special. The former Dick Howser Trophy award winner (college baseball’s top honor) had an incredible career at Vanderbilt University, posting a career record of 22-10 (11-1 in his junior season) with a 3.23 ERA and 441 strikeouts over 44 starts and 313.0 IP. Price’s arsenal includes a fastball which can reach the upper-90’s and a nasty slider, however, his command has come into question on a few occasions. He may not be a staple in the Rays rotation until the 2009 season, but once he works out the kinks in the minors, Price is too good to be kept down for long and may see some work in the majors as a late-season call-up.
Franklin Morales, LHP, COL - After some solid work spent between Double-A and Triple-A ball, in which he posted a combined 3.51 ERA and 93 K in 112.2 IP, Morales saw some success at the major league level last season (3-2, 3.43 ERA). He struggled with his command at times, and did not look all that spectacular in the postseason, but Morales still has tons of promise. As of right now, he is projected to be in the Rockies rotation to start the season, and if he can pull things together, Morales could be ready for a huge breakout season in 2008.
Other Notables:
Homer Bailey, RHP, CIN
Wade Davis, RHP, TB
Jake McGee, LHP, TB
Rick Porcello, RHP, DET |
