Article:Top Rookie Prospects for 2008, the "Lesser" Knowns

Much has been made recently, both here on the 'Chair and elsewhere, about the top Rookie candidates for 2008. The obvious choices, Evan Longoria, Clay Buchholz, Jay Bruce. When tabulating the Prospect Reports, I totalled 93 rookies who could make at least a token appearance in the Major Leagues this season, with approximately 30 expected to be regulars at some point in the season.

Rookies fall into one of three categories at this time of season. There's the Jacoby Ellsbury's, who are almost assured of starting opening day and throughout the season. The second group is the Ryan Braun category, guys who have good winter league seasons and/or Spring Training, but due to numbers or experience issues are sent down for more seasoning and return after a month or two. And finally, the Joba Chamberlain faction, called up after the All-Star break or even after the rosters expand on September first and yet make a name for themselves despite limited playing time.

Thanks to Fighthing Chance Fantasy, we have a detailed look at the obvious choices. But there are others, lesser known but could conceivably have as much an impact as the bigger names, maybe more. I'm not saying any of these guys will make their rosters out of ST, just saying keep an eye open.

The Atlanta Braves ended last season with the immortal Matt Diaz platooning in left field with a long-gone and forgotten player, (seriously, I don't remember). With Andruw Jones having a new address, the Braves head into the spring with one outfield spot open, Mark Kotsay having been brought on board to replace Jones. Top prospect Jordan Schafer, despite having not played above A ball, tore up the Arizona Fall League (.324 with 10 stolen bases) and has at least a decent shot of making the team at some point this year. (And its not like going from A ball to the AFL to the majors isn't unprecedented). With Kotsay recovering from back surgery and possibly more suited for leftfield anyway, a good spring could land Schafer in the Braves opening day lineup.

The Philadelphia Phillies starting pitching is, at best, questionable heading into 2008. The fact they've signed Kris Benson with hope of him contributing despite not pitching at all in 2007 tells you the status of their staff. Josh Outman, a hard throwing lefty, completely changed his delivery following the 2005 season, with 2007 being the first year he was 100% comfortable with the changes. Between A and Double A in '07,  Outman was 12-7 with 142 hits allowed in 155 IP with 151 K's. A good fielder as well, Outman pitched well for Team USA in the World Cup in November and should receive his first taste of the majors this year.

Despite obtaining Lastings Milledge and Elijah Dukes in seperate off-season trades and having holdovers Wily Mo Pena and Austin Kearns returning, the Nationals have ten outfielders on their 40-man roster and have invited another five to Spring Training, indicating no one is guaranteed a job. If the season were to start tomorrow, the OF would be Pena in left, Milledge in center and Kearns in right. If Dukes plays well, Kearns likely would slide to left with Wily Mo sliding to the bench. Another scenario would be for Justin Maxwell to outplay either Dukes or Pena and assume the RF job. Maxwell in '07 made a brief ML appearance and finished the season with 29 homers and 35 stolen bases between Double A, Triple A and Washington. And he's a 6'5" 225 pounder who stole 35 bases. Maxwell had a good Arizona Fall League experience as well, culminated with a long homerun in the All-Star game.

The trading of Brad Lidge and Chad Qualls opens up a spot in the Astros bullpen, 6'6" righty Chad Reineke is all but assured a job. With new closer Jose Valverde expected to come crashing back to earth after his dream 2007 season, Reineke could find himself in the closers role sooner rather than later.

Rewarded with a call-up following a perfect game in his second Triple-A start, Milwaukee Brewers lefty Manny Parra broke his hand attempting to bunt and missed the rest of the season. A hard thrower for a lefty, Parra also has ML caliber curve and changeups and is expected to be 100% when camp starts and is expected to be the Brewers #3 starter this season.

Overlooked despite his top prospect billing, likely because of the organization he is a part of, Andrew McCutchen of the Pittsburgh Pirates should make his ML debut in 2008. With Jason Bay likely to be dealt before the trading deadline and with no true centerfielder, McCutchen with a good spring could win the CF job, but at worst should be a mid-season call-up even if Bay remains, as the Pirates remaining centerfielders, Nyer Morgan, Nate McLouth and Chris Duffy all leave alot to be desired. Staying with Pittsburgh, converted catcher Neil Walker is just about ready to take over at third base. A switchhitter with gap power from both sides who projects to 25 homers and a .280 average in the ML, Walker only needs experience at the hot corner and no place better to get it than in the Pirates lineup.

Out of options, the Dodgers Delwyn Young played well for Team USA and with a little more experience should become a solid ML regular. Capable of playing all three OF positions, Young has the speed and arm to handle any of them with ease. A switchhitter as well, Young has struggled with making adjustments from a power hitter in the minors to becoming a contact hitter. His name has surfaced recently in trade rumors, most recently with the Boston Red Sox, but wherever he is, he should contribute initially as a fourth outfielder with a chance to earn a starting job at some point during the season.

The San Diego Padres have an enviable dilemma; their top prospect is ML ready yet is blocked by last seasons top prospect, third baseman Kevin Kouzmanoff. Chase Headley, another switchhitter, is a far better defensive player than Kouzmanoff. One of them likely will take the Ryan Braun route and move to the OF, although both players are speed challenged. I called and acquaintance with the Padres yesterday and was told both did take fielding chances at both positions during the day's workouts, apparently whoever looks the best in LF will assume the job, with the other manning the hot corner.

Another guy who made a strong impression in the Fall League was San Francisco Giants outfielder Nate Schierholtz. A solid rightfielder with 30 HR potential, the lefty swinging Schierholtz should easily win the RF job in the spring.

Obtained from the Astros in the Miguel Tejada trade, lefty Troy Patton has been handed a rotation spot for the Orioles, how he performs in the spring will determine his slot.

Moved to the bullpen as a way to get innings without the strain of starting, the Yankees Ross Ohlendorf went from an under-performing starter with an average fastball and curve, to a monster bullpen candidate who hit 97 on the radar gun in the Fall League with a legitimate knee-buckling breaking ball. The Yanks recent decision to return Joba Chamberlain to the bullpen for the first two months likely means Ohlendorf will return to Triple A briefly, with a call-up expected either when Chamberlain is once again moved to the rotation or when someone in New York struggles.

Called up at the end of 2007, Blue Jays catcher Curtis Thigpen immediately gained the respect of his pitchers with his receiving skills, and more importantly, his game management skills. Thigpen is a good athlete who has played both infield and outfield corners and has improved offensively to the point the Jays feel 15-20 homers is reasonable.

Cleveland's Aaron Laffley went 4-2 with the Indians during a late season stint, and with Cliff Lee and Jeremy Sowers struggling, Laffley will assume the fifth starter role for the Tribe.

A legitimate number one starter with a five pitch arsenal, Luke Hochevar of the Royals will earn a spot this year in Kansas City's rotation, and with the Royals likely to be one of baseball's most improved teams, Hochevar is the top pitching candidate for the American League Rookie of the Year Award.

Brian Duensing of the Minnesota Twins had the honor of starting the winning Gold Medal game in the World Cup for Team USA. With the Twins raping themselves in the off-season, (Johan Santana, Matt Garza), Duensing is expected to take last seasons 15-6 record and his World Cup experiences into a rotation spot in Minnesota, if he stays. Recent rumors have the Twins packaging Duensing to Oakland for Joe Blanton, but with the Athletics rotation having their own question marks Duensing may fit in there as well.

Catcher Taylor Teagarden of the Rangers is ML ready right now, both offensively and defensively. He had recurring issues last year with a 2005 Tommy John surgery and spent the off-season strengthening his upper body and the area around the elbow. As soon as he proves healthy, the sooner Jarrod Saltalamacchia moves permanently to first base.

This is just a handful of guys I thought could see some playing time, I wouldn't be surprised if they all did, and I wouldn't be surprised if none did. Just the way rookies work.