Fantasy Baseball Draft Guide

Notable fantasy baseball rookies

March 5, 2009 @ 01:00:00

By Nicholas Minnix
Edited by Bryce McRae

Also see: Top prospects in fantasy baseball

Catchers

Matt Wieters, Baltimore Orioles - He happens to be the top prospect in baseball. That's enough for fantasy owners to overvalue him. Barring an ungodly spring, he's expected to begin the season in the minors and earn a call-up in, best case, May.

Taylor Teagarden, Texas Rangers - Perhaps the most talented of Texas' trio who don the tools of ignorance, he's also the greenest. His defense will keep him up, but he'll back up Jarrod Saltalamacchia initially. Teagarden has to improve his plate discipline.

Max Ramirez, Texas Rangers - This youngster is, right now, probably the best hitter of the Rangers' three catching phenoms. He'll likely catch full time for Triple-A Oklahoma City and try to improve behind the dish. It's realistic to think that he'll see DH time with Texas at some point, though.

Corner infielders

Mat Gamel, Milwaukee Brewers - Three things stand in Gamels' way: Bill Hall, Mike Lamb and Gamel's shoddy glove work. He'll likely always be a defensive liability, but he must improve enough so that he's truly offsetting that with his outstanding hitting ability.

Gaby Sanchez, Florida Marlins - This first baseman doesn't hit for much power, but he can steal a bases. He's a platoon type who should see ample playing time. For a year at most, though, he's only helping to keep the seat warm for Logan Morrison.

Kila Ka'aihue, Kansas City Royals - There's plenty to love about the Hawaiian first sacker. He can hit a ton of homers and has a good eye. The organizational depth chart doesn't favor him yet, though, and he's not considered a top prospect.

Middle infielders

Elvis Andrus, Texas Rangers - Texas is ready to move forward with a 20-year-old at short; he has never played above Double-A ball. The Rangers maintain that they'll be extremely patient. He can steal a ton, but it seems highly unlikely that his bat is major league ready to give him those opportunities.

Chris Getz, Chicago White Sox - The ChiSox expect him to win the second base job, but Brent Lillibridge and Jayson Nix won't just hand it to him. Getz is athletic and can swipe a few bases, but he has been a little old for his levels. If he wins the job, he'll be a low-end middle infielder for AL players.

Outfielders

Colby Rasmus, St. Louis Cardinals - The Cards appear to be looking for an excuse to get this multi-talented 22-year-old into the lineup; Skip Schumaker is moving to second base. If the experiment works, Rasmus is a great upside fantasy choice; he can hit for power and swipe bases.

Travis Snider, Toronto Blue Jays - The Jays will go with Snider in the outfield full time. There's some question about whether he can hit for average consistently at the big-league level, but he packs some punch.

Cameron Maybin, Florida Marlins - Maybin, 22 when the season begins, will have every opportunity to win the job in center. He may also lead off, which would force him to work on his biggest problem: plate discipline. He added some muscle, but in the foreseeable future he may only contribute steals.

Matt LaPorta, Cleveland Indians - It'll be hard for Cleveland to keep this right-hander in the minors for long if he keeps mashing. The Tribe will eventually have to hide his glove. That might make it easier to leave him on the farm, but no one in this outfield is as exciting with the stick.

Jordan Schafer, Atlanta Braves - He has a solid blend of power and speed, and the Bravos are giving him a chance to win the job in center. However, Josh Anderson leads that charge. Last year's HGH suspension hasn't fazed Schafer; he's making a strong case early, and the Braves would love to see him win it.

Aaron Cunningham, Oakland Athletics - Cunningham was extremely solid in his cup o' java last season, but the outfield gluttony in Oaktown may force him to Triple-A Sacramento to start. He does many things well but nothing outstandingly. It probably won't be long before an injury opens the door.

Pitchers

Kenshin Kawakami, Atlanta Braves - The Braves' Japanese import is, yes, technically a rook. His peripherals suggest that he's slightly better than the Los Angeles Dodgers' Hiroki Kuroda. Like Hollywood's Asian arm, Kawakami may have a little trouble adjusting to the majors' tougher regimen, but mixed fantasy owners should be mildly intrigued.

Koji Uehara, Baltimore Orioles - The O's dipped into Japan's waters, too, although their catch isn't considered quite as enviable. Uehara demonstrated consistent control in his homeland, but he gave up his fair share of dingers. That's not unusual, but Camden Yards won't help. The O's may not either. Very deep mixed leaguers could take a leap of faith.

David Price, Tampa Bay Rays - You can't NOT be wowed by Price's impact at the tail end of the regular season and in the postseason. However, 19 2/3 innings of relief is not much to go on. There will be bumps along the road, but fantasy owners aren't heeding the warning signs.

Tommy Hanson, Atlanta Braves - Another exciting pitching prospect from Atlanta? No way! He's wicked, but the Braves may not jump the gun. The rotation is pretty much set, so Triple-A Gwinnett beckons. However, it's going to be awfully tempting to use him in the bullpen before too long.

Jordan Zimmermann, Washington Nationals - The Nats have nothing to lose; Zimmermann is likely the No. 5 starter barring a very poor spring. The University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point product can get 'em out in any manner. He has the makings of at least a quality mid-rotation man - eventually.

Carlos Carrasco, Philadelphia Phillies - The Phils' top prospect for the past couple of seasons, Carrasco has advanced quickly; he has an outside shot at the final rotation spot. Carrasco has a diverse repertoire, but he must focus and be more consistent. He probably won't get the call until a bit later in 2009.

James McDonald, Los Angeles Dodgers - The youngster has a really nice mix of stuff, and he's deceptive. The Blue plan to take the Chad Billingsley approach - begin in the 'pen, transition to the rotation. McDonald should be close to blossoming by season's end.

Aaron Poreda, Chicago White Sox - This name doesn't surface nearly as much in fantasy circles, but Poreda could be every bit as dangerous. The ChiSox may use him in the bullpen at some point this season, but he'll eventually be a starter. The southpaw's fastball sits at anywhere from the low to mid-90s.

Brett Cecil, Toronto Blue Jays - Another hurler who's his organization's top pitching prospect. He's not overpowering, but he has risen quickly through the system because of his great command. His ceiling may not be extremely high, but he has a shot to beat out a couple of vets for the No. 5 spot.

Jeff Samardzija, Chicago Cubs - The Cubs are giving the hard-throwing former Notre Dame wideout a shot at the final rotation spot, but lefty Sean Marshall has a leg up on everyone. If Samardzija doesn't win that job, the hard-throwing righty is about 50-50 to begin the year in the Cubbies' bullpen.

Jonathon Niese, New York Mets - This lefty has received some fantasy buzz, but he'll have to beat out two vets (Freddy Garcia and Livan Hernandez). Expect him to begin in the minors, but he'll be one of the first arms called to action when necessary. His control must improve greatly.

Adam Miller, Cleveland Indians - The wait continues. His middle finger (once surgically repaired, now inflamed) might be his only roadblock to the Tribe's final bullpen spot. The right-hander could be an outstanding closer down the road, but first he has to get out of the driveway.

Chris Perez, St. Louis Cardinals - The righty possesses mid- to upper 90s heat and is already on mixed league fantasy owners' radar. He's the leading candidate to close, but he must work on his control and avoid overthrowing in pressure situations. He's not a bad No. 3 fantasy reliever.

Gio Gonzalez, Oakland Athletics - The southpaw is one of several candidates vying for a spot in Oakland's rotation. He's a strikeout machine, but he's a little leaky - he walks too many. Gonzalez may start for the A's for a good portion of 2009, but his inconsistency might drive fantasy owners nuts.

Also see: Top prospects in fantasy baseball