2009 MLB Season: Eight Players You Need To Know!

Winter is almost finished and baseball season is just around the corner.

There are a bunch of fresh faces coming onto the scene, so this is a list of players that you better recognize for the 2009 season.


Cameron Maybin, CF, Florida Marlins

Maybin was originally a Detroit Tiger, but he was traded to the Marlins in 2007 in the deal that sent Dontrelle Willis and Miguel Cabrera to Detroit. Maybin is an all around talent. In eight games last season with Florida he hit .481 and had four stolen bases. He is a young version of Ken Griffey Jr.—maybe with less power, but more running ability. The only thing that could possibly hold this 21 year old back would be himself.


Matt Wieters, C, Baltimore Orioles

The pride of Goose Creek, South Carolina.

Matt Wieters is an all around player. He is a 6'5” catcher that is the same size as Jason Varitek, but has the hitting abilities of Mark Teixeira, both switch-hitters from Georgia Tech.

Wieters is very talented. He was the 2008 Minor League Player of the Year, an honor held by many players such as Jose Canseco, Frank Thomas, Joe Mauer, Manny Ramirez, Josh Beckett, and Derek Jeter.

Last but not least, Wieters is a catcher, but was also utilized as a closer at Georgia Tech with pitching speeds up to 93 mph. If I were a betting man, I would bet on Wieters to win 2009’s Rookie of the Year award.


Jay Bruce, OF, Cincinnati Reds

Jay Bruce is going into his second career season with the Reds. Nicknamed "Bruce Almighty" by the fans, he hit 21 homeruns in his rookie campaign.

In an outfield that used to have Ken Griffey Jr. and Adam Dunn, Bruce is now the king of the outfield in Cincinnati. He didn't hit a high average last season, only hitting for .251, but after his rookie season I wouldn't expect anything lower than .275. I wouldn't be surprised if Bruce could hit 30 dingers and maybe hit in 80 runners or more. This, of course, will only occur if he stays healthy.n.


Justin Upton, RF, Arizona Diamondbacks

Besides the Florida Marlins, doesn’t it seem like the Arizona Diamondbacks have a bunch of kids on their team?

Just don’t excuse Upton as a kid. This 21 year old is a sensational talent. He is the prime example of a five-tool player. He actually has the second longest homerun ever hit at Chase Field in Phoenix.

I am making a bold prediction that one day Justin Upton will be an all-star. He is such a talented kid, so I don’t see anything that could not make that happen.

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