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.


Josh Johnson, P, Florida Marlins

Josh Johnson is going into his fifth season in the majors. I know you may know him, but for those of you that don't, here is stuff you should know about him.

This kid is a 6’7”, 24-year-old monster on the mound. In Johnson's first season he was solid in his outings. By his second season, he had been given the opportunity to get more outings, but didn't get the job done.

By his third season, he was opted to the minors to get his injuries fixed. After he returned from injury late last season, he went a solid 7-1. He is very similar to last season's American League Cy Young winner Cliff Lee.

If Johnson can stay healthy this season, don't be surprised if he has 15-20 wins.


Matt LaPorta, OF, Cleveland Indians

Matt LaPorta is a solid outfielder. You may recognize him for one of two things. He was involved in the trade that sent C.C. Sabathia to the Brewers and he also was the lead man for the Team USA Olympic Baseball team.

He helped Team USA win the bronze medal by hitting a handful of home runs and taken a beanball to the head by an angry China team. However, LaPorta will one day be a regular name in the major leagues. Expect him to be in at least a few games this season with the Indians.


Brett Anderson, P, Oakland Athletics

Anderson was along side LaPorta last season on USA's baseball team, helping them win the bronze medal. Anderson, originally drafted by the Diamondbacks, was traded to the Athletics last season for Dan Haren. This 20 year old went a combined 11-7 in his first minor league season and then 11-5 in his second. Anderson is a talented kid and if he isn't starting for the Athletics this season, I would already consider them out of the playoff race.


Tim Beckham, SS, Tampa Bay Rays

What is with the Rays and their excellent scouting?

Brought to you by the people who drafted Josh Hamilton, B.J. Upton, Rocco Baldelli, Evan Longoria, and David Price, comes Tim Beckham, a kid from Griffin, Georgia.

Beckham is a five-tool player all the way. He is only 6'1” and 190 pounds, but he benches 280 pounds and runs the 60-meter dash in 6.35 seconds. How many people in the major leagues can do that?

I would expect very good things to come from Beckham after all he is only 19 years old. He's got plenty of time to get it together!