Ranking the 15 Most Exciting MLB Rookies to Watch in 2015

In 2012, there was Mike Trout and Bryce Harper. In 2013, there was Jose Fernandez and Wil Myers. And last year, there was Jose Abreu and Jacob deGrom.

There. That list of names should have you pumped for Major League Baseball's next wave of rookies. We do indeed seem to be living in a golden age of youngsters, and plenty more are on the way for 2015.

In fact, we better narrow things down. While there figure to be plenty of rookies breaking through this season, let's focus on the ones who are most deserving of your attention.

Ahead of you is a ranking of 15 names, complete with video of and glowing reviews of the talents they bring to the table. If that sounds like a good time, step into the box whenever you're ready.

15. Christian Bethancourt, C, Atlanta Braves

It feels like Christian Bethancourt has been on the Atlanta Braves' prospect radar forever, but his big break is finally here. With Evan Gattis and Brian McCann gone, Atlanta's catching gig is Bethancourt's.

Here's your reason to be interested: Good catcher defense is good fun, and that's Bethancourt's specialty.

Though a common complaint about Bethancourt is that his focus can lapse, nobody doubts his athleticism or his arm strength. Particularly the latter, as B/R's Mike Rosenbaum and ESPN Insider Keith Law are among those who rated the 23-year-old's arm strength as an 80 on the 20-80 scale.

That's the baseball equivalent of a laser-rocket arm, and Bethancourt's career minor league caught-stealing rate of 37 percent proves he knows how to use it.

The catch? It's that Bethancourt isn't much for hitting, as he hit only .270 with a .679 OPS in seven minor league seasons. But even if he doesn't hit, it should be fun to watch him quickly earn a reputation as the bane of baserunners everywhere with his defense.

14. Mike Foltynewicz, RHP, Atlanta Braves

It seems appropriate, when you think about it, that the Braves traded Evan Gattis' power bat for a power arm. That's what Mike Foltynewicz possesses, and how.

The 6'4", 220-pound right-hander has an 80-grade fastball, and his velocity readings definitely say as much. According to FanGraphs, the 23-year-old averaged 96.7 mph during his major league cameo in 2014, and MLB.com notes that one of his fastballs touched 101 mph.

Unfortunately, one downside is that Foltynewicz's secondary pitches don't measure up to his fastball. Another is that he struggles with command, as evidenced by his career 3.9 BB/9 rate in the minors. With downsides like these, he may have trouble cracking Atlanta's starting rotation, much less staying in it.

But Foltynewicz need not be a starter to play a role on the 2015 Braves. He profiles well as a reliever, and it's not hard to imagine him forming a dominant late-inning duo with the ever-awesome Craig Kimbrel. 

13. Jung Ho Kang, SS, Pittsburgh Pirates

If nothing else, Jung Ho Kang's rookie season is worth monitoring for its historical significance. He's looking to be the first hitter to transition from the Korean Baseball Organization to Major League Baseball.

But here's a better reason to tune in: Kang is capable of hitting the ball really far.

The 1.198 OPS he posted and the 40 homers he hit in South Korea last season say as much, and they're not too misleading. The 27-year-old started off spring training with a bang, and Dan Farnsworth of FanGraphs has a full breakdown of why Kang's swing is a true power swing.

Where it becomes harder to build up the hype is in talking about what role Kang will fill on the Pittsburgh Pirates. He's a shortstop by trade, but he's blocked by Jordy Mercer and hasn't had a strong enough spring (.485 OPS in 11 games) to steal his job. And from reading David Lennon of Newsday's article on Kang, you get the sense that the Pirates are willing to use 2015 as a trial season.

All the same, the very notion that Kang could emerge as a power-hitting middle infielder makes him intriguing enough. Those are in short supply these days.

12. Yasmany Tomas, 3B, Arizona Diamondbacks

Yasmany Tomas is the latest in a recent line of Cuban players to sign expensive major league contracts, landing with the Arizona Diamondbacks on a six-year, $68.5 million deal.

For the Diamondbacks, the main reason to open their checkbook was Tomas' power. With five of his 12 spring training hits going for extra bases, they're getting their wish so far. And knowing the reputation of Tomas' power, there should be more on the way.

"It's huge power," one scout told ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick. "He's a big, strong body guy, and he can shrink a field pretty easily. When he hits the ball, it stays hit."

What's less awesome is that Tomas has exploitable holes in his swing, and he also doesn't figure to be an attraction on defense. In fact, Joel Sherman of the New York Post reported that his defense has been bad enough this spring for the Diamondbacks to consider a season-opening stint in the minors.

But even if Tomas' defense remains a work in progress, he'll be worth watching when he's in the box. Right-handed power like his is rare in today's game, and he'll be showing it off at a home park that loves right-handed power hitters.

11. Alex Meyer, RHP, Minnesota Twins

At 6'9" and 220 pounds, Alex Meyer cuts an imposing figure on the mound. And wouldn't you know it, he has the stuff to match it.

Meyer has a fastball that not only sits in the mid-90s and touches the high 90s, but also comes with lots of sink. It's thus capable of getting both whiffs and ground balls. And though his changeup needs work, his slider is fine. It's a second plus pitch and is perfectly capable of getting whiffs in its own right.

Holding the 25-year-old back is how his big frame tends to get in the way of him throwing strikes. That was definitely the case this spring, as he racked up seven walks to six strikeouts. That earned him a demotion to Triple-A for the start of the season. 

But with 27 starts at Triple-A already under his belt, there's not much more for Meyer to gain in the experience department. If he's able to at least keep his command problems from getting worse, he should spend a good chunk of 2015 in the majors.

That'll mean plenty of chances to see his powerful fastball-slider combination up close, and you're not going to want to miss out.

10. Steven Souza, RF, Tampa Bay Rays

Steven Souza is different from most top prospects. Where most of them gradually generate hype as they go, Souza has come out of nowhere and has generated hype in a hurry.

Souza seemed to be a non-prospect as recently as 2011, when he only OPS'd .726 at High-A as a 22-year-old. In the three subsequent years, however, he didn't do worse than a .938 OPS, culminating with a 1.022 OPS, 18 homers and 26 steals last year.

That performance was good enough to push him to No. 37 on Baseball America's Top 100, and in general he's expected to be a more than capable replacement for the departed Wil Myers in Tampa Bay.

It does seem a bit too good to be true, especially in light of how the nearly 26-year-old Souza tended to be older than the competition during his rise through the minors over the last three years.

But even a more skeptical observer like Kiley McDaniel of FanGraphs sees "at least average speed, defense and arm strength" to go with Souza's powerful 6'4", 225-pound frame. Those are the ingredients for a well-rounded outfielder, giving Souza a chance to be regular highlight material in 2015.

9. Dalton Pompey, CF, Toronto Blue Jays

Occasionally, you see a guy skyrocket to top-prospect status in a single year. That's what Dalton Pompey did in 2014.

Coming off a 2013 season in which he hit only .261 with a .752 OPS at Single-A, Pompey spent his age-21 season in 2014 hitting .317 with an .861 OPS across three minor league levels and ultimately OPS'ing .738 in a brief major league audition.

Now he's widely considered a top-50 prospect and is penciled in as Toronto's center fielder of the future.

And he may well prove to be no fluke. Keith Law loves Pompey's "extremely advanced" approach, but his speed is arguably his best weapon. It allowed him to steal 46 total bags last year and should also make him an asset defensively in center field. To boot, he has an above-average arm for the position.

The one thing Pompey doesn't have is power. But even if he struggles to hit for power, there's plenty to like about a guy who can get on base, steal bases and play a good center field.

8. Aaron Sanchez, RHP, Toronto Blue Jays

The Toronto Blue Jays had to shut down a highly talented young right-hander when Marcus Stroman was lost for the season with a torn ACL. But fortunately for them, they had another standing by.

Aaron Sanchez doesn't have Stroman's deep arsenal of stuff, but he does have a more powerful arm. He makes sitting in the mid-90s look easy, and he also has a power curveball to give him one of the better fastball-breaking ball combinations among his fellow prospects. 

Despite these things, Sanchez isn't the best swing-and-miss artist. He posted K/9 rates under 8.0 in the minors in 2013 and 2014 and debuted to a 7.4 K/9 in the majors last year. Because he also doesn't have the best control, he needs to perform well on batted balls.

But that's a challenge he can meet. His fastball and curveball are both ground-ball magnets, as evidenced by the studly 65.9 ground-ball percentage he had in the majors last year.

It's a talent that should play well in a starting role, which is where the 22-year-old is projected to fit in out of the gate this year. And if that doesn't work out, oh well. After last year's dominant 1.09 ERA in a relief role, the Blue Jays can always make him their closer if they desire.

7. Carlos Rodon, LHP, Chicago White Sox

It hasn't even been a year since the Chicago White Sox drafted Carlos Rodon No. 3 overall out of NC State, but he's already knocking on the door of the big leagues.

You can see why. He's a left-hander with a mid-90s fastball and a slider that's among the best to come along in recent memory. With a two-pitch base like that, MLB.com's Jim Callis (via Dan Hayes of CSN Chicago) thinks Rodon's stuff will one day rival Chris Sale's.

This is not to say Rodon is a finished product, however.

He's not regarded as having excellent command. Take that with his lack of experience, and it makes sense that the White Sox are wary of breaking camp with Rodon in their rotation. According to JJ Stankevitz of CSN Chicago, the White Sox would prefer not to use Rodon as a fill-in for the injured Sale.

But regardless of when he shows up or in what role, Rodon will be heard from in 2015. And even if it's only as a reliever, his breakthrough could be similar to Sale's breakthrough as a reliever in 2010 and 2011. That might even allow him to steal new closer David Robertson's spotlight, which is saying something.

6. Noah Syndergaard, RHP, New York Mets

The New York Mets got a nasty punch to the gut when Tommy John surgery knocked Zack Wheeler out for 2015, but at least they can rest easy knowing that arguably baseball's best right-handed prospect is just about ready for The Show.

That would be Noah Syndergaard. The 22-year-old known as "Thor" packs a mid- to high-90s fastball and a plus curveball that MLB.com notes he can add and subtract from at will. He also probably doesn't get enough credit for his changeup, which Keith Law thinks is a third plus offering.

If there's a knock on Syndergaard, it's that he may be more hittable than his stuff lets on. The Baseball Prospectus report on him says he doesn't throw enough quality strikes, and his issues at Triple-A in 2014 (4.60 ERA) and in spring training (4.91 ERA) despite respectable strikeout and walk numbers support that.

Even still, this is a minor gripe as far as prospect complaints go. Even if Syndergaard doesn't take care of it right away, he should be in the majors in short order. And once he's there, he'll be seen blowing away hitters on the regular.

5. Daniel Norris, LHP, Toronto Blue Jays

Daniel Norris turned a corner in 2015, and I'm not talking about in that van of his.

After posting a modest 3.97 ERA at Single-A and High-A in 2013, the 21-year-old left-hander pitched to an excellent 2.53 ERA and 3.8 strikeout-to-walk ratio across three levels in 2014. The key for him was getting his control, um, under control, going from a 4.6 BB/9 to a 3.1 BB/9.

That bodes well for Norris' immediate major league future. What bodes even better is how he has arguably the deepest repertoire of any left-hander in the minors. With a low-90s fastball that has late life on it, and a solid slider, curve and changeup, Keith Law writes that Norris can show four "average or better" pitches on any given night.

His talents have served him well in spring training, as he owns a 2.84 ERA and 14-4 strikeout-to-walk ratio in four starts. That's the latest in a line of signs pointing him toward Toronto's Opening Day rotation. Assuming he makes it there, don't be shocked when he emerges as a Rookie of the Year contender.

4. Rusney Castillo, CF, Boston Red Sox

Given that he's the most expensive player to ever come out of Cuba (seven years, $72.5 million), it's odd to think that there's still a palpable sense of mystery about Rusney Castillo.

He played in only 10 games with the Boston Red Sox in 2014, after all. And thanks to an oblique injury, he only recently started getting into Grapefruit League action in spring training.

From what we've seen, however, it's hard to disagree with something Jason Mastrodonato wrote in the Boston Herald: "There are times when it seems like [Castillo's] the best player on the field."

We haven't seen much, but we have seen Castillo show off the speed and defensive skills that scouts were praising when he was coming out of Cuba. What's been more surprising is his bat, which has been quicker and more powerful than you'd expect from a guy who's four inches short of being six feet tall.

Basically, what we've seen so far is a 27-year-old who appears to be the total package for a center fielder. Maybe it will prove to be too good to be true in the long run, but until then, Castillo is definitely worth watching.

3. Jorge Soler, RF, Chicago Cubs

Jorge Soler broke through with a .905 OPS and five home runs in only 24 games in 2014. What started that off was a red-hot showing in his first five games that included three home runs and four doubles.

This qualifies as a hard act to follow, no doubt about it. But while the 23-year-old Cuban may not light the league on fire again, he should handle being must-see TV on a regular basis.

Soler's main talent is his explosive raw power, which he generates mainly through some of the best bat speed you're going to see anywhere. It's what allows him to turn on any pitch, and anything he gets in the air to his pull side is likely to go.

And while Soler may never be a perennial .300 hitter, he's regarded as being more advanced than the guy who struck out in 24 of 97 plate appearances last year. He gets good marks for his pitch recognition and patience, talents that will serve him well if he's able to recapture them in 2015.

As a bonus, Soler should also be highlight material in the outfield. He doesn't have much range in right field, but he has the plus arm for the position.

Soler's not the most popular prospect in Chicago these days—more on that guy in just a moment—but he's going to be in the big leagues from day one this year and should emerge as a regular in the highlights.

2. Joc Pederson, CF, Los Angeles Dodgers

With each passing day, trading Matt Kemp to clear space for Joc Pederson makes more and more sense.

Pederson was a monster at Triple-A in 2014, OPS'ing 1.017 with 33 homers and 30 stolen bases. He's proceeded to be a monster in spring training as well, OPS'ing 1.186 with three homers and two steals in 17 games. Not surprisingly, the Los Angeles Dodgers' center field gig seems to be all his.

This is where we warn that the 22-year-old Pederson is not a perfect prospect. His 2014 stats were inflated by both a hitter-friendly park and a hitter-friendly league. And as a regular major leaguer, his swing could create difficulties. He can get long with his leg kick, leading to timing issues that can easily be exploited.

These things said, Pederson is a legit five-tool prospect who really doesn't need any more seasoning in the minors. Even if he can't manage a 30/30 season as a rookie, a 20/20 season with good defense in center field on the side is a possibility.

Any player who can manage a season like that is worth watching. So it is with Pederson.

1. Kris Bryant, 3B, Chicago Cubs

Well, shoot. Who else did you expect to find at No. 1?

Mainly by virtue of being the second overall pick in the 2013 draft, Kris Bryant already loomed large on prospect radars before 2014. But then he took Double-A and Triple-A by storm, hitting .325 with a 1.098 OPS and 43 homers. That earned him stacks of awards and put him in line to break through in 2015.

This spring, the 23-year-old has erased all doubt that he's ready for the majors. In only 10 games, he's hit .464 with a 2.031 OPS and a whopping nine home runs. None of those home runs have been cheap, as Bryant has shown off the 80-grade power that figures to make him one of the majors' best power hitters for many years to come.

Despite this, it's no secret at this point that Bryant won't start 2015 at third base for the Cubs. They're going to play the service-time game, starting him off in the minors and holding him down just long enough to delay his eventual free agency by a year.

But fret not. Bryant should be in the majors for most of the year, and he will log many at-bats along the way. You're not going to want to miss a single one of them.

Note: Spring stats courtesy of MLB.com and are current through Tuesday, March 24. All other stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com.