Rise to Fame: AL Edition

Seattle Mariners - Franklin Guiterrez is hitting .345. He has 29 hits and 8 of those are for extra bases including 2 HR and 4 2B. He's driven in 13 RBI (1 off the team lead) and has 2 stolen bases. He has an impressive .398 onbase percentage as well as .501 slugging. He leads the team in total bases with 43.

Grade: A+ If this guy is still available in your league, make room for him on your roster these stats are no fluke. 

Oakland Athletics - Rajai Davis may seems like a gimme pick for many avid baseball fans, but playing in Oakland limits his recognition. He's off to a slow start so far this season batting .222 with only a homer and 2 doubles. His OBP is a dismal .264 and his slugging is .280. He does have a league leading 9 stolen bases however. 

Grade: C- Davis will be there so fantasy owners should hold onto him. Right now you could get him in a pretty easy trade as well because come May his numbers should increase exponentially. 

Texas Rangers - Neftali Feliz has been like Davis in his slow start, but the entire Ranger bullpen has been off to a terrible 2010. Feliz has a 1-1 record with a 5.91 ERA and 3 saves in 4 opportunities. He's struck out 12 hitters in 10 2/3 innings, but has allowed 12 hits and 3 walks. 

Grade: D Like Davis Feliz should come around and could be easier than usual to get in a trade. Texas is still going to win 85 games this year so Feliz is going to have a ton of save opportunities. 

LA Angels - Brandon Wood is struggling to say the least. A .188 average with 1 double and 1 homerun is not exactly what the Angels had in mind when they let Chone Figgins go to free agency. His OBP is .212 and is slugging is .250. He's stolen one base, scored 5 times and has struck out 19 times. 

Grade: D Wood is still on the player watch. If he starts stringing some hits together then you can consider picking him up. Until then leave him on the free agent market.

AL EAST

NY Yankees - Phil Hughes was one of a few guys you could have put on the preseason watch list - the other being Brett Gardner - and they've both performed. Hughes is shining at the end of the rotation with a 2-0 record 2.00 ERA and a 9k/9Inn average in 3 starts. He's struck out 18 and held hitters to an OBA of .103 with a .94 whip. 

Grade: A If Hughes stays in the back of the rotation he is a definite pick up, but if Vazquez continues to struggle and Pettitte goes down and he moves to third in the rotation I would put him at owner beware, but for now - snag him while you can. 

Boston Red Sox- Jeremy Hermida has benefited from early season injuries with his playing time and is hitting .250 in 18 games. He has three homers and doubles respectively and a strong .500 slugging percentage. He's driven in 10 RBI and has stolen a base.

Grade: B-/C+ The numbers aren't all the impressive, but in deep leagues he's a good guy to have against right handed pitching where he has all 3 of his homeruns, 10 RBI and 2 of his 3 doubles.

Toronto Blue Jays - Kyle Drabek hasn't made his 2010 debut yet, but come June he should be in the back end of a surprising good and young Toronto rotation. So far in AA New Hampshire he is 3-1 with a 3.80 ERA. He's struck out 20 in 21 1/3 innings, but has a high whip at 1.41. 

Grade: N/A Just keep your eyes open if you need pitching help in a month. The AL East may be a tough division to pitch in, but Toronto at home plays well - Drabek may be your perfect spot starter. 

Tampa Bay Rays - Desmond Jennings, like Drabek, has yet to make his debut. He has dealt through injuries this Spring and is hitting .235 in 5 games in AAA Durham. He's stolen 5 bases and scored 6 times in those 5 games and has an OBP of .408. Before June he should be up with the club. 

Grade: N/A See Drabek. 

Baltimore Orioles - Nolan Reimold has struggled a bit in 2010, but hasn't been receiving consistent playing time. He was a top rookie last year, but the reemergence of Felix Pie has left Reimold on the bench. He's currently hitting .193 with a homer and 4 doubles with 11 hits in 57 at bats. He's also averaging a strike every 4th at bat. 

Grade: D Once he gets the everyday start again this kid will catch fire, although one of the themes this year has been the sophomore slump.

AL CENTRAL

Chicago White Sox - Matt Thornton is going to have a long career if he keeps up his stats as a left handed reliever. Thornton is 2-1 this season with a 1.59 ERA in 11 1/3 innings of work. In those innings he has 17 strike outs with a 0.71 WHIP.
Grade: A- Thornton isn't much for a fantasy option, but if Jenks struggles or gets injured he is the first option that Guillen has for closer - also if the Sox are out of the race by the break expect Jenks to be traded opening the door for Thornton to close.

Cleveland Indians - Matt LaPorta is part of the youth movement in Cleveland that may take a few years to really take off. He is hitting .211 this season with only 2 doubles and 1 RBI. He's scored 5 runs and also walked 5 times.
Grade: D LaPorta is a guy to watch all season because he'll get the playing time he just needs to catch fire at the right time.

Minnesota Twins - Matt Guerrier hasn't gotten his chance as closer yet, but I know his time will come - like Thornton's. He's made 11 appearances, pitched 12 1/3 innings and has only allowed one ER. His 0.73 ERA and 0.89 WHIP rank among the top in set-up men and boasts an impressive .175 OBA.
Grade: A Guerrier has had a great season, but he's still not a viable fantasy option. Unless you are in a 12 - 14 team league Guerrier should remain a free agent until he's named closer or if you're looking for a quick way to lower your ERA without giving up too many innings.

Detroit Tigers - Max Scherzer has been successful in his transition to the AL. He was traded for Edwin Jackson who has looked terrible in AZ. Scherzer is 1-1 with a 4.23 ERA this season in 27 2/3 innings of work. He's struck out 20 this season, but has given up an OBA of .301 and has a 1.37 WHIP.
Grade: C He's a great option in deep leagues or spot starts, but for now keep him in the back of your mind for when he settles in.

Kansas City Royals- Chris Getz was a top rookie hitter last year, but has struggled with durability and has already one DL stint under his belt this season. He had 3 hits in his first two KC games, but now only has 6 all season for a .188 AVG. He has no extra base hits and only one RBI. He does have 3 SB in 4 attempts and has scored 4 times.
Grade: D It never looks good when a guy making a rise in the league already has made his DL stint, but hopefully its behind him because he's one of the smartest young base runners in the league. He's been caught once in his career and is good for about 30 a year.

A couple of these guys should be on rosters now, but otherwise still have to prove their worthiness. Other players to keep an eye on for the month of May are:
DET Austin Jackson, CLE Michael Brantley, TB Jason Brignac,  OAK Trevor Cahill, NYY Brett Gardner