MLB Predictions 2011: One Rookie From Each Team Worth Watching This Season
The start of the MLB regular season is but a mere six weeks away and now players begin to report to their respective camps for workouts and different meetings.
The MLB season is always filled with excitement, as every year, everything seems to change. Perhaps the best thing about baseball is the unexpectedness that goes with it.
Each year, the players numbers change dramatically in some cases as some stars may have down years, while other lesser known players may have breakout seasons.
And then there are the players who come up from the minor leagues and either succeed or fall flat on their faces. These are the players who are brand knew to the major leagues and are what we call rookies. This article is a tribute to those rookies and highlights the rookies that everyone should be watching for from each team.
Please note, however, some prospects on this list may not make it to the bigs this year. I understand that doesn't exactly correspond with the title of the article, but in certain cases, teams only had one decent prospect worth noting and he may not be ready, so I apologize in advance.
So, without further ado, let us commence.
AL East: Zach Britton, Baltimore Orioles
1 of 30
Zach Britton was selected 85th overall in the 3rd round of the 2006 amateur draft by the Baltimore Orioles.
Zach is a left-handed starter who comes in at a lanky 6'3" and 195 lbs. The 23-year-old Britton is a ground-ball pitcher with an above-average change-up. Many praise Britton as being a thinking pitcher who can outsmart even the best hitters. Last year, Britton split time between AA Bowie and AAA Norfolk and was quite dominant.
Zach Britton is dangerously close to being major-league ready and could start the year with the team if he has a successful spring. Even if he doesn't make the team to begin with, he will be up with the big club within a month or two and will be given a spot in what is a promising and young Orioles rotation.
Jose Iglesias, Boston Red Sox
2 of 30
Jose Iglesias signed with the Boston Red Sox for $8 million in the summer of 2009.
Jose is a right-handed hitting shortstop who comes in at 5'11" and 175 lbs. The 21-year-old is so highly thought of because of his defensive prowess that has drawn comparisons to the legendary Ozzie Smith. However, Jose still has a very raw bat and his only real offensive weapon is a bit of speed that he can provide on the base paths.
Jose still needs to develop more in the minors, but if all goes as planned, Iglesias could be up with the big club near the All-Star break. It is likely, though, that even if he comes up this season, he won't get much playing time, as he has a bit of a crowd in front of him. However, if Scutaro struggles, and Lowrie is hurt as usual, the door could be wide open for Jose.
Jesus Montero, New York Yankees
3 of 30
Jesus Montero was the best available international free agent in the summer of 2006 and was signed by the New York Yankees.
Montero is the best catching prospect in the majors and is the number one prospect in the Yankees system. Standing at a dominant 6'4" and weighing in at 225 lbs., the 21-year-old is an extremely powerful right-handed bat that has had scouts looking on in awe since he was 16. Jesus had an excellent year for the Yankees AAA team last season, posting a great average as well as hitting for power.
It is increasingly unlikely that Montero will begin the year with the New York Yankees. Montero still needs to work more on the defensive side of the game and how to deal with pitchers before he is truly ready. Another thing that could delay his arrival is the fact that the Yankees have three catchers on their roster, although Jorge Posada is going to be mainly a designated hitter. However, an injury to one of the three catchers, or anyone for that matter, could open up a spot for Jesus on the big club. I believe he will be with the Yankees near July, possibly earlier.
.png?w=256)
Desmond Jennings, Tampa Bay Rays
4 of 30
Desmond Jennings was drafted by the Cleveland Indians in the 18th round of the 2005 amateur draft, but didn't sign with them. The next year, though, Jennings was drafted in the 10th round by the then Tampa Bay Devil Rays and ended up signing up them.
Desmond Jennings is one of the top outfield prospects in the major leagues and is just one of the many spectacular talents to emerge from the Rays farm system. Desmond is 6' 2" and weighs approximately 200 lbs. Jennings is a bit older than some prospects, as he is 24, but that is still really young. Jennings has some serious wheels and has been called, "Carl Crawford with better plate discipline". Of course, speed is not the only thing as he has a good glove and surprising power. He is similar to Andrew McCutchen in almost every way.
Desmond will most likely start the year with the Tampa Bay Rays and will be given every opportunity to play. With the departure of Carl Crawford, the spot in left field has been opened for Jennings to prove to people that he is the outfielder of the future for the Rays.
J.P. Arencibia, Toronto Blue Jays
5 of 30
J.P. Arencibia was originally drafted by the Seattle Mariners in the 17th round of the 2004 MLB draft, but chose not to sign. Then, in 2007, Arencibia was drafted 21st overall by the Toronto Blue Jays and decided to sign.
J.P. Arencibia is a right-handed hitting catcher who comes in at a strong 6'1" and 210 lbs. The 25-year-old Arencibia is among one of the better hitting prospects in all of baseball. Arencibia's biggest strength is his bat, as he has just destroyed minor league pitching and has put up ridiculous numbers. In addition to the strong bat, Arencibia also has an excellent throwing arm, but still needs to work on his other defensive skills as a catcher. One thing scouts also praise is Arencibia's leadership, which has quickly developed and will help him in the future.
J.P. Arencibia will be the starting catcher on opening day for the Blue Jays, barring spontaneous death, injury, or zombie Apocalypse. With John Buck gone and the youth movement in Toronto, Arencibia will be the everyday catcher and will have every opportunity to prove himself.
AL Central: Chris Sale, Chicago White Sox
6 of 30
Chris Sale was originally drafted by the Colorado Rockies in the 21st round of the 2007 MLB draft, but like a lot of players on this list, did not sign. Sale was then selected 13th overall in the 2010 MLB draft by the Chicago White Sox and chose to sign.
Chris Sale is a left-handed pitcher who stands at a towering 6'5", but is surprisingly skinny at just 170 lbs. The 21-year-old Sale can really bring the heat, as his fastball usually sits around 94 MPH; mind you, he has the advantage of being super tall. In addition to the fastball, Sale features a full repertoire of above-average off-speed and deceptive pitches which he throws with pinpoint control. Some scouts describe his "stuff" as filthy and "almost unfair". He has drawn comparisons to David Price, although the same people say that his ceiling may not be as high as that of Price.
Chris Sale will be in the majors this year without a doubt, but it is unclear as to how he will be used. The Sox are hoping that he can be a part of the starting rotation, but also understand that it is possible that he could end up being the closer or at least a significant piece of the bullpen. Either way, it appears Chris Sale is here to stay.
Lonnie Chisenhall, Cleveland Indians
7 of 30
Lonnie Chisenhall was drafted in the 11th round of the 2006 draft by the Pittsburgh Pirates, but chose to finish high school instead. Then, in 2008, Chisenhall was selected 29th overall by the Cleveland Indians and signed on with the Tribe.
Lonnie Chisenhall is a 22-year-old left-handed hitting third baseman in the Indians system. Chisenhall stands at an appropriate 6'1" and weighs in at about 200 lbs. Chisenhall is a hitter, and a mighty darn good one at that. Lonnie has a short and sweet stroke with power to all parts of the ballpark. It is unknown about where he will be positioned, but for now, we will assume third. However, there have been some questions concerning his character and ethics, as he has been accused of stealing on a couple of occasions.
Lonnie will be given the chance to play everyday for a hopeless Cleveland Indians team. He has already proven that he can hit in the minors, so now it is time for him to prove that he can hit big league pitching. Once again, though, it remains to be seen where he will play, probably at third, but the Indians could try shifting him around to test the waters.
Casper Wells, Detroit Tigers
8 of 30
Casper Wells was drafted in the 14th round of the 2005 MLB draft by the Detroit Tigers.
The funny named outfielder currently stands at 6'2" and weighs in at about 210 lbs. The 26-year-old right handed hitter is an excellent all-around player. Wells is said to have a nice amount of power as well as good speed, defensive prowess, and a terrific arm. Casper had the opportunity last year to play a little and really showcased his talent and potential. In a modest 36 games as a big-leaguer, Casper hit .323, smashed four home runs, and drove in 17 runs. Not bad, eh?
Casper will really have to work hard if he is to get significant playing time with Detroit. In the outfield, the Tigers are already satisfied with Boesch in left and Jackson in center; however, right field is sort of up for grabs. However, there is a very real possibility that Ryan Raburn could end up in left field and that Boesch could be moved to right. Either way, Casper is going to have to really impress the Tigers management if he wants to get playing time.
Mike Moustakas, Kansas City Royals
9 of 30
Mike Moustakas was drafted second overall in the 2007 MLB draft by the Kansas City Royals.
Mike Moustakas is the top third base prospect in baseball and stands at 5'11" and weighs in at 230 lbs. The 22-year-old Moustakas is a left-handed bat with power and is known for being a line-drive hitter. Moustakas has a solid glove and is pretty much a solid all-around player. Mike has dominated the minors and has had scouts foaming at the mouth for quite some time.
It is extremely likely that Mike Moustakas will start 2011 as the Kansas City Royals everyday third baseman. Like I said earlier, Moustakas has torn apart the minor leagues, and it is useless to leave him down there any longer.
Tsuyoshi Nishioka, Minnesota Twins
10 of 30
Tsuyoshi Nishioka signed with the Minnesota Twins in the offseason, coming over from Japan.
Nishioka is a middle infielder who stands at 5'11" and weighs approximately 175 lbs. The 26-year-old Nishioka is a switch hitter who has already played seven seasons in the Japanese league. Nishioka has some power in his bat, but it has diminished in recent years and has given way to more of a small-ball game. Nishioka was a stolen base master in Japan, but is not actually that fast; he just times pitchers well. Tsuyoshi's best attribute is his defense, as he has an incredibly strong throwing arm and has phenomenal range.
Tsuyoshi will start at shortstop for the Twins this season and will hopefully be the player the Twins hope he can be.
AL West: Mike Trout, Los Angeles Angels
11 of 30
Mike Trout was drafted 25th overall in the 2009 MLB draft by the Los Angeles Angels.
Mike Trout stands at a sturdy 6'1" and weighs a solid 217 lbs. The 19-year-old Trout is a right handed hitting outfielder is one of the top prospects in all of baseball, just below Bryce Harper. He is an excellent defender with nice speed for patrolling center fielder. Trout is a very smart and patient hitter with an excellent knowledge of the strike zone. Trout is also a good hitter, who hits a ton of line drives, but his home run power is to be decided. Trout has really nice speed and is a very intelligent base runner. Last season in the minors, he posted some of the best numbers ever, highlighted by a superb .362 average.
Mike Trout won't likely be in the big leagues for quite some time, though if all goes extremely well, the Angels could call him up to see how he performs in the bigs. It is also possible that an injury to any of the three outfielders could open up a spot for Trout to play. There is no doubt, though, that Trout will eventually take over for current outfielder Torii Hunter near 2013.
Like I said, though, it is likely that if we do see him, it will potentially somewhere in July. If he does get the call, he will certainly be someone to watch closely.
Chris Carter, Oakland Athletics
12 of 30
Chris Carter was drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 17th round in the 2004 MLB draft.
Chris Carter is a left-handed hitting first baseman who stands at a tough 6'0" and weighs in at a powerful 230 lbs. The 28-year-old slugger has been in the minors for an extended period of time and has only really blossomed after being dealt to the Athletics several seasons ago. Carter has been said to be "a better, stronger, and younger" version of Jack Cust. Carter is an extremely powerful hitter who has been known to be an all-or-nothing hitter at times. Other than his monstrous power, the rest of his game is pretty decent overall.
Chris Carter will most certainly be given a starting spot in the Oakland Athletics lineup this season, as the A's have a desperate need for power. Carter will likely play first base and could also be inserted into the DH spot once in awhile. Carter will probably steal a lot of Daric Barton's playing time and could take all of it if he performs well enough.
Dustin Ackley, Seattle Mariners
13 of 30
Dustin Ackley was drafted second overall in the 2009 MLB draft by the Seattle Mariners.
Dustin Ackley is naturally an outfielder and is 6'1" and weighs about 185 lbs. The 22-year-old Ackley is one of the best hitting prospects in all of baseball and has scouts foaming at the mouth. Dustin is an extremely talented player and has incredible speed giving him a ton of versatility defensively. Ackley is, like I said, primarily an outfielder, but also has a bit of experience in the infield, more specifically at third and first base. It seems as though the Mariners want him to play second to help balance out what is a outfield-heavy farm system.
Dustin Ackley will most certainly be in the everyday lineup for the Mariners and will be given the opportunity to develop in the major leagues regardless of how much he struggles.
Martin Perez, Texas Rangers
14 of 30
Martin Perez was signed as an undrafted free agent out of Venezuela by the Texas Rangers in 2007 for a little over half a million.
Martin Perez is a left-handed pitcher who stands 6'0" and weighs in at around 178 lbs. The 19-year-old Perez has a very special arm and has absolutely electric stuff. In the minors, he sometimes struggled but still managed to average one strike out per inning, which is quite impressive. It is quite evident that the Rangers got a real bargain signing this amazing arm for half a million.
Martin Perez will likely remain in AA this year to gain more experience. I have chosen Perez even though he won't be in the majors this year, because he is one of the better prospects in baseball.
NL East: Freddie Freeman, Atlanta Braves
15 of 30
Freddie Freeman was drafted in the 2nd round of the 2007 MLB draft by the Atlanta Braves.
Freddie Freeman is a very strong and well built young man, as he stands at 6'5" and weighs a solid 225 lbs. The 21-year-old Freeman is a very talented hitter who can still develop some power, but for now remains a doubles-type hitter. He is very consistent and has a career average in the minors of around .300. He also maintains a pretty impressive slugging percentage that is approaching .500. Some predict, though, that with his quick hands and large body, he can be a 30+ home run hitter. Freddie is an average defender who will be placed at first base.
Freddie Freeman will start the season in the majors and could wind up being the everyday first baseman for the Braves. He will get every opportunity to succeed in the majors and prove himself.
Matt Dominguez, Florida Marlins
16 of 30
Matt Dominguez was drafted 12th overall in the 2007 MLB draft by the Florida Marlins.
Matt Dominguez is a third baseman in the Florida Marlins farm system and stands at 6'1" and weighs about 205 lbs. The 21-year-old Dominguez has a ton of raw power but has a bit of a long swing, which, oddly enough, generates a consistent amount of power. Matt's most attractive feature is that he is one of the best defensive prospects in the minors. Some scouts say that even if he doesn't develop the way he should with the bat, his glove alone could be enough to get him into the bigs.
Matt Dominguez will probably need one more full season of AA ball before the Marlins consider promoting him to the bigs. There is no real rush for the Marlins, as they are going nowhere, so it won't harm the cause to give him more time to develop. Like I said, Matt is a good year away, but is the best Marlins prospect.
Jenrry Mejia, New York Mets
17 of 30
Jenrry Mejia signed as an international free agent with the New York Mets in the spring of 2007.
Jenrry Mejia is a right-handed pitcher who stands at a very skinny 6'0" and 160 lbs. The 21-year-old Mejia has been slightly mishandled by Mets management, as they have been constantly switching between the rotation and the bullpen. Jenrry is one of the few bright stars in what has been a pretty depressing New York Mets farm system. Mejia throws some real heat that stays consistently in the mid-90's and he has some pretty nasty off-speed stuff to accompany it.
Jenrry will likely get a shot at being in the rotation for the start of the 2011 season, as the Mets need starting pitching. However, if that doesn't work out, Mejia could also wind up in the bullpen setting up for the crazy closer, Francisco Rodriguez.
Domonic Brown, Philadelphia Phillies
18 of 30
Domonic Brown was drafted in the 20th round of the 2006 MLB draft by the Philadelphia Phillies.
Domonic Brown is a 23-year-old outfielder who is a very lanky 6'5" and 200 lb. Brown is currently the best prospect in the Philadelphia Phillies farm system and one of the best in baseball. Domonic has drawn many comparisons from scouts to Cleveland Indians center fielder Grady Sizemore. Brown has learned to be a much smarter hitter in the minors and has really increased his plate discipline. He also has some really nice arm strength and is an above-average defender. Most scouts believe that Domonic has the potential to be an all-star in the future.
Domonic Brown will likely take over in right field this year for the recently departed Jayson Werth. Worse case scenario, Brown splits outfield duties with someone like John Mayberry Jr. or Ben Francisco. But it is more likely that it will be just Brown in right field.
Bryce Harper, Washington Nationals.
19 of 30
Bryce Harper was drafted first overall by the Washington Nationals in the 2010 MLB draft.
Bryce Harper is one of the most anticipated prospects in the history of the MLB. Labelled as the "LeBron James" of baseball, Harper has created a buzz around baseball that we haven't seen in awhile. Bryce has a sensational bat that is one of the best scouts have ever seen. Some of the home runs Bryce has hit have been measured at an absolutely ridiculous 560 feet. His defense is acceptable and he was originally a catcher, but to preserve his body, the Nationals want to put him in the outfield.
Bryce Harper has expressed his desire and readiness to play in the bigs this season, perhaps even start the season on the team. In all likeliness, he won't be on the opening day squad and will likely undergo some minor fine tuning before the Nationals are satisfied. Washington would also prefer if Harper could gain some maturity before he joined the big club.
NL Central: Brett Jackson, Chicago Cubs
20 of 30
Brett Jackson was drafted 31st overall in the 2009 MLB draft by the Chicago Cubs.
Brett Jackson is a 6'2", 210 lbs, left-handed hitting outfielder for the Chicago Cubs minor league affiliate. Jackson is a very solid all-around player with no truly defining attributes. Brett is the lead off hitter of the future, as he has excellent plate discipline and has a wonderful 87 percent stolen base success rate. He is one of the best Cubs prospects and has enjoyed success in all levels of minor league baseball.
Brett will likely start the year in the minors, but because of little outfield depth, an injury could mean the Cubs need another outfielder, and that could be Brett. If injuries do not play out in his favor, a mid-July appearance seems reasonable for the 22-year-old.
Aroldis Chapman, Cincinnati Reds
21 of 30
Aroldis Chapman signed a very lucrative contract as an international free agent last year with the Cincinnati Reds.
Aroldis Chapman is an extremely lanky left-handed pitcher who comes in at 6'4" and weighs in at about 185 lbs. Aroldis is a sensational talent with an absolutely electric arm that is rivaled by nobody. Chapman holds the record for the fastest pitch ever recorded at 105 MPH and stays consistently around the 100 MPH range. Chapman also has some wicked off-speed pitches as well that if he can truly master, will make him even more unhittable.
Aroldis Chapman is, without any shred of doubt, going to be on the opening day roster. There is only one question that remains unanswered in terms of Aroldis. Whether or not he will be in the rotation or the bullpen remains to be seen. It seems as though Aroldis will be given a few chances in the rotation before the Reds decide where he will fit best.
Brett Wallace, Houston Astros
22 of 30
Brett Wallace was originally drafted in the 42nd round of the 2005 MLB draft by the Toronto Blue Jays, but things did not work out and he remained unsigned after the deadline passed. Then, in the 2008 MLB draft, Wallace was drafted 13th overall by the St. Louis Cardinals and was flipped to the Athletics in the deal that brought Matt Holliday to the Cards. After this, Brett was traded to Toronto who then traded him to Houston. An unbelievable amount of trades for someone so talented.
Brett Wallace is a first and third baseman for the Houston Astros and comes in at an appropriate 6'2" and weighs about 205 lbs. Brett is an extremely powerful left-handed bat that has torn apart the minors and has good gap power as well. Wallace needs to work on his defense a little more, especially because he plays for a National League team.
Brett Wallace played just under the limit of at-bats that qualifies a rookie last season and showed some good signs of power. The Astros are going absolutely nowhere and they are going there fast, so they can allow Wallace to develop in the majors regardless of whether he struggles or not.
Mark Rogers, Milwaukee Brewers
23 of 30
Mark Rogers was drafted fifth overall by the Milwaukee Brewers way back in the 2004 MLB draft.
Mark stands at a healthy 6'3" and weighs 220 lbs., giving him a fairly ideal pitcher's body. The 25-year-old Rogers has spent quite awhile in the minors and has been consistently one of the top prospects in their system. Rogers has always had what some call "majestic" stuff, but he has never truly been able to harness it. Mark has had an impressive strikeout ratio over his minor league career, but has also had a less than desirable walk ratio as well. His control has always been a bit of an issue, but aside from that, everything else appears to be in check.
Mark Rogers will likely make his debut sometime near June this season for the Brew-Crew. Like I said, Rogers is 25 years old and there is no point in keeping him in the minors for too much longer. The Brewers will give Mark a chance to prove himself, likely in the bullpen, and see if he can actually control is power. If he can, Rogers is definitely someone to watch for this year.
Jameson Taillon, Pittsburgh Pirates
24 of 30
Jameson Taillon was drafted second overall in last year's MLB draft by the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Jameson (I am going to call him James from now on) Taillon stands at a monstrous 6'6" and is nicely filled out as he weighs 225 lbs. The 19-year-old right-handed pitcher is, as you can expect, a fireballer who has touched 100 MPH on numerous occasions. Taillon's slider and change-up could use some work as they are project pitches at this point, but he does have an excellent curve-ball.
James Taillon will start the year in the minor leagues, seeing as he was only drafted last year. Taillon is currently the only top prospect the Pirates have, which is ultra sad considering the team has been awful for so many years. Most scouts view James as a 2013 number two starter in the Pirates rotation and a potential ace in the future. The odds of seeing Tallion this year are slim, but if he blows through the minors, the Prates could give him a chance to develop in the bigs. If he does arrive in the bigs, watch out.
Shelby Miller, St. Louis Cardinals
25 of 30
Shelby Miller was drafted 19th overall by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 2009 MLB draft.
Shelby is a bit of a lanky feller as he stands at 6'3" and weighs about 195 lb. The 20-year-old right-handed pitcher is one of the best pitching prospects in baseball. Miller has excellent talent and stands out from the rest because of his blazing-hot fastball and the natural late movement that he is able to create with it. Miller's best off-speed pitch is a 12-6 curve, which he doesn't use as much right now, but he will need to develop more if he hopes to become a solid pitcher in the bigs.
Shelby Miller will probably start the year in AA to work out and develop more of his off-speed pitches. His fastball is phenomenal, and because it is so overpowering, we can probably expect him to rocket into AAA within a few months. It is unlikely that Miller reaches the bigs before late-August unless the Cardinals require help in the bullpen, which they often do.
AL West: Jarrod Parker, Arizona Diamondbacks
26 of 30
Jarrod Parker was drafted ninth overall by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 2007 MLB draft.
Parker could use some more time in the weight room, as his 6'1" frame is only filled out by 180 lbs., which is a bit less than hoped. Last season, Parker was sidelined after having to have Tommy John Surgery, which will slow down his development a bit. Before the injury, however, Parker had four strong pitches he could command and throw consistent strikes with. He featured an excellent slider, a good curve-ball, a decent change-up and featured a relatively good fastball.
Because of the T.J. Surgery, Parker will likely need to get some more work in the minors rehabbing his arm before he moves along. Parker is supposedly major-league ready, and if he progresses well, we could see him in the Diamondbacks rotation within two months or so.
Tyler Matzek, Colorado Rockies
27 of 30
Tyler Matzek was taken 11th overall by the Colorado Rockies in the 2009 MLB draft.
Tyler is an absolute monster who towers over everyone as he stands 6' 6" and weighs a maybe less than desirable, 210 lb. So, maybe more time in the weight room is in order. The 20 year old left-handed pitcher features a very overpowering fastball that is extremely intimidating. Matzek also features a large arsenal of off-speed pitches which, when working, can be deadly. Matzek has made excellent strides in the minors, as he posted an excellent ERA below three in over 20 starts.
Matzek has some control issues that need to be sorted before he moves into a higher level. However, this does not mean that you will not see Matzek this year. The Rockies will work extra hard with Tyler in the offseason and in the minors to help him prepare. If all goes well, it is not unreasonable to believe that he could join the club sometime in August.
Devaris Gordon, Los Angles Dodgers
28 of 30
Devaris Gordon was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the fourth round of the 2008 MLB draft.
Devaris Gordon is a shortstop who stands at 5'11" and weighs in at perhaps a too little 150 lbs. Some time in the gym and perhaps in the kitchen could do Gordon some good. Devaris has always hit for average and has been very consistent with the bat. One of his best attributes is his speed, as he has stolen 73 in a season before and 53 last year. In what is a bit of an oddity, Gordon isn't a very good defensive shortstop, so some believe a move to left field is possible.
Devaris Gordon has a little grooming left before he joins the big league team. I expect to see him in June or so, as I imagine he will replace Rafael Furcal next year if the Dodgers choose to keep Gordon at short. It is possible that when called up, Gordon will play in left field to get some at-bats. The Dodgers probably want him to gain some experience in the bigs before they throw him in as Furcal's heir next year.
Casey Kelly, San Diego Padres
29 of 30
Casey Kelly was drafted 30th overall by the Boston Red Sox of the 2008 MLB draft.
Casey Kelly is a tough player who comes in at 6'3" and has bumped his weight up to a very respectable 200 lb. The San Diego Padres acquired the 21-year-old right-handed pitcher (former shortstop) from the Boston Red Sox in the deal that saw Adrian Gonzalez end up as a member of the Red Sox. Kelly was once untouchable in the Sox farm system, as he was one of the best prospects in the game. Lately, however, his stock has fallen a bit, but he still remains a future ace regardless. Kelly has an extraordinarily powerful fastball as well as an excellent curve and change-up.
Casey Kelly will most likely start the season in the minors, but I doubt he will be there for long. The Padres lost a large amount of starting pitching in the offseason and could use another arm in the rotation. If all goes well for Kelly in the minors, you might see Casey joining the rotation in mid-June, perhaps early July at the latest.
Brandon Belt, San Francisco Giants
30 of 30
Brandon Belt was originally drafted by the Boston Red Sox in the 11th round of the 2006 MLB draft, but chose not to sign. Then, Belt was selected by the Atlanta Braves in the 11th round of the 2007 MLB draft, but once again, could not come to terms with the team. Then finally, Belt was drafted in the fifth round of the 2009 MLB draft by the San Francisco Giants, who he was able to settle down with.
Brandon Belt is a very tall man as he is 6'5", but needs to put more pounds on, as he only weighs 195 lbs. Belt is a 22-year-old outfielder turned first baseman who has emerged as one of the top prospects in San Francisco. Belt has posted ridiculous lines in his short time in the minors and has shown power and has been very consistent. The left-handed hitting Brandon has the type of swing that gives him the opportunity to become a great power hitter in the future. Belt's defense is average and his speed is middle of the pact.
Brandon Belt will probably be the San Francisco Giants opening day first baseman. The Giants, like the Athletics, have a ton pitching, but have always lacked power hitting. Mind you, the Giants did win the World Series last year, but that is besides the point. Anyway, Belt will get the chance to succeed in the majors, and the Giants hope he can be a good shot in the arm for their offense.
.png?w=480)
