MLB: Young Stars Destined to Go Supernova
Baseball is continually subject to outer-space explosions. Young stars blowing up to become full-blown elite talents is a part of the MLB's evolution.
Quick starts, position hitters, fast throwing pitchers, and Usain Bolt speedsters, all accumulate into the next class of superstars.
Joe Mauer did it in 2006, Troy Tulowitzki and Ryan Braun in 2007, Evan Longoria in 2008, Tommy Hanson in 2009, and Mat Latos and Carlos Gonzalez last year.
These players, along with many other talents that have been able to endure the long 162 game seasons, are the epitome of trailblazers. In the recent decades, their efforts have enabled younger and younger prospects to be able to shift their game into the big leagues and be given the opportunity to make an impact.
However, while a lot of the players we've seen in the past are sure fire all-stars for the next decade, there are many sorry souls who have fought hard and came up short. Alex Gordon and Matt Wieters to name a few.
With the new season under way and new talents on their high-horse, it's time to take a look at those exceptional players who will one day grace the game of baseball with their ability to go from shining star to supernova.
10. Danny Espinosa, 2B, Washington Nationals
1 of 10
Espinosa is the future of the Nationals' infield.
The mixture of home run power and base running speed has enabled the 23-year-old to possess Brandon Phillips like talent.
A possible perennial 20/30 hitter for Washington over the next 10 years.
While it might be too early to grant Espinosa access into the gates of baseball, his minor league success along with the Nationals need for a bat "right now", the second baseman should have no problem showing up the competition.
In the years to come, followed by fellow prospects Bryce Harper and Ian Desmond, Espinosa will have the lineup support in the future to possible become one of the best offensive middlemen in all of baseball, helping Washington escape the dark cellar of the NL East.
With Utley getting old, Uggla getting old, and Phillips slowing down, it's time for the new class of power hitting second basemen to take over and secure the torch.
2011 Stats: .276, 1 HR, 7 RBI, 2 Doubles, 6 Runs, 7 BB in 29 AB
Best Minor League Year: .261, 18 HR, 72 RBI, 29 SB, 31 Doubles, 4 Triples in 474 AB (A)
9. Logan Morrison, LF, Florida Marlins
2 of 10
Baseball wants more of Morrison because it's looking like 2010 was no fluke.
After batting .282 for the Marlins in his first season as a big league ball player, Morrison was handed the LF job heading into the 2011 season. He's done everything, but disappoint.
Morrison had been a more than capable contact hitter in his days as a minor league batter, but his 20 home run power has carried over nicely into the MLB.
For Morrison, who turns 24-years-old in August, is off to a great start in his first full season as a starter and should be able to man the position for the next decade.
What perennial potential does he possess?
A potent average, mixed with home run and and power, should provide Morrison with enough ability to produce on the level of fellow MLB hitters such as Hunter Pence and Corey Hart.
2011 Stats: .317, 3 HR, 7 RBI, 4 Doubles, 9 BB to 8 SO
Best Minor League Year: .306, 6 HR, 45 RBI, 17 Doubles, 4 Triples, 48 BB:35 SO in 238 AB (AAA)
8. Andrew Cashner, SP, Chicago Cubs
3 of 10
Even though the 24-year-old has only pitched once so far this year, due to injury, his success in the minors and ability to throw a high-90's fastball has people raving about his future ability.
With a team like the Cubs, itching for a NL pennant, the time is now for Cashner to step-up and take control of a shaky Chicago rotation.
The offense is getting better with talents like Tyler Colvin and Starlin Castro, but the Cubbies pitching is still lacking that true no. 1 ace.
Can Cashner be that guy?
Sure he can.
Cashner has been a superb pitcher at every minor league level, sporting a respectable 2.12 ERA in 157 innings from 2009 through 2011.
His lone start in 2011 came just over a week ago against the Arizona Diamondbacks, throwing 5 1/3 innings of two hit, one run ball before being taken out in the sixth due to an apparent right rotator cuff strain.
Cashner's pitching history and shear mechanics has people wondering if he can become this decade's Mark Prior. Minus the injuries and innings limit mishandling by the Cubs of course.
2011 Stats: 0-0, 1.69 ERA, 5 1/3 IP, 2 SO, 1 BB, 0.56 WHIP
Best Minor League Year: 3-0, 0.85 ERA, 17 SO in 21 IP (AAA)
.png?w=256)
7. J.P. Arencibia, C, Toronto Blue Jays
4 of 10
The former Tennessee Volunteer has taken his southern talents up-north.
Arencibia made a huge splash in the majors last year, going 4-for-5 with two home runs, three RBI, and eleven total bases in his career major league appearance.
That is the type of talent that the Blue Jays catcher brings to the plate in every at-bat.
Over the past two years at Toronto's AAA Las Vegas, Arencibia has accumulated 63 home runs, 164 RBI, 68 doubles, and an above .300 average.
Those numbers are extremely impressive, not to mention they're coming from a 25-year-old catcher.
For Arencibia, at-bats is the key. If he can manage to stay healthy throughout 2011, there is no reason why the extra-base hitting machine can't surpass fellow catchers and make a stake for the top five in the MLB.
2011 Stats: .323, 2 HR, 6 RBI, 2 Doubles, 2 Triples, 4 BB in 31 AB
Best Minor League Year: .303, 31 HR, 79 RBI, 32 Doubles, 71 R in 379 AB (AAA)
6. Tyler Colvin, OF, Chicago Cubs
5 of 10
During a rookie season in which he only saw 358 plate appearances, Tyler Colvin still managed to hit 20 home runs, 18 doubles, five triples, and six stolen bases.
That was 2010.
This is 2011.
So far this season Colvin has been in and out of the Cubs lineup. His average is nothing to bring home to the family, but he's still hitting for power and has the ability to see regular at-bats sooner than later.
While the 25-year-old won't win a battle title anytime soon, his home run power matches up well with his fantastic ability to hit for extra bases, making him a future 30 home run, 40 double, and 10 triple type of hitter.
If Colvin is able to edge out Kosuke Fukudome and Reed Johnson in the Cubs OF for 2011 at-bats, he should be able to surpass his home run total from last year and stake a claim in manning the ivory wall at Wrigley Field for the next decade.
2011 Stats: .147, 2 HR, 6 RBI, 2 Doubles, 4 BB in 34 AB
Best Minor League Year: .255, 14 HR, 80 RBI, 27 Doubles, 11 Triples, 7 SB in 540 AB (AA)
5. Jeremy Hellickson, SP, Tampa Bay Rays
6 of 10
Hellickson can easily be considered the best pitching prospect in all of baseball.
His strikeout ability can be seen from space, striking out 33 batters in 36 1/3 innings last year in the big leagues, and 123 in 117 innings during his 2010 minor league season.
With his early success in the AL East and the solid starts that Hellickson has been able to string together since the start of his big league career, it's easy to see how good he could actually get.
The 10 strikeout performance in the 24-year-old's first start of the season is proof that he can get it done in the AL and against solid teams like the Angels.
For the Rays and Hellickson, as it usually is with a lot of young starting pitchers who throw hard, they both need to watch the young kid's innings and preserve him for the long haul.
The newest pitcher to the Rays' rotation is more than capable of winning 18 games in a full season, while striking out 200 batters.
He's only one of a handful of up and coming arms that can be considered a top 50 option right now.
2011 Stats: 1-1, 4.09 ERA, 11 K, 11 IP
Best Minor League Year: 12-3, 2.45 ERA, 123 K, 117 IP, 1.17 WHIP (AAA)
4. Michael Pineda, SP, Seattle Mariners
7 of 10
Pineda has been fantastic.
After given the nod following spring training, the 22-year-old phenom has taking his starting pitching job and he's never looked back.
At 6'6, Pineda is an intimidating pitching factor who throws in the upper-90's.
Control is not an issue.
He's only walked three batters in 13 1/3 innings through his first two starts of the season. This comes as no surprise since he hovered around a 1.00 WHIP in his past two minor league campaigns.
I know it's getting repetitive, but Pineda and the Mariners will absolutely limit the pitches he throws in 2011, putting a damper on his rookie season impact and even his fantasy value.
However, if Pineda continues to pitch the way he has against solid hitting teams like Toronto and Texas, there is no reason why he can't turn into the next Felix Hernandez.
While Hernandez is a freak of nature, the similarity will focus more on Pineda's pitching ability and shear dominance that will allow him to overshadow Seattle's horrific offense and make him a consistent winner in the AL West.
2011 Stats: 1-1, 2.70 ERA, 11 K, 0.97 WHIP, 3 BB in 13 1/3 IP
Best Minor League Year: 8-1, 2.22 ERA, 78 K, 1.09 WHIP in 77 IP (AA)
3. Starlin Castro, SS, Chicago Cubs
8 of 10
This was easy, his name has "star" in it.
While Castro might look like a small hitting shortstop, his success through the first few weeks of 2011 and down the stretch in 2010 proves otherwise.
Only 21, Castro has already made a huge impact at the thin infield position of shortstop, batting .300 with only 71 SO in 463 at-bats through his first MLB season.
Now a fantasy and fan favorite, the gap-powered speedster has already stated that he wishes to steal between 25 and 30 bases in 2011.
If Castro can swipe more bases than the 11 he did in 2010, his value around baseball will grow into something perennial.
As his career goes on, Castro is more than capable of consistently hitting .300 with 10 home runs, 30 doubles, 10 triples, and 20 stolen bases, making him one of the all-around prominent hitters in baseball.
2011 Stats: .389, 3 RBI, 2 Doubles, 2 Triples, 2 SB, 4 K through 54 AB
Best Minor League Year: .301, 3 HR, 35 RBI, 17 Doubles, 3 Triples, 22 SB, 45 R in 358 AB (A)
2. Baltimore Orioles Starting Pitching
9 of 10
With the young starting pitching that the Orioles currently have stashed on their roster, the team's outlook for the next 10 years looks to be one of the best in all of baseball.
Once these young stars get accustomed to the big league level and progress through the ups and downs of an early career, Baltimore could have immediate success in the AL East like the Rays did a few years ago.
Brian Matusz:
Matusz is the most seasoned out of the four. Going 7-3 with a 3.63 ERA and 63 SO in the second half of 2010, the 24-year-old has already proved he can be a top-of-the-rotation option.
Matusz is currently on the 15-day disabled list and is looking to make his first start of the season in a week or two. Once he regains a mid season vibe and starts to pitch well, he can turn into one of the best young pitchers in the MLB.
Chris Tillman:
At 22, Tillman was actually the most productive pitcher out of the four in the Orioles farm system, making him their go-to prospect a year ago. However, Tillman has fell back just a little bit allowing the other three talents to pass him by and gain higher recognition.
Over the past two years Tillman has recorded an above 5.00 ERA in the majors, creating doubt about his elite potential throughout the Orioles organization. However, 2011 could be the year he finally comes around and make the "ace" label finally come true.
Zach Britton:
Britton has pitched the best out of the four so far in 2011. He's 2-0 with a 0.66 ERA, making him one of the most surprising pitchers through the first few weeks of the MLB season.
The 23-year-old has been dominate throughout his minor league career, becoming a strikeout pitcher who doesn't give up hits that easily. If Britton is to make his mark on the league this year and attempt to win the AL ROY, Baltimore will have to allow him to pitch deep into the season. By looking at this list, you can see that they might be able to do just that.
Jake Arrieta:
Arrieta has struggled the most out of everybody, recently giving up eight runs to a potent Texas Rangers offense in Baltimore. However, his first start showed that the 25-year-old is ready to become a solidified option for the Orioles throughout the season.
While his stats during his minor league career don't show a very impressive strikeout-to-walk ratio, he was always able to wins games and win them handily. Look for Arrieta to continue to record quality starts and make an impressive impact on the Orioles 2011 season.
1. Jose Tabata, OF, Pittsburgh Pirates
10 of 10
Tabata's hot start in 2011 has made him look like the next big thing.
With speed, home run power, gap hitting ability, and a niche for the lead-off spot, the 22-year-old has become one of the best hitters in baseball through the first two weeks of the season.
While the hot start will more than likely cool down and bring the speedster back to earth, his current big-hit ability is for real.
During his rookie season in 2010, Tabata instantly turned heads in Pittsburgh and throughout baseball. He hit .298 with four home runs and 19 stolen bases in only 405 at-bats, creating a type of hitter that the Pirates fans haven't seen in a very long time.
After he bulks up and Pittsburgh's lineup settles in and gives Tabata some support, he'll be able to rake in more RBI and hit for more power.
Don't be surprised if Tabata is a perennial all-star for the next 10 years, he's that good.
2011 Stats: .325, 2 HR, 5 SB, 2 Doubles, 11 Runs through 40 AB
Best Minor League Year: .308, 3 HR, 25 SB, 13 Doubles, 2 Triples though 224 AB (AAA)
.png?w=480)
