Projecting the 2011 Topps All-Star Rookie Team

Since 1959, the Topps trading card company has named its All-Star Rookie Team each season in which they select the top first-year player at each position.

In the following year's card set, the cards of the players named to the team have a gold trophy that says All-Star Rookie on the bottom corner.

So here is my best guess on who will make up the 2011 Topps All-Star Rookie Team, as this has been one of the deepest, most well-balanced rookie classes in years.

*Note: To be considered, a position player must have appeared in at least 50 games, a starting pitcher have made at least 10 starts and a relief pitcher have made at least 45 appearances.

Catcher: Wilson Ramos, Washington Nationals

2011 Stats

.248/.315/.403, 75 H, 10 HR, 36 RBI, 37 R

2011 WAR

1.7

Acquired last season in a deadline deal that sent Matt Capps to the Minnesota Twins, Ramos was one of the top catching prospects in all of baseball entering this season.

While he opened splitting starts with veteran Ivan Rodriguez, Ramos has since taken over as the starting catcher, and while he is still developing, he has the potential to be an impact backstop both offensively and defensively.

Other Candidates

J.P. Arencibia, Toronto Blue Jays
Hank Conger, Los Angeles Angels

First Baseman: Freddie Freeman, Atlanta Braves

2011 Stats

.293/.355/.466, 134 H, 17 HR, 62 RBI, 58 R

2011 WAR

1.5

This choice is a tough one, as Mark Trumbo has come up big this season in light of another injury to Kendry Morales and has a 1.9 WAR.

However, the choice in the end was Freeman, who has an OBP that is 58 points higher than Trumbo's.

Freeman, still just 21 years old, has been a consistent contributor all season for a Braves team that has had their share of offensive issues.

Other Candidates

Eric Hosmer, Kansas City Royals
Mark Trumbo, Los Angeles Angels
Jesus Guzman, San Diego Padres
Lucas Duda, New York Mets

Second Baseman: Darwin Barney, Chicago Cubs

2011 Stats

.295/.330/.375, 122 H, 2 HR, 36 RBI, 55 R

2011 WAR

1.3

One of the biggest surprises of the 2011 season for the Chicago Cubs has been the emergence of Darwin Barney. Possibly the last player on the roster, Barney not only landed a roster spot but was the team's opening day second baseman, and he has been the starter all season.

He is second to Freddie Freeman among all rookies with 122 hits, and while he does not have the upside of some of the other guys on this list, he should lock down the second base position in Chicago for the next several seasons.

Other Candidates

Danny Espinosa, Washington Nationals
Dustin Ackley, Seattle Mariners
Justin Turner, New York Mets
Jemile Weeks, Oakland Athletics

Shortstop: Eduardo Nunez, New York Yankees

2011 Stats

.270/.317/.391, 62 H, 4 HR, 26 RBI, 29 R, 19 SB

2011 WAR

-0.1

This is undoubtedly the weakest position of the class, and Nunez wins here by default over the only other candidate in Twins shortstop Tsuyoshi Nishioka, who missed 59 games early in the season with a broken fibula.

Nunez has played five different positions this season, with the majority of his playing time coming when Derek Jeter was inured. He made 17 straight starts from June 14 to July 7, and while he has returned to the bench, he has proven to be a capable starter.

Other Candidate

Tsuyoshi Nishioka, Minnesota Twins

Third Baseman: Daniel Descalso, St. Louis Cardinals

2011 Stats

.261/.335/.357, 73 H, 1 HR, 27 RBI, 32 R

2011 WAR

1.3

Much like Nunes, Daniel Descalso has played all over the diamond for the Cardinals this season, and the bulk of his playing time came as a result of an injury to regular third baseman David Freese.

While he may be best suited as a utility player down the line, Descalso has been a vital part of the Cardinals' success this season, and he should have a long career ahead of him as a versatile infielder.

Other Candidates

Brent Morel, Chicago White Sox

Outfielder: Josh Reddick, Boston Red Sox

2011 Stats

.298/.347/.497, 51 H, 6 HR, 25 RBI, 31 R

2011 WAR

1.5 

The Red Sox have struggled through injuries to their starting pitching this season but are still in position to make the playoffs and make a run at a title. Pitching has not been their only problem area; however, as right field has been an issue as well.

Incumbent veteran J.D. Drew saw his play fall off to the tune of a .219 BA, 4 HR, 21 RBI line. While there were talks of the Sox looking for a replacement at the deadline, they instead chose to give rookie Josh Reddick an extended look, and he has performed very well.

Outfielder: Casper Wells, Seattle Mariners

2011 Stats

.281/.351/.521, 47 H, 10 HR, 26 RBI, 27 R

2011 WAR

0.8

A former 14th-round pick in the 2005 draft, Wells is a late bloomer of sorts as he is already 26 years old, but he has shown enough upside that he was involved in one of the bigger trades of the deadline.

He was dealt from the Tigers to the Mariners in the trade that brought Doug Fister and David Pauley to Detroit. Since heading to Seattle, he has hit .333 BA, 6 HR, 14 RBI and looks to be in line for an everyday job next season.

Outfielder: Eric Thames, Toronto Blue Jays

2011 Stats

.268/.316/.461, 61 H, 8 HR, 27 RBI, 36 R

2011 WAR

0.7

The Blue Jays have shuffled around their defensive alignment quite a bit this season, with slugger Jose Bautista moving from right field to third base to make room for rookie Eric Thames in the outfield.

Upon sending down left fielder Travis Snider and calling up Brett Lawrie, the team has moved Bautista back to right field and shifted Thames over to left field. Through all of this, one thing is clear, and that is that the Blue Jays are very high on the 24-year-old Thames.

Other Candidates

Ben Revere, Minnesota Twins
Domonic Brown, Philadelphia Phillies
Jason Pridie, New York Mets

RH Starting Pitcher: Jeremy Hellickson, Tampa Bay Rays

2011 Stats

11-8, 3.04 ERA, 119 ERA+, 1.159 WHIP, 95 Ks, 142.1 IP

2011 WAR

2.5

This is by far one of the deepest classes of rookie starting pitchers we have seen in years, and it just so happens that the vast majority of them are right-handed, making this an extremely tough choice.

It could very well go to the Yankees' Ivan Nova, who leads rookies with 13 wins; or the Mariners' Michael Pineda, who was an All-Star; or even Phillies surprise Vance Worley, who is 8-1 with a rookie-best 2.76 ERA.

In the end, however, I think Hellickson has been the best all-around right-handed rookie starter.

Other Candidates

Ivan Nova, New York Yankees
Michael Pineda, Seattle Mariners
Vance Worley, Philadelphia Phillies
Josh Collmenter, Arizona Diamondbacks
Dillon Gee, New York Mets
Brandon Beachy, Atlanta Braves
Tyler Chatwood, Los Angeles Angels
Jordan Lyles, Houston Astros
Guillermo Moscoso, Oakland Athletics
Juan Nicasio, Colorado Rockies
Rubby De La Rosa, Los Angeles Dodgers
Kyle Drabek, Toronto Blue Jays

LH Starting Pitcher: Zach Britton, Baltimore Orioles

2011 Stats

6-9, 4.66 ERA, 86 ERA+, 1.473 WHIP, 68 Ks, 110 IP

2011 WAR

0.4

While the right-handed rookie pitcher field is incredibly deep and talented, the pickin's are slim when it comes to left-handed rookie pitchers, as there are just two of them.

Britton started the season very well, going 5-1 in his first six decisions, and lowering his ERA to a season-best 2.14 by his ninth start of the season. He has fallen off a bit since, but he is still just 23 years old and has a bright future ahead of him.

Other Candidates

Danny Duffy, Kansas City Royals

Relief Pitcher: Craig Kimbrel, Atlanta Braves

2011 Stats

3-2, 39 Saves, 1.72 ERA, 1.005 WHIP, 101 Ks, 62.2 IP

2011 WAR

2.8

For the first time last season, Topps also awarded a Rookie All-Star medal to the best rookie relief pitcher, with AL Rookie of the Year Neftali Feliz earning the honor, and assuming they are doing so again, the choice for the bullpen has to be Craig Kimbrel.

While Angels closer Jordan Walden is having a fine season, Kimbrel has been dynamite, converting 39-of-44 save opportunities and striking out 101 in 62.2 innings pitched.

He has already set the NL rookie record for saves, and is just two away from breaking the overall record set last season when Feliz saved 40 games for the Rangers.

Other Candidates

Jordan Walden, Los Angeles Angels
Aaron Crow, Kansas City Royals
Vinnie Pestano, Cleveland Indians
Chris Sale, Chicago White Sox
Tim Collins, Kansas City Royals