Rookies may be the hardest thing in baseball to project. Major league pitchers are quick to adapt to a batters weaknesses and major league hitters will work counts to get young pitchers uncomfortable and force them into making a mistake.
The step up from the minors to the majors is a steep one and even the best of prospects have been known to struggle in their rookie year. Take Profar for example, every scout raved over this player, but his first season in the majors was full of growing pains.
Not every player is going to be Mike Trout and make a run at the MVP. You should expect rookies to go through stretches where they struggle but that doesn’t they can’t be beneficial to your fantasy team. These are the top five rookies that I think you should be able to count on to make a contribution to your fantasy team in the upcoming season.
5.Taijuan Walker Starting Pitcher, Seattle Mariners
One of the top pitching prospects in all of baseball Walker is projected to begin this season in the Mariners rotation. Walker has been an above average pitcher at all levels of the minors and even appeared in three games in the majors last season posting a 3.60 ERA and striking out 12 while only walking four in 15 innings of work.
Walker also has the benefit of pitching in a very big ballpark which should help to cushion his numbers some this season. He is only 21 years old so expect some growing pains however he’s a dynamic pitcher who can provide immediate fantasy help particularly when he gets to pitch against the Astros.
4.Xander Bogaerts Shortstop, Boston Red sox
Projected to be the teams starting shortstop this season without the resigning of Stephen Drew Bogaerts looks to show off the potential that he has displayed throughout his minor league career. Bogaerts is regarded by many as the second best prospect in baseball outside of Byron Buxton.
Bogaerts however will be the starting shortstop this year while Buxton will be spending more time in the minors. At only 21 years old Bogaerts is nowhere near his prime, but could bat .280 this year with 15 homers which is a very valuable stat line at the shortstop position.
3.George Springer Outfield, Houston Astros
An extremely talented player Springer just can’t seem to find a way to get out of the minors. At 24 years old now, this has to be the season where he makes the roster particularly on a team that has struggles as mightily as the Astros have.
Springer is no longer a young talent looking to prove himself, he has played extremely well in the minors nearly posting a 40/40 season last year and batting at a .300 clip. The .300 batting average is likely unattainable in the majors though as Springer is striking out once every four at bats however he does provide that elusive combination of speed and power.
2.Oscar Tavares Outfield, St. Louis Cardinals
One of the best batters in the minors Tavares looks to make the big league club this spring with the departure of Carlos Beltran. Tavares has yet to bat under .300 in any season and in 2012 he hit 23 homeruns showing the potential to hit for both power and speed.
Tavares has slugged over .500 every season and despite his propensity to swing at first and not take walks he does not strike out often. This ability to put the ball in play consistently should bode well for Tavares to continue to hit for a high average, and as he grows as a hitter he could consistently provide over 20 homerun potential.
1.Jose Abreu First Base, Chicago White Sox
Abreu is probably my favorite rookie coming into the 2014 season. He has shown consistent power in Cuba by clubbing over 30 homeruns in multiple season and at one point shared the home run record with Yoenis Cespedes at 33 home runs in only 66 games.
Abreu is not just a power hitter though he has hit for high averages every year including an unreal .453 batting average in the 2010-2011 season. It’s not just Cuban pitcher that Abreu dominates, he has displayed his ability in the World Baseball Classic and the Pan American Games batting .524 with three home runs and nine RBI’s in only five games in the Pan American Games.
Cuban players tend to be consistent in the power department when coming to the majors, but you should expect a drop in batting average, especially from Abreu as it’s just not logical to expect a player to bat .400. As the starting first baseman for the White Sox look for Abreu to continue to produce above average power numbers and around a .280 batting average.