Five MLB Ready Rookies

Which Rookies Will Start in the Bigs?

We all know about what Jason Heyward is going to do to opposing pitchers this season, but there are a few other rookies you should know about. These rookies will likely make the opening day roster and make an immediate impact, and perhaps they will make an impact for your fantasy team.

All will make an impact for the big league team in the immediate future, and the rookies not on the list will either start the season in the minors or will not be up until September, making them irrelevant to the start of the season.

No. 5 Wade Davis TB SP
Wade Davis was drafted out of high school in the third round of the 2004 MLB draft by the TB Rays. Standing 6’5” 220 lbs., Davis is a burly right hander and is currently the third best Rays prospect behind OF Desmond Jennings and SP Jeremy Hellickson, but both Jennings and Hellickson will start this season in the minors. Davis made his debut last September and was impressive in six big league starts. He will be 25 in September, and the Rays have never rushed him and they feel he is finally ready to contribute in the big leagues. Last season Davis threw a career high 195 innings combined for AAA and the Rays, and it looks like TB will be depending on him to go over the 200 IP mark for the first time in his career.

No. 4 Alcides Escobar MIL SS
23-year-old Venezuelan and Milwaukee Brewers SS Alcides Escobar can do a lot of things on the diamond, but was called up last season for his glove. This year the Brewers made room for Escobar in the starting lineup after trading fan favorite J.J. Hardy and the Brewers top prospect since looks ready to go. In 38 games last season Escobar hit .304 and in nearly 50 games he is a .310 hitter. Although not known for his plate patience, it looks like Escobar will have no trouble getting on base and stealing over 30 bases in his rookie season. Clearly, Escobar does not belong in the minors and you can add another stud to an already plentiful Brewers offense.

No. 3 Neftali Feliz P TEX
21-year-old flame throwing Neftali Feliz appeared in 20 games last season (0 starts) for the Rangers and was nearly unhittable. In 31 IP, Feliz sported at 1.74 ERA, with a K/W ratio of over 4/1, and a miniscule .68 WHIP. The Rangers want to make Feliz a starter but reportedly will keep him in the bullpen this season, and it looks like it is the right decision. According to Baseball America, Feliz is the top prospect in the Rangers organization, and there are two others in the top 17.

No. 2 Brian Matusz SP BAL
23-year-old Brian Matusz is currently fourth in the Orioles rotation, but it might not be long before he and fellow top prospect Chris Tillman are atop the O’s rotation. Matusz (pronounced Mattis) was the fourth overall pick in 2008, a collegiate All American at the University of San Diego, and is Baltimore’s top prospect according to Baseball America. BA says his best tool is his changeup, and in eight starts for the O’s last season, Matusz went 5-2, with a 4.63 ERA, and over a 2/1 K/W ratio. He will be given every opportunity to make the starting rotation this season, as he clearly does not belong in the minors. In only 113 IP (19 starts) in the minors, Matusz recorded a 1.91 ERA, had less hits than IP, a K/W ratio at nearly 4/1, and a ridiculous 1.05 WHIP. All indications point to Matusz being a big time MLB prospect.

No. 1 Jason Heyward RF ATL
Jason Heyward is the number one overall prospect in all of baseball according to Baseball America, even higher than last season’s No. 1 pick Stephen Strasburg and his $15 million contract. Heyward is a big time power-hitting prospect, probably the best since Prince Fielder/Ryan Braun, and will only be 20 years old on opening day. Heyward is 6’4” 220 lbs. with all sorts of talent and can still move for a big man, as his 15 SB in 2008 suggest. In 238 minor league games Heyward has produced a .318 average, .391 OBP, 29 HR, 125 RBI, and will be starting for the Atlanta Braves on opening day.

Matt Anaya
Twitter.com/MatAnaya