In what seems to be the year of the prospect…yet another has arrived and begun his big league career – this time, it’s Houston catcher Jason Castro.   A 2008 first round pick, Castro made his debut on June 22, hitting a single in his first at bat that led to his scoring a run.  He also showed off his skills behind the plate, gunning down two baserunners as they tried to swipe second base.  Granted, his defensive skills don’t help you in standard fantasy leagues, but it should be noted that strong defensive skills at his position will keep him in the lineup, meaning he’ll get plenty of chances to help you with the bat as long as he’s not a liability behind the dish.   Castro was drafted out of college and has moved swiftly through the minor league ranks, hitting AAA this year, his third year of pro ball, and now making it up to the big leagues.  He hasn’t flashed a tremendous amount of power, but has hit for good average and sprays the ball around  for a good amount of doubles.  His career minor league numbers (inluding stops from Low A all the way through AAA) show that he can produce, with a .287 AVG, 47 doubles, 16 homers, 111 RBI, 106 runs, and a .788 OPS in 215 career games (917 plate appearances).   If you’re in a dynasty, grab him now (if he’s available) as catchers are hard to come by.  In a redraft league…he’s not a must have player, but monitor his success at the plate and grab him if you need a solid option at catcher.

We all know about Yunel Escobar, shortstop for Atlanta.  He’s been playing regularly at that spot since 2007, and has a career .295 batting average.  He’s no sleeper, but a lot of people are sleeping on him.   Coming off a solid 2009 campaign (.299 AVG with 14 homers, 89 runs, and 76 RBI) most of us were expecting Yunel to be one of the more consistent fantasy producers at his position.  2010 started slowly, and by the end of April, Escobar was placed on the DL.  At the time, he was only batting .215 with a .561 OPS and the numbers were pretty ugly across the board.  Fast forward to May 15.  Fresh off the DL, we hoped to see a spike in his production, however by May 29, his average had dipped to .188 and things weren’t looking good.   As of May 30, however, Escobar has been on a tear.  In 43 at bats from May 30 through June 10, Escobar has managed 18 hits for a .418 average.  His numbers have risen (.246 average, .355 OBP) and it looks as though he’s found his swing.  He has yet to homer, but he does have 16 RBI and 20 runs scored, not to mention 5 stolen bases.

Looking at one of my Yahoo leagues today…I noticed that Alberto Callaspo (2B/3B) is rostered in 67 percent of their leagues – meaning he is on the waiver wire in 33 percent of Yahoo leagues. I’m guessing those of you reading the content on this site play in AT LEAST three leagues, which means Callaspo is probably available in one of them right now. I tell you that, so I can make the following point… If I were to ask you: “Who is the best hitter on Kansas City’s roster?” What would you say? I’m guessing almost all of you would instantly chime in with “Billy Butler.” Pretty solid answer. But not necessarily correct, especially when you take into consideration how many light hitting second basemen there are out there. Butler, while a fine hitter (and probably the better of the two over the long haul) is currently batting .335 with 5 home runs, 15 doubles, and an OPS of .867. Butler is most likely owned in 100% of the leagues you are in. Callaspo, on the other hand, is batting .292 with 7 home runs, 16 doubles, and an OPS of .809. Not too shabby…he’s got more extra base hits than Butler (and therefore has a higher SLG) and provides you position flexibility by qualifying at both 3B and 2B. Ranked by OPS, Callaspo is the 17th best player 3B and ranks 8th at 2B. He has continued the success from 2009, and is always putting the ball into play (only striking out in 9% of his at bats). Plug him into your lineup. You won’t be disappointed.

Since Texas Rangers promoted 1B phenom, Justin Smoak, from AAA Oklahoma City on 4/22, he's achieved some mixed results. The 11th overall selection of the '08 draft, the switch-hitting Smoak has garnered some comparison to Mark Teixeira and Chipper Jones and has exhibited some flashes of power. Although, on the opposite side of token Smoak is merely hitting .196 entering into 5/10, but has a 9-K/9-BB ratio out of 56 ABs, which proves that the 24 year-old has the makings to impact in OPS and OBP and should be a lock in SLG and all the other power hitting categories. Smoak showed signs of being a well-rounded offensive star throughout his 3-year career at the University of South Carolina and showed continued hints of his prowess during his quick rise in the Minors. Smoak is currently available in 82% of leagues and it's projected he will hit 18 HRs, 67 RBIs, .278 BA, .886 OPS, and .490 SLG. Expect Smoak to be ranked within the top-10 of 1B within the next 2-3 years since his ceiling is still extremely high.

Toronto Blue Jays southpaw starter, Brett Cecil, is currently under-the-radar by being available in around 80% of the leagues. Although, that will soon decrease especially after his most recent outing on 5/3 when Cecil took a perfect game into the 7th inning and ended-up with the following pitching line, 8 IP, 10 K/2 BB, 1-H, 1-R which lowered his ERA to 2.61. The 23 year-old throughout his collegiate career at U. of Maryland has been a solid strike-out pitcher and continued that during his 2-year Minor League career, but during his rookie campaign in '09 he tended to be wild at times. However, it seems at least thus far Cecil has developed more command and his window is extremely high. Within due time he will emerge as a top-15 starter, but that will not be for another 2-years, but he will benefit many in several categories, mainly K/9, WHIP, and BAA. Expect him to be 12-7, 3.21 ERA, 154 K/74 BB, 1.23 WHIP, and 2.12 BAA. Cecil will only continue to improve, so definitely grab him while you can.

Ike Davis has been highly rated since the New York Mets drafted him as the 18th over-all pick in the '08 draft and since his 4/19/10 promotion to the parent club has proved that he deserved that top billing. Davis has responded with 3 HRs (including 2 on 5/7), 8 RBI, .314 BA, .410 OBP, .569 SLG, .978 OPS, 29 TB in only 51 AB. Also what is encouraging is that he has only 1-K, but conversely only 1-BB, but it proves he has been effectively spraying the ball to all fields to generate his power which generally is a craft that several younger power hitters do not master so early on in their career. Davis began honing his skills at Arizona State University and continued on in that manner during his quick rise in the Mets farm system. To already have that well-rounded offense at a mere 23 years-old could bode well for him (if he sustains this type of production) to one day be compared to Albert Pujols, but obviously it is premature to make such a claim. Davis is available in around 80% of the leagues and could end-up with 20 HRs, 74 RBI, .305 BA, and within the top-10 in OBP/SLG/OPS. Definitely a player with an unlimited ceiling and could easily be a keeper by next year.

Phil Hughes has been highly recognized since his days at Foothill High School in Santa Ana, California and also during his collegiate career at Santa Clara University as being a starting pitcher with immense talent, but the ultimate question since being drafted 23rd overall in the '04 draft was that would he manage to survive the intense scrutiny of pitching in the Big Apple? Well, he's since proved himself fully capable and now within the first month of the '10 campaign has shown that he's finally fully arrived by posting a 2-0 record, 2.00 ERA, and entering into 4/27 start, he had a 0.89 WHIP, and a .100 BAA. Hughes' arsenal consists of 91–96 mph four-seam fastball, 87-90 mph two-seam fastball, a 86–88 mph cutter, a knuckle curveball that drops to 75 mph, and is in the process of currently perfecting a change-up to add to his vast array. Hughes more than likely is available in 30% of your leagues and should easily win anywhere between 15-18 games, a 2.65 ERA, 170 Ks/75 BBs, and a .235 BAA. Hughes is definitely someone to keep tabs on between now and the regular season and should eventually become the Yankees ace for many years to come.

Chicago Cubs 24 year-old rookie phenom, Tyler Colvin, continues to flourish at a high level to the extent that Lou Pinella tries very creatively to get Colvin into their starting line-up on a daily basis. Colvin has capitalized thus far on every opportunity by living-up to what he demonstrated during his three-years at Clemson. Colvin should finish '10 with 12 HRs, 65 RBIs, 15-20 SBs, .315 BA, and .860 OPS. The main concern is that he tends to K at a high rate. The only issue is whether or not Colvin will continue to make it into the Cubs line-up daily, but he certainly will produce at a high level despite if his playing time being somewhat limited. He is though someone who is definitely worth monitoring for next year and beyond.

When Detroit sent highly regarded All Star CF, Curtis Granderson, to the Big Apple, several Tiger fans immediately rebuked the move, but they overlooked one of the key components they were receiving in return, which was the extremely touted Yankee OF prospect, Austin Jackson. No one expected the 23 year-old phenom to get off to this to such a hot start, thus far he's hitting .316, 1-HR, 6-RBI, 3/4 SB attempts, .840 OPS. The only area of concern is 30 Ks/7 BBs, but he should improve on that in due time. Jackson should be available in 70%+ of your leagues and he should also impact in both doubles and triples because of the vast expanses of Comerica Park. Jackson is currently hitting lead-off and and has a tremendous amount of poise in the role for someone as young as he is. Expect him to hit 16 HRs, 72 RBIs, .321 BA, .835 OPS, and 25-30 SBs. He easily can become the AL ROY and make people say..."Granderson, who?"

Doug Fister is definitely one of those "under-the radar" type pitchers that is paying big dividends for any team that has picked him up the FA list. The 26 y/o RH has flourished to start the '10 season with a 2-1 record, 13 K/5 BB, 1.67 ERA, 0.93 WHIP, and am ever so impressive .208 BAA. Will he continue at such an amazing clip? Probably not, don't expect a major drop-off. He is very polished for a pitcher who has less than a year of ML experience since he features a FB that ranges 87-90 MPH, a 80-82 MPH change-up, and an over-hand curve that levels around 70-74 MPH. Not too many pitchers can boast that in their arsenal and he's been using that effectively. He's more than likely available in 85% of the leagues and could easily be 12-5, 3.24 ERA, 134 Ks/78 BBs...Not bad for someone who is somewhat of a virtual unknown at this time.

Ubaldo Jimenez back on 4/17/10 had a career defining game after no-hitting the Atlanta Braves which was the Rockies first no-hitter in their franchise's 18-year history. Some may ponder if Jimenez is merely a "No (One) Hit Wonder"? The resounding answer is absolutely not! Jimenez is 3-0, 1.29 ERA, 20/10 K/BB, and a 1.19 WHIP. This hot start isn't a fluke based on how he has excelled over the past 2-seasons (first listed '09 & '08) while posting 15-12 and 12-12 records respectively, 3.47 and 3.99 ERA, 198/85 and 172/103, 1.23 WHIP, and 1.43 WHIP... Jimenez has proven tremendous progress over the past couple seasons without no signs of slowing down. By 2012 he easily can be w/in the top-10 starters due to the fact that he should average 18 victories, 209 KS, with a 2.85 ERA. It wouldn't be shocking if Jimenez ends-up w/in the top-5 of CY balloting by season's end. To reiterate, his no-hitter wasn't a mirage, it's symbolic that he's now on the right path to among the elite.

Chris Young has probably been the "feel good" story to start the '10 regular season. Young exhibited future super stardom potential during his first full ML season in \'07 when he hit 32 HR/68 RBIs/27 SBs/85 Runs that he was drawing comparisons to the modern day elite CFs. He followed-up that season w/a decent showing in \'08 with 22 HRs/85 RBIs/14 SBs/and 85 Runs. Noticeable are the omitted stats of BA, OPs, and OB, and K/BB which were all subpar, but the main reason why was that he was constantly being switched in the line-up, anywhere from lead-off to 8th...He couldn\'t find a comfort zone. Last year, he was so horrid that he was demoted after the all-star break to AAA Reno, but was fired-up and he went a major hot streak to end the \'09 campaign... Well, so far in \'10 he\'s continued where he finished off...He\'s now batting in the more comfortable 7th spot in the line-up....Has 3 hrs, 11-RBIs, and most importantly batting .292. More than likely he\'s available in 50% of any league, so he\'s definitely someone to pick up now that should pay heavy dividends for the duration of '10 and beyond...

With Brad Lidge on the mend, the Phillies have recently anointed Ryan Madson as their closer as they usher '10. Madson has somewhat imploded in that role before (while blowing 19 saves out of 34 opportunities), so what makes it certain that startling trend won't continue? Mainly it's because Madson has improved his curveball over the past two seasons and is just maturing mentally and physically as well. Plus, he has the seasoned Danys Baez preventing Madson becoming complacent, so it's essentially Madson's job to lose at this time. If he so happens fails as the closer, he's effective in leagues which includes Holds as a category since Madson posts several of those throughout his career. Madson is currently w/in the 4th tier of closers, but with more confidence he can leapfrog several echelons. Especially with the Phillies poised to win the NL East again, expect Madson to accumulate 34 saves and leaving all his detractors in the dust.

Dan Hudson may be beginning the ’10 campaign at the White Sox AAA home in Charlotte, but that does not necessarily signal that he won’t play a major role in their rotation by mid-June. Hudson while pitching collegiate ball for Old Dominion University attracted attention of the White Sox scouts when he finished 2nd all-time in career Ks with 295 in 292 innings pitched. Hudson showed some glimpses of that last season during his September call-up while he reached into his back of tricks with his 2 and 4 seam fastballs (which he mixes up velocity effectively) and his top-notch change-up and slider. That is all impressive for a pitcher who just turned 23 to already have four pitches in his arsenal and the uncanny ability to switch speeds without any hesitation. Hudson is a power strike-out pitcher who is very much in control, he will soon be beneficial to leagues that include K/BB and K/9 and WHIP stats. He is a pitcher that will be certainly worth monitoring and plucking off waivers.

At the youthful age of 16, the Caracas, Venezuela native, Elvis Andrus catapulted himself into the Rookie League back in ’05 with extreme aplomb. Andrus quickly ascended in the Braves organization, but his path was blocked at the time by both Edgar Renteria and Yunel Escobar. Therefore, he became the cornerstone player in the ’07 Braves and Rangers trade that sent Mark Teixeira to Atlanta. Since then, Andrus has continued his amazing climb when the Rangers purchased his contract from the Minors on 4/5/09 and he instantly demonstrated his biggest attribute. His SPEED. Andrus ended-up successful 33 out of 39 SB attempts. Some may question why he didn’t have more attempts at such a high conversion rate? Simply that he hit .267, walked only 40 times, with very low OPS/OBP. We all must not overlook that he was merely 20 years-old for most of last season. What is amazing is that Andrus' Minor League stats are relatively comparable to HanRam's and we all know what became of him!!

Andrew McCutchen has received a lot of hype during Spring Training and everyone should definitely take note and jump on his bandwagon. Especially since it has been recently revealed by Pirates manager, John Russell, plans on switching McCutchen from the lead-off spot to #2 in order so he can generate more RBI opportunities. Last year at the mere age of 22, McCutchen finished in 4th place for the NL RoY with a stellar blend of speed and power and it is safe to say that his upside is unlimited. The slick RH hitting OF advanced quickly w/in the Pirates organization and has exhibited along the way 20/40 potential. The only knock on him is that he must improve on his patience at the plate, but will come with more experience facing ML pitching. Expect McCutchen to hit 15-HRs, 82 RBIs, .306 BA, with 36 SBs, but for him to increase his production in all of those categories as his career progresses on further. Definitely a steal anywhere below the 7th round.

To update my original entry on Francisco Liriano, Twins manager, Rod Gardenhire, announced that Liriano will remain in the Twins rotation opposed to being considered as a replacement for Joe Nathan. Liriano is still a major enigma, especially since he possesses a nasty biting slider, varied-speed fastballs, and an ever so improving change-up. Obviously, durability is the key issue, but Liriano will be nursed along as the Twins 5th starter, but he's still an impact pitcher in WHIPs, K/9, and K/BB ratio categories. There is absolutely no doubt that he can revert back to his pre-Tommy John surgery form in which he was mentioned as both potential AL RoY and CY candidate. He can easily win between 12-16 games while maintaining an ERA around 3.55. He would be a solid pick between the 10th-13th round with tremendous upside. Bear in mind, Liriano shouldn't be completely ruled-out as becoming the Twins, so 10+ saves along w/10+ holds can be realistic as well.

Luke Hochevar’s professional career has indeed gotten off to a tumultuous start, not unlike the chaotic process that brought him into the big leagues in the first place. Originally drafted by the Dodgers in 2002, Hochevar declined this option to pitch for the University of Tennessee instead. He went on to have a very successful college career, culminating in 2005 with a 15-3 record, an ERA of 2.26, Whip of 1.13 and 154 strikeouts in 139 innings. He was then selected by the Dodgers once again in the 2005 amateur draft, but couldn’t reach an agreement. Finally, in 2006, the Royals made him the #1 selection and he began his professional career at the age of 22. Now 26, Hochevar has turned into somewhat of an enigma, with an accumulated 5.88 ERA, 1.47 WHIP over three major league seasons. Also surprising is how his K per rate has fallen from over 8 during his minor league seasons, to 5.8 at the major-league level. Hochevar has pretty good stuff, with a fastball that can reach the mi

After getting the call in early May 2009 it took a little while for the 24 year-old Chris Coghlan to make an impression for the Marlins. He had a rough May, batting an anemic .212 in that month. By the All-Star break, he was hitting just .245, with 2 HRs and 4 SBs, and many fantasy teams had given up hope at that point. For those with patience, Coghlan went on to show significant improvement after the break, proceeding to hit .372, with 7 HRs and adding another 4 SBs in the second half of the 2009 season. He earned the NL rookie of the year award for his efforts, and now enters the 2010 season as the starting left-fielder for Florida. Coghlan’s minor league history suggests that we probably shouldn’t expect much improvement over his 2009 BA and HR numbers, but he does seem to have untapped 20 SB potential that failed to emerge last year. With his ADP still hovering around the 18th round area, Coghlan makes a solid player to add as your 4th or 5th fantasy outfielder in 2010.

Jair Jurrjens continues to be among the long line of Braves starters who capitalizes at pitching at the expanses of Turner Field. Jurrjens is a pitcher’s pitcher in the sense that he knows how to keep opposing hitters constantly off-balance with his wicked cutter and fastballs that he varies in speed effectively. Jurrjens over the past two seasons has issued 11 and 15 HRs respectively and has very polished command. He’s not necessarily an explosive strike-out pitcher, but only allowed 75 BBs in 215 innings. Jurrjens was at his best during the 2nd half of last season when he went 7-3, 74 Ks/31 BBs, a sparkling 2.24 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, and amazing .230 BAA. Jurrjens does have enough upside at 24 years-old to eventually became the Braves “Ace”. He ideally can be a steal around the 6th-7th round with tremendous returns. Expect him to have net 16 victories, a 2.56 ERA, and 160/90 K/BB Ratio.

Conor Jackson is another potential candidate for Comeback Player of the Year. His ’09 season abruptly ended as soon as it began due to an extensive battle with Valley Fever which virtually depleted him of any stamina and strength. He’s since now completely overcome the malady and poises to have a break through season hitting in the upper 3rd of the Arizona Dbacks line-up. Jackson throughout his collegiate career at University of CA and during his stint in the Minors flourished as an excellent contact hitter. He’s compiled some respectable stats during his first 3 seasons at the Major League level, but Jackson still hasn’t realized his full potential. Plate discipline has always been his main asset, he seldom strikes out and walks quite a bit for someone who sprays the ball all over the field. He’s very capable of compiling 20 HRs, 82 RBIs, a .320 BA, 850 OPS, and swiping 15-20 SBs. He could be a steal in the 10th-15th round in deeper drafts.

Before his breakout season last year, 28 year old Garrett Jones seemed destined to languish as a career minor leaguer. Originally drafted by the Braves in 1999, Jones was shipped off to the Twins organization a few years later, and didn’t begin to show his power potential until 2004 when he hit 30 HRs for Minnesota’s AA affiliate that year. Still, up until last year, Jones had compiled just a .258 average during his time in the minors, and doubts remained about his ability to consistently handle major league pitching. After a trade to the Pirates in 2009, Jones received his first opportunity of significant playing time when the team traded Nyjer Morgan to the Nationals. He responded with 10 HRs and a .310 BA during the month of July, and finished the season with 21 HRs and a .293 average in 314 at-bats. It remains to be seen if Jones can follow through in 2010, and his .208 BA against left-handers last year is a concern, but he should represent a decent source of mixed-league p

A very consistent fantasy option during the 2007 and 2008 seasons, Tampa Bay’s James Shields fell victim to an uncharacteristically substandard second half in 2009, ending the year with a disappointing 4.14 ERA, and only 11 wins. While he started the2009 season looking like the reliable pitcher we had become accustomed to, with 6 wins a 3.42 ERA and a Whip of 1.26 through the All-Star break, his 2nd half ERA 5.16 was an unpleasant surprise for fantasy owners. As a consequence, his fantasy value has taken a significant hit in 2010, with his ADP dropping from the 7th round in 2009 to about the 11th round in most recent 2010 drafts. Shields is never going to overwhelm hitters with his 90 MPH fastball, but it’s his skill in combining this pitch with his excellent 80 MPH change-up and impressive control that makes him effective. Slated to be the Rays opening day starter, Shields seems undervalued and is a likely rebound candidate to target in fantasy drafts this year.

Rickie Weeks was primed to be the best middle IF prospect with the “Brew Crew” since Robin Yount bursted onto the scene, however, Weeks has been constantly plagued by injuries which has stunted his progress. 2003’s 2nd over-all pick, along with the distinction of being Baseball America magazine's College Player of the Year and Golden Spikes Award winner after his junior year at Southern University with all that potential could have easily been mentioned in the same breath as a Chase Utley or Dustin Pedrioa at their respected position. Weeks got off to an amazing start last year with 9-hrs, 24-RBI in the first 36 0games, but a left-wrist injury abruptly ended his season. Weeks thus far during the Exhibition season has picked-up where he left off after that incredible start with a .429 BA, 3 BBs, and 2 SBs. He can easily be this year’s Comeback Player of the Year, but the obvious question is….Will he finally remain fully healthy for the rigours of a 162 game season.

The San Francisco Giants starters should be picking up those “Good Vibrations” each and every time closer Brian Wilson approaches the mound to slam the door on their opponents. Wilson for the past couple seasons has been extremely solid since become the Giants closer and he should only get better. Poised with his excellent 4-seam fastball which is registers 96.6 MPH on a regular basis and a biting slider, Wilson is destined to improve on his 38-save total from last year. The main factor which stands-out for Wilson is ability of not giving-up the long-ball and the amount of Ks he amasses while not needing to pitch an over abundance of innings in the process. Wilson is a top-10 closer and has major potential to advance further among the ranks. Definitely expect him to record 43 saves, a K/BB ratio of 94/25 and a 2.45 ERA. He more than likely should revert back to his ’08 All Star status and beyond.

Max Scherzer has already been penciled in as the Detroit Tigers #2 starter (behind Justin Verlander) and this move could ultimately backfire. Scherzer epitomizes the ideal back-end of the rotation starter or some have any projected that he would make the ideal closer since he can clock 100+ MPH on the radar gun with the best of them. Scherzer main setback has been his pitch-count. He typically has issues going beyond the 5th inning because he hasn’t developed an effective change-up or any other type of off-speed pitch to complement his explosive fastball. He might actually benefit from pitching in half of his game’s at the pitching friendly Comerica Park, but he’ll be facing those veteran savvy DH’ers who will be more receptive in swinging earlier in the count. Therefore, he might surrender more “gopher balls” than he has in past years. If you have K/9 as part of your league’s pitching statistics, then Scherzer would benefit you immensely. 9th rounder and nothing higher.

Denard Span path to “the Show” was blocked for seven years by the Twins gluttony of talented outfielders, however, Span fully seized his opportunity and is living up to the rave reviews that he received during his progression through the Minors. Span can cover all three OF positions very effectively and is the ideal lead-off hitter since he is much disciplined. The only knock is that he doesn’t generate much power, but he compensates for that how precision he is at spraying the ball to all fields. One of the more impressive developments of Span, a left-handed hitter fared vs. left-handed pitching. He compiled a .330 BA, .473 SLG, and .877 OPS vs southpaws, which is actually better than he did vs. right-handed pitching. He should be targeted by the 10th-15th round, however, by season’s end his value should far exceed that. Expect Span to hit .315, 15-Hrs, 72-RBIs, with 31 SBs, and .818 OPS.

Drafted by the San Francisco Giants in 2003, David Aardsma progressed rapidly to the AAA, where he was being groomed as the clubs future closer. In 2004, he saved 11 games for AAA Fresno, but struggled with his control. That same year, he made it to the Giants, but continued to have trouble pitching strikes in his limited debut. From 2005-2008, Aardsma bounced between the minor and major league teams of 4 different organizations with erratic results. After seizing the closer assignment for Seattle in 2009, the 27 year old pitcher was finally able to produce a noteworthy season, with 28 saves, an ERA of 2.52 and a WHIP of 1.164. Aardsma has decent stuff, and his pitch selection/velocity is almost identical to Boston's Jonathan Papelbon. Both pitchers mix in a splitfinger fastball and slider while primarily relying on a 94-95 MPH fastball. Aardsma's 4.3 walks per nine innings wasn't awful in 2009, but the biggest potential liability associated with him remains the possible reeme

It's safe to say the Angels look like geniuses after replacing the uber-expensive Mark Teixeira with farmhand Kendry Morales last year. That transition could not have worked out better, as Morales finished up his first season as the Angels new first-baseman with 34 HRs, 109 RBIs and an impressive .306 BA. Before 2009, Morales had exhibited 30 HR power in the minors, but it had never translated to expected performance when he was called up major league auditions during those years. Morales obviously quieted all doubts concerning his abilities last season, and looked especially good after the All-Star break, when he hit .330 with 19 HRs compared to .284 with 15 HRs in the first half. While there are always doubts and risk inherent with young players who generate sparkling fantasy numbers seemingly out of nowhere, when you consider his second half performance along with his minor league resume, Morales looks to be a legitimate rising star.

Brandon Webb might begin the '10 campaign on the DL, but he's still a considered a low risk/high reward draft pick. Putting more emphasis on “high reward” potential since Webb is 4-seasons removed from his stellar CY Young award campaign. True, he is coming off season ending shoulder surgery on his pitching arm, but Webb never depended on velocity to dominate in the vast confines of Chase Field. Webb’s always been known as a ground-ball pitcher and should even have more confidence in using his stellar sinker with the Dbacks immensely improved defense all working behind him. By season end Webb should be good for 12 victories, 150 Ks/66 BBs, with an ERA around 3.36. Also, another matter to take into consideration is that this is Webb’s contract year, so he’ll be even motivated further to prove that he’s back to the CY Young form he exhibited from ’06-’08, not the Webb who was marred by an ailment that several highly regarded surgeons had difficulty diagnosing.

Curtis Granderson already made a huge splash for himself with his explosive triple and subsequently scoring the game winning run in last year’s All Star game….Now, the question is how will he handle the intense scrutiny of playing in the Big Apple? Granderson should pass that test with flying colors since he’s among the most well-balanced players on and off the field. As the Bronx Bombers potential lead-off hitter, expect Granderson to see better pitch selection than he did during his four full years adorning the Detroit Tigers jersey. It wouldn’t be shocking to see him reach the 30/30 plateau, while clubbing 40 doubles along with 12 triples, especially due to the fact that he’s playing in a better hitter’s friendly park compared to that albatross called Comerica Park. Also, anticipate better OBS and slugging percentage. He should be a perennial all-star LF for the Yankees and will cause several of their legion of fans to begin asking Damon and Matsui who?

Matt Wieters was a very prolific offensive machine during his collegiate career at Georgia Tech and he continued in that vein during his quick ascendance in the Baltimore Orioles organization. Now poised to begin his 1st full Major League season, the well balanced switch hitting Wieters by the end of the ’10 season should be the only name to follow Joe Mauer as the highest elite catcher in all of baseball. Wieters is more than capable to continue at the torrid clip he did during the 2nd half of last season when he accumulated 6 hrs, 33 RBIs, and a respectable .301 batting average. Wieters only weakness was a high K/BB ratio, but he should benefit immeasurably by having Adam Jones and Miguel Tejeda protecting him in the line-up. Wieters more than likely at this time should be the 7th over-all catcher selected in the draft, however, has the highest ceiling compared to those who are slotted just above him. Expect him to amass 25-hrs, 97-rbis, and a .290 BA, while improving in OBP.

Scott Sizemore was relatively quiet during his first three years in the minors, compiling a .289 average and only 11 HRs in 248 games over the 2006-2008 timeframe. In 2009, after reaching the Tigers AA affiliate at the age of 24, Sizemore turned his game up a notch, hitting .307 with 9 HRs in only 59 games. After his promotion to the AAA level, Sizemore continued his offensive surge hitting another 8 HRs while maintaining a .308 average through 71 games at Toledo. Along with his good average, and recent HR power, Sizemore also offers some speed on the base paths, notching 58 steals in 378 career minor league games. With Placido Polanco being shipped out of Detroit this past offseason, and only the light-hitting Ramon Santiago seemingly in his way, Scott Sizemore has an opportunity to capture significant playing time for the Tigers at 2nd base in 2010. You should be able to snag Sizemore past the 25th round in your fantasy draft as a solid sleeper pick.

While fellow left-hander David Price received more publicity in 2009, it was Oakland's rookie Brett Anderson who ended up looking like the more accomplished rookie pitcher. Originally drafted in the 2nd round by the Arizona Diamondbacks, Anderson was traded to the A's in 2008, and had only 6 starts at the AA level before joining Oakland’s rotation in 2009. The 21-year old didn't disappoint, compiling 11 victories with 150 K's in 30 starts. Most encouraging was the rookie's ability to improve in the 2nd half of the season, lowering his ERA from 4.64 to 3.48, and his WHIP from 1.37 to 1.19 in the 2nd half. Anderson consistently throws strikes and his fastball is usually seen in the 92-93 MPH range. He also mixes in an effective 80 MPH slider about 30% of the time, and rounds out his arsenal with an excellent curve and solid changeup. Anderson generally pitches to contact, but still generated 7.7 K/9 while walking just 2.3 batters per 9 innings in 2009.

SP Stephen Strasburg (WAS) – One of the most anticipated pitching prospects to come along in recent memory, Stephen Strasburg certainly appears to have the talent to match the accolades that have been showered on him since the Washington Nationals made him the #1 pick in the 2009 amateur draft. Anyway you chose to look at his pitching performance at San Diego State, the numbers are gaudy. Last season, he went 13-1 with an ERA of 1.32, striking out 195 batters in 109 innings. His career WHIP in college ball is just under .80, and he once struck-out 23 batters in a single game. His fastball has been clocked as high as an obscene 103 MPH, and he consistently throws in the high-90's with superb control and good location. Strasburg complements his heater with a hybrid curve/slider breaking pitch that typically freezes hitters, and his recent development of a change-up makes his arsenal even more imposing. For fantasy purposes, Strasburg is well worth a pick in his current 20th round

2B/SS/3B Gordon Beckham (CWS) -A standout college middle infielder at the University of Georgia, Gordan Beckham was selected by White Sox in with the 8th pick in the 2008 amateur entry draft. This was also the year that scouts really began taking notice of Beckham, when he ultimately ended up leading the SEC in hits, slugging percentage and homeruns (28). The stocky SS also finished 2nd in the league with a .411 average that year, while displaying some skills on the basepaths with 17 swipes . During his brief stay in the minors, Beckham didn't show much power or speed, but made enough contact to generate a .322 BA in 59 games. Called up in June last year, Beckham started off slow, but ended up batting .270 with strong power/speed numbers that translate into 22 HRs/11 SBs over 162 games. Beckham's 8th round ADP in early baseball drafts seems a bit high, but if he qualifies at 2B/SS this could be a fair price to pay for a middle infielder with 20 HR potential.

Jason Heyward entered the Braves farm system at the precocious age of 17, advancing rapidly to a limited AAA level audition at the age of 19 in 2009. Considered by many scouts to represent the best pure hitting prospect in the 2010 prospective big-league class, Heyward will be given a fair chance by the Braves to win the right-field job out of Spring Training. Judging from his minor league career, the left-side hitting Heyward has demonstrated an uncanny ability to hit almost equally well against both left and left-handed pitching. Through last year, Heyward had a .318 minor league average, while showing the type of power and speed that projects him as a possible 20HR/20SB player once he reaches the majors. Also working in Heyward’s favor is his strong work ethic, and the fact that he is an exceptional fielder with a strong arm. In early drafts, the aspiring right-fielder is going in the 24th round, but that will no doubt change if he gets the call on Opening Day.

Wade Davis isn’t the type of pitcher who overwhelms you with his stuff, but he was an effective pitcher at the minor league level, and he continued to impress when he got the call for a major league audition in September last year. In fact when you compare his minor league numbers compiled over 6 seasons (3.28 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 3.3 BB/9, 8.7 K/9) to his composite stats over his six major league starts in late 2009 (3.72 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, 3.2 BB/9, 8.9 K/9), they are remarkably similar. Especially encouraging was Davis’s ability to sustain his minor league trend of avoiding the longball. In 36 innings with the Rays he gave up only two HRs, and 14% of the flyballs hit off the 24 year-old righty turned into harmless infield outs. Davis primarily throws a 92 MPH fastball, but perhaps his best pitch is his 75 MPH, big-breaking curveball. The rookie makes an excellent fantasy pitcher to add in the late rounds of your mixed league draft.

The path to notoriety as a reputable power hitter certainly wasn’t smooth for Adam Lind, but after three previous tries at the major-league level the young slugger finally settled in and produced an impressive stat line, finishing the 2009 season with 35 HRs, 114 RBI with a batting average of .305. Lind had always been a standout hitter in the minors, showing good patience at the plate, and ultimately finishing with a very respectable .318 BA, and 55 HRs over 419 minor league games. However, what was most surprising about Lind’s terrific season last year, is that he had never shown 35 HR power before. For example, his minor league stats translated into about 22 HRs per season, while his pre-2009 major league numbers suggested 18 HRs over 162 games. If you are going to draft Lind this year, it will likely cost you a 4th round pick, but it may be realistic to expect a slight drop in HR’s to the 25-30 level.

Leo Nunez pretty much inherited the Marlin’s closer position out of default in 2009, but the results were generally good across the board - 26 saves, an ERA of 4.06, a WHIP of 1.25 and a .230 BAA. This of course is not to say that Nunez can now be considered a top-tier reliable closer, as he did have 7 blown saves last year. However, with the ability to hurl in the mid-90’s, and his ability to throw with decent control, he is off to a good start. The Marlins unloaded their 2009 opening day closer Matt Lindstrom in the offseason, and although they did recently sign Derrick Turnbow, Nunez enters 2010 as the clear favorite to close games for Florida. The really good news for fantasy purposes is that Nunez seems like one of the better values in drafts this year. He is currently being taken in about the 19th round, right after closers like Matt Capps and Kerry Wood.

Following his callup by the Padres in July 2009, Mat Latos proceeded to notch 4 victories over his first 5 starts, including a one-hitter against the Reds in late July. Over these impressive 5 games Latos had an ERA of 2.43, a WHIP of .95, and was striking out about 7 batters per nine innings. Unfortunately, the 22 right-hander wasn’t able to keep up pace in 2009, ending the season with a 4-5 record and an ERA 4.62, but don’t let this discourage you from taking a chance on this promising young pitcher in your draft. Latos throws with good control, featuring a fastball in the 95 MPH range, and possesses excellent complimentary pitches with good movement. During his time in the minors, Latos showed steady progress, culminating in a 2009 performance where he finished with an ERA of 1.37, and a WHIP of only .747. Latos is currently going in about the 25th round in fantasy drafts.

After his last couple disappointing seasons with Atlanta, it’s easy to forget Jeff Francoeur’s auspicious rookie season back in 2005, when he hit 14 HRs in only 70 games. He followed up his 2005 rookie debut with a 29 HR campaign in 2006, and although his homeruns dropped to 15 in 2007, he still delivered over 100 RBIs for Braves that year. In 2008, Francoeur reached the lowpoint of his young career, batting just .239 with 11 HRs in 155 games. Right before the Braves gave up on the once promising power hitter in 2009 and traded him to the Mets, he was lumbering through another mediocre season, with just 5 HRs and a .250 average through 82 games. While he is clearly no sure thing entering 2010, it is encouraging that Francoeur hit .311 with 10 HRs in 75 games with the Mets last year, and seems like a great value in the late rounds of fantasy drafts.

Chris Davis was a revelation for the Texas Rangers last year, hitting .285 with 17 HRs and 55 RBIs in just 295 ABs after getting called up from the minors in late June. Not surprisingly, the 22 year-old corner infielder began the season as a trendy early round pick in fantasy baseball drafts. Fantasy managers are probably not very pleased with that investment now, as the Rangers decided to send him back down to minors on July 6th after watching his batting average drop to .202. If there is any one area where Davis regressed most this year, it has been his strikeout rate. While over his minor league career, he exhibited a strikeout rate of once every 4 ABs, in 2009 he was at an alarming rate of one K in every 2 Abs. The good news is that Davis’s 2009 troubles are probably just a minor setback, and it would not be surprising to see him back up in the majors soon showing the 35 HR power, and .280-.290 BA he is capable of.

The much anticipated 2009 major-league appearance of Clay Buchholtz is expected to transpire right after the All-Star break. Unfortunately, the Red Sox top-pitching prospect may not have a chance to unpack his bags, as it is suspected that the Red Sox only desire to have a 6th starter to help out in case Josh Beckett and Tim Wakefield see extensive action in the All-Star game. Nonetheless, Buchholtz is worthy of speculative fantasy attention in the event that he pitches well and the club decides to replace John Smoltz and/or Brad Penny in the starting rotation. Buchholtz has had an exceptional minor league career, and he has continued his dominance this year at AAA Pawtucket with a 7-2 record to go along with his 2.36 ERA and amazing Whip of just .98. While Buchholtz is best known for his outstanding curveball, he effectively keeps hitters off-balance with an impressive assortment of pitches , including a 92-94 fastball, a decent slider, a straight and a circle changeup.

With a .287 career average and 182 HRs coming into this season, Raul Ibanez has always been a productive hitter, but certainly noone expected him to explode for 22 HRs and 59 RBIs with a .312 average over the first 62 games of 2009. Unfortunately, Ibanez’s renaissance season came to a screeching halt on June 18th when he landed on the DL with a groin injury. The good news is that the recent results of an MRI allayed original fears of a more severe problem, so Ibanez could potentially return in early July. The bad news is that everyone has seemingly forgotten that the Phillies left-fielder is 37 years old, and that his previous season high homerun total is 33. It’s difficult to undermine his accomplishments in 2009, but unless you believe that Ibanez can continue hitting at his currently torrid projected 54 homerun pace, it might be prudent to entertain some trade offers while his fantasy value is still extremely high.

Used mostly as a part-timer last season, Ben Zobrist offered a glimpse of his fantasy potential with 5 HRs and a .321 average in the month of September 2008. In 2009, Zobrist has become one of the seasons breakout players, already accumulating 11 HRs (3 grandslams), 33 RBI, 6 SB with a solid .299 BA, and an outstanding OBP of .416. While he never demonstrated the type of power he is showing now down in the farm system, his stolen base and batting average numbers should come as no surprise, as he totaled 58 SBs with a .318 BA over 4 minor league seasons. The other thing to like about Zobrist is his versatility - he is an accomplished switch-hitter, and can play multiple field positions. In terms of position eligibility, he has mostly been used at 2B recently, but has typically gained eligibility at both SS and OF positions for 2009, making him especially valuable for fantasy purposes.

He is owned in a surprising 75% of all CBS leagues, so it’s apparent that many fantasy owners are still patiently awaiting the arrival of Braves potential ace Tommy Hanson. In the meantime, Hanson is certainly going about his business with flair down at the Triple AAA Gwinnett, where he has tallied a 1.49 ERA, a WHIP of 0.862, and has been striking out batters at a rate of 12.2 per 9 innings. The young righty has already demonstrated an advanced repertoire of pitches, which includes a top-notch curveball, a change-up, slider and a fastball that tops out in the mid-90’s. There has been speculation that the Braves have resisted calling up Hanson to keep him under the arbitration threshold for 2-3 year players. If this is the case, we may see Hanson soon, as a call-up after June 1st will keep his service time this year under the 130 days that typically has qualified players for ‘Super 2’ status.

Trevor Cahill is a talented young pitcher who primarily throws an effective assortment of 4-seam and 2-seam fastballs. He does not exactly light up the radar gun, topping out at around 92-93 MPH, but he skillfully changes speeds, locates his pitches well, and has terrific sinking action on his 2-seamer. When things are going right for Cahill, he is hoaxing batters into futile swings at balls in the dirt, or inducing them into harmless groundouts. Although sinker ballers are not usually known for their strikeout ability, Cahill was actually striking out 10 batters per 9 innings during his short minor league career. His other numbers down on the farm were not too shabby either, with 22 wins in 42 starts, a 2.68 ERA, and an impressively trifling WHIP of 1.089. The former 2nd round pick has had only two bad outings in the majors so far (4/24 and 5/17) , but he has been otherwise exceptional, going at least 5 innings and yielding 2 earned runs or less in his six other 2009 starts.

After signing a 5 year $44 million deal with the Dodgers before the 2007 season, Juan Pierre pretty much delivered what was expected of a base-swiping lead-off hitter, with a .293 average, a decent OBP of .331 and 64 stolen bases. In 2008 however, Pierre became somewhat expendable in the crowed Los Angeles outfield, appearing in only 119 games. Nonetheless, Pierre still managed 40 stolen bases in his abbreviated 2008 season, so he has proven to be fantasy relevant even in a limited role. In the aftermath of the Manny Ramirez 50 game suspension, Juan Pierre once again becomes an interesting fantasy prospect. He has been primary substitute for Ramirez thus far, accumulating 9 hits in 16 Abs, with 2 stolen bases, and even 4 RBIs over the past 4 games. While we shouldn’t expect many more RBIs, Pierre should be able to help your team considerably in the stolen base category, while maintaining a decent average around .285.

It had been stated many times going into the 2009 season - Matt Holliday might have a difficult time adapting to his new Oakland address after being traded from Colorado. With only one week remaining in April, some fantasy owners are surely wishing that they had heeded this seemingly prescient prognostication. Holliday does currently lead the A’s in RBIs with 10, but the fact that he is batting just .254 with zero HRs and zero stolen bases can only be described as a serious performance malaise. So what might be the worst case scenario for Holliday this season? On one hand, there is no denying Holliday’s rare talent, not many players possess the quick bat and consistent, powerful swing of the A’s leftfielder. However, based on Holliday’s historical performance away from his former Corr’s homefield before 2009, it might be best to temper expectations down to about a .285 BA, with 20 HRs, 80 RBI and hopefully 15-20 SBs.

Zimmermann is clearly the top prospect in the Nationals organization at this time. He showed what he is capable of in his major league debut last week. He went 6 innings and gave up two runs, with throwing only 72 pitches. He could have pitched two more innings if they wanted him to. Thats pretty impressive in a major league debut if you ask me. Oh and by the way many people think he is already the \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\"Ace\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\" of the staff. This 22 year-old is ready to make a run at the rookie of the year award. My only concern is the Nationals may not let him pitch over 150 innings. Otherwise he will bring solid production all year long to your team in his rookie season. How bout that for an SP sitting on your waiver wire. Grab him while you can!

Playing time isn't an issue right now for the Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder, but it soon could be. His fast start has made him a popular pickup for cheap steals. With a pair of doubles, a pair of triples and eight RBI in his first 12 games, it might look like he is developing some power too, similar to teammate Nate McClouth last season. But don't be fooled. Morgan has one career home run. His fantasy value is his ability to steal bases, which he has done well. Even though Morgan's career batting average is above .300, he rarely walks, so his on-base percentage isn't exceptional. Once the hits don't fall in, he isn't going to be on base as often, and he isn't going to be able to steal. In addition, the Pirates' top prospect, Andy McCutchen, is off to a strong start in the minors. Morgan would make an excellent fourth outfielder once McCutchen is ready to play every day in the majors. Enjoy the production he is bringing you now, as it may not last long. Sell high while you can.

Heading into the 2009 season there has been much apprehension about Cole Hamels elbow inflammation dilemma, a problem that caused the young right-hander to miss the majority of spring training, and also his opening day assignment. Unfortunately, as he returned to the mound on April 10th, he did nothing to alleviate concerns about his health, yielding an exorbitant 11 hits, and 7 earned runs in just 3.2 innings. Indeed, despite his back to back exemplary seasons in 2007 and 2008 where he totaled 29 wins with outstanding ratios (3.22 ERA, 1.10 WHIP over the past 2 years), Hamels has had a minor history of elbow problems. Most recently, he missed one month of the 2007 season with a mild strain, so hopefully this is similar situation and he will get back on track soon. Keep an eye on Hamels pitch velocity for a clue on his recovery, he normally should be around 90 MPH on his fastball.

If not for a dreadful August and September last year, Brandon Phillips might have been considered the top fantasy 2nd baseman available in 2009. Through July 2008, Phillips had 16 HRs with a .278 average and 21 stolen bases, and then the bottom fell out of his season, as he batted only .208 with 1 stolen base to close out the 2008 campaign. Overall, he wrapped up 2008 with 21 HRs, 23 SBs, and a .261 average. These are not bad numbers, but certainly in the context of his exceptional 30 HR/ 33 SB/ .288 2007 performance, Phillips clearly took a step backwards. Heading into 2009, Phillips is still considered a top-5 option at his position by virtue of his 30/30 potential. Assuming that last years late season collapse was an aberration, a return to the 25/25 club, with a .275 average seem like reasonable expectations for the Reds 2nd young baseman.

If you didn’t see Cliff Lee’s remarkable turnaround season coming last year, don’t fret, because hardly anyone did, especially after his 2006 and 2007 performances, where he produced an aggregate ERA of 5.02, and a rather unsightly WHIP of 1.44. In his stunning 2008 season that culminated in a much-deserved AL Cy Young Award, Lee reversed course from those two very forgettable years to dominate hitters on his way to 22 wins, with a 2.54 ERA and 1.11 WHIP. In April 2008, Lee was pitching in an alternate universe, finishing the month with a 0.96 ERA and a WHIP of 0.56. Can Cliff Lee provide an encore in 2009? Given his shaky spring, we probably won’t see another month like April 2008 out of him this year, and the key for Lee will be maintaining the type of control he showed last season, when he walked only 34 batters in 223 innings.

Carl Crawford was already having a sub-par 2008 campaign, but in August when he required surgery for a hand injury he added the exclamation point to his fantasy bust season. Of course the intriguing aspect of Crawford’s game is his ability to pile up stolen bases. While he only generated 25 SBs in 2008 before his injury, remember that from 2003 thru 2007 he averaged 53 stolen bases per season. In terms of HRs and RBI, 15 HRs and 80 RBI is his likely upside, but these numbers are more than a reasonable compromise given his ability to help your fantasy team dominant in the SB category. As a career .293 hitter, he also has the potential to be a steady contributor in terms of batting average, so a rebound from his disappointing .273 mark last season is probable. As a 2009 comeback candidate, Crawford is a great value in the 3rd round of fantasy drafts this year.

Relocating from the AL Angels to the NL Mets for 2009, Francisco Rodriquez finds himself at a new address, but there is no reason to believe that he can not continue his reign as one of the elite relief pitchers in the game. His arsenal is comprised of a 90-95 MPH rising fastball, a changeup and a sharp-breaking slider that is considered to be one of the best in the game. From the period of 2005, when he was first assigned the closer role for the Angels, thru 2007, Rodriquez averaged 44 saves per season. In 2008, he tallied an amazing 62 saves, and while he probably won’t approach that number again with the Mets, it seems safe to expect about 40-45 saves this year. Hitters have only been able to manage a .189 against Rodriquez over his career, and the 27 year-old right-hander generates a very healthy number of strikeouts, usually at a rate of about 1.3 per inning.

It’s hard to believe that Joey Votto was actually being selected at around the 21st round in drafts in 2008. No doubt, fantasy managers who took a chance on him as a speculative pick were handsomely rewarded by the conclusion of the season. Although Votto experienced a dryspell during June/July 2008, a period where he managed only a .259 average with 3 HRs, overall, Votto looked like a legitimate left-handed power source for the Reds. He finished the year with a healthy .297 average, 24 HRs, and 84 RBI, and he even handled left-handed pitching with aplomb, hitting .292 with 8 HRs in 85 at-bats against southpaws. It was especially encouraging to see his power surge at the end of the season when he hit 9 HRs during the month of September. Add in his stolen base potential, and Joey Votto is a solid 2009 value in about the 7th round.

Roy Halladay has been a terrific and durable fantasy force since his breakout year of 2001, averaging 15 wins a season over this span, with ERA and WHIP ratios consistently among the league leaders. His transition to an elite pitcher traces back to when he altered his pitching delivery from an overhand power approach, to a more efficient three-quarters delivery. Although the ¾ delivery does compromise some velocity, the conversion has made Halladay a dominant pitcher, allowing him to work deep into games with his 90-92 MPH sinking fastball and wicked 75 MPH curveball. Of course, the other distinguishing characteristic you notice about Halladay is his legendary control. In his starts since 2001, Halladay has allowed only 1.69 walks per nine innings, helping produce a remarkable 1.13 WHIP over 222 starts. If Halladay is on your radar this year, he will cost about a 4th round pick, so plan accordingly.

Deploying a mid 90’s moving fastball and exceptional slider with a precocious mound demeanor, Chad Billingsley is one of the best young pitchers to come out of the Dodgers organization in years. He saw his first significant major league action in 2007, and despite working half of his 43 appearances from the bullpen, he was able to account for 12 wins, with a 3.31 ERA and 1.32 WHIP. Last season as a fulltime starter, Billingsley was even better with 16 wins, a 3.14 ERA and a WHIP of 1.33. Especially noteworthy is that regardless of his role as a reliever or starter the past two seasons, Billingsley has maintained the same excellent K/BB ratio, while notching about one strikeout per frame. He did suffer a broken leg in the offseason, but appears to be fully recovered and is a great young hurler to target in about the 8th round of your fantasy draft.

Evan Longoria was considered one of the brightest prospects in the game shortly after Tampa Bay used their third pick in the 2006 draft to select him, and he certainly didn't need much minor league preparation to make a splash at the major league level. Longoria looked every bit like a current and future star during his 2008 rookie season before getting sidelined with a fractured wrist in August. During June of last year, he performed like a legitimate MVP-candidate, finishing the month with 8 HRs, 19 RBI and a .300 BA. Blessed with quick hands, and great pitch recognition, Longoria shows power to all fields, and appears to have bona fide 30-35 HR power. Longoria wrapped up 2008 with 27 HRs and 85 RBIs, in just 122 games. He even displayed some decent stolen base potential with 7, and his BA was a respectable .272 despite a rough .239 post-injury showing in September.

It's easy to look at his progressive decline in strikeouts over the past three seasons, and conclude that Bobby Jenks is slipping in terms of physical skills. However, a closer look at the numbers suggests that he is perhaps merely evolving as a pitcher. Indeed, we have been seeing far less of the 97 MPH fastballs that Jenks would throw back in 2006. In that season, Chicago's portly closer had 80 K's in 69 innings, but he was issuing free passes at a rate of 4 per 9 innings. Over the past two seasons, it appears that Jenks is relying less on his fastball in an attempt to overpower hitters, and more on an astute use of breaking balls to set up hitters more strategically. Although we are seeing less strikeouts from Jenks, his walks per 9 innings was only 2.5 last season, and hitters still batted just .230 against him.

So far he has been able to avoid the same injury misfortune as his older brother JD Drew, and hopefully Stephen Drew can build on the great progress he made last season. It was especially encouraging to see Drew boost his average 53 points from his dismal 2007 level, ending the year with a solid .291 mark. He closed out the 2008 season especially strong, with 6 HRs, 12 RBI and a .337 in September. While the National League features a trio of superstar shortstops, Hanley Ramirez, Jose Reyes and Jimmy Rollins, you will need to spend a 1st or 2nd round pick on any of these guys. Stephen Drew is actually a pretty nice 8th-9th round fallback option if you miss out on the top shortstops. He won't help you much in stolen bases, but he should keep pace with the top guys in terms of batting average, HRs and RBIs.

Like many of his Detroit Tiger teammates, Curtis Granderson couldn’t quite match his lofty 2007 levels last season. He took a step back in batting average and stolen bases in particular. In terms of batting average, Granderson fell from from .302 in 2007 to .280 in 2008, but his drop-off in stolen bases was especially surprising, contributing just 12 SBs in 2008 after stealing 26 bases in 2007. One possible explanation for his statistical slide is mentioned by Granderson himself. He claims that the hand injury he suffered in spring training last year affected his overall conditioning and ended up impeding his performance the entire year. Whether credible or not, it is probably worth giving Granderson the benefit of the doubt if he is available to you at about the 5th round of your draft. His strikeout rate is a tad too high, but he offers legitimate 20/20 potential with a solid batting average.

John Maine is being approached as a bit of a speculative fantasy pick this year, falling in many drafts to around the 20th round. Of course, there is fairly good reason for this skepticism, as he attempts to bounce back from shoulder surgery performed last October. When healthy, Maine, is an effective fastball pitcher, typically throwing at about 92-93 MPH with good vertical movement. He does also throw a slider, changeup, and occasional curveball, but he is most successful when he is locating his fastball correctly. Although he has struggled with his overall consistency the past three years, remember he is not that far removed from his solid 2007 season, where he produced 15 wins, a 3.91 ERA and a Whip of 1.27. Maine is still working through some mechanical problems this spring, but he is reportedly in good physical shape, and could turn out to be a nice bargain as your #4 or #5 fantasy pitcher.

Operating with his trademark wicked fastball, and improving changeup, it's easy to forget that Scott Kazmir is just 25 years old, because he has been such a workhorse for the Rays over the past four years. Somewhat ironically, it is also his extensive use that has some fantasy players shying away from Kazmir in 2009. The young lefty's durability came into question last season, when he had some minor elbow soreness during Spring Training, and then tailed off significantly after the All-Star break. Going into July, he was flaunting his usual strong ratios, with a 3.04 ERA, and 1.17 WHIP, but he seemed to tire in the 2nd half, usually lasting only 5 innings, and posting a below par 4.03 ERA with a disappointing 1.38 WHIP. While questions about Kazmir’s stamina have caused him to drop in fantasy drafts to around the 8th round, he probably represents a nice bargain if you can grab him there.

After two years as a part-timer, Matt Kemp was given the chance to play everyday for the Dodgers last season, and the results were a fantasy-friendly .290 average, 18 HRs, 76 RBIs and 35 stolen bases. Going into 2009, there should be little dispute as to Kemp’s status as LA’s starting centerfielder, and if he spends a fair amount of time batting from the 4 or 5 spot, we could hopefully see an improvement in his HR and RBI numbers. While Kemp started off slow in the HR department in 2008, hitting only 3 HRs through May, his power kicked into gear around June, and he proceeded to hit 15 HRs over the June through September stretch of the season. Assuming that his late season HR pace is more indicative of his power potential, Kemp is well worth a 3rd or 4th round pick and is a candidate to join the 25/25 club in 2009.

When Ian Kinsler broke into the majors back in 2006, he carried expectations of 20 HR/ 20 SB potential, but became a real fantasy star last year, when he cut down his strikeouts and batted .319 at the top of the Rangers lineup. Consequently, Kinsler has been the very first 2nd baseman off the board in many fantasy drafts so far this year, edging out even Chase Utley in the late 1st/early 2nd round. While there is no doubting the fantasy value of a 20/20 2nd baseman, Kinsler is probably a bit overvalued in 2009. Considering that he hit .274 in his last year at AAA, then went on to hit .286 in 2006, and .263 in 2007 for the Rangers, it is probably safe to assume a drop-off in average back to the .280 area. As a result, Kinsler is still an excellent player to target, but perhaps in the 3rd round when possible.

Expectations were high for Geovany Soto coming into last season, and the Cubs young catcher did not disappoint, finishing the season with 23 HRs, 86 RBIs and a .285 average and walking away with NL Rookie of the Year honors in the process. Not surprisingly, you will probably need to expend about a 5th or 6th round draft pick on Soto in 2009, as only Russell Martin, Brian McCann and Joe Mauer command higher ADPs at the catcher position. Of course, no young player is without risk, and Soto is no exception, especially considering that he only had one standout year in the minor leagues (2007 -.353/26HR/109RBI) before his emphatic arrival last year. However, considering the relative scarcity of talent at the catcher position in 2009, Soto may be worth the steep investment, as he has a great chance of outperforming the most proximate best options, which will likely be Victor Martinez and Ryan Doumit.

After winning AL Rookie of the Year winner in 2006, Justin Verlander had an even more impressive campaign in 2007, with 18 wins, a 3.66 ERA and an improved WHIP of 1.23. Certainly he looked like one of the elite young pitching talents in the league by the beginning of last season, but he inexplicably retreated into mediocrity finishing 2008 with only 11 wins while his ERA and WHIP ballooned to 4.84 and 1.40. In accordance with his new found label as an underachieving enigma, Verlander will probably be available in about the 10th or 11th round of your fantasy draft, where he is well worth the risk. He still has one of the best arms in the league, is only 26, and if he can work out the mechanical problems he suffered from last year, mostly related to pitching with men on base , Verlander should be a nice value pick.

Nelson Cruz was once considered a top prospect, but was only able to show brief glimpses of his potential during his early years in the minors. He is now 28, and while he has still been bouncing between the minors and majors for the past three years, he seemed to really put everything together last year at triple-A Oklahoma, with 37 HRs, 99 RBIs, a .342 average and 24 stolen bases. After getting called up to Texas in August , Cruz initially struggled, but then went on to have an exceptional September, where he hit .356, with 6 HRs and 23 RBIs in 90 at-bats. Although Cruz does seem to strikeout at a fairly high rate, his power proclivity is undeniable, and combined with his untapped stolen base potential, he makes a terrific player to add to your fantasy roster, at a very reasonable ADP of about round 11-12.

It’s difficult to assess Jonathan Sanchez’s potential fantasy value in 2009, because he hasn’t been able to consistently perform at the major league level thus far in his young career. One thing is for certain, he has exhibited the ability to consistently produce strikeouts. Throughout his minor league career, Sanchez tallied about 1.3 strikeouts per inning and over his limited major league experience, he has produced about one strikeout per inning. His primary pitch is a fastball, which he typically throws in the 90-94 mph velocity range, and he also throws a changeup, slider and curve. What makes Sanchez relatively unique, is the movement he can generate on his fastball and changeup. While he does sometimes struggle to throw strikes, the movement on his pitches helps to create an above-average frequency of swings without contact. Assuming he secures a spot in the Giants rotation this spring, Sanchez is worth gambling on in the later rounds of your draft.

Anyone who has played fantasy baseball for a while knows that trying to forecast the saves category is usually very tricky, and in some years you will be able to get them from fairly unexpected sources. Heath Bell could be one of those under-rated closers in 2009 who can pleasantly bolster your fantasy saves total. With the legendary Trevor Hoffman packing his bags for Milwaukee, Bell is considered the leading candidate to assume the closer role for the Padres, and he has a pretty good history of excelling in the late innings. Heath Bell normally comes at hitters with his 92-94 MPH rising fastball, and he compliments this pitch with an effective slider. He works efficiently, consistently throws strikes, and has been durable over the past two years. If you need to reach for a potential closer late in your draft, it looks like Heath Bell is a nice value in the 15th round area.

After his breakout season in 2007, where we saw Colorado's young SS hit .291 with 24 HRs and 99 RBIs, Tulowitzki and his unlucky fantasy owners suffered through a dreadful 2008, where he missed over 60 games with quadriceps and hand injuries and finished with only 8 HRs, 46 RBIs and a disappointing .263 average. As a consequence, Tulowitzi has gone from an approximate 4th round fantasy pick in 2008, to around a 9th round pick so far in 2009. At that kind of ADP, Troy Tulowitzki makes an excellent player to target in the mid-rounds of your draft. Word is that he is almost fully recovered from his troublesome quadriceps injury and there is every reason to believe that the 24-year old can recapture the productivity we saw out of him two years ago. Our early projections have Tulowitzki hitting over .280, with 19 HRs and about 80 RBI in 2009.

Of course, the big secret is out on Ellsbury, as he proved last year that he has the potential to become one of the more exciting base stealing threats in the league. Although he did struggle through a minor dry spell in June/July 2008, hitting only about .245 with 9 SBs during this stretch, he had an amazing May, with 18 stolen bags, and he finished the season strong, with 15 SBs in the last 2 months, and producing a .340 average in September 2008. As a left-handed batter, another interesting trend that emerged last year was Ellsbury's effectiveness against lefty pitchers, he actually hit .295 vs. lefties, compared to .275 versus righties. While this emerging Red Sox centerfielder won't help you much in the power and RBI categories, he compares favorably to Jose Reyes in terms of stolen base potential, and you should be able to get him in the 4th or 5th round.