2011 Impact MLB Rookies – Young Prospects

Every year rookie minor league prospects come to the major leagues and make an impact right away. Just look at young talents like Jason Heyward and Buster Posey as they both played like poised veterans and helped their teams into the playoffs.

For the 2011 fantasy baseball season, we have another fine group of MLB players for fantasy owners to take not of as we get geared up for draft days in March. Some of these players will end up making the big leagues for Opening Day, and others will have to wait until later in the season to make an impact.

Starting Pitchers

Jeremy Hellickson – Rays: Just recently Jeremy Hellickson was ranked as the second best prospect on MLB Network at the end of February. Hellickson came in and made an impact with the Rays late last season and is projected as a starter this year. While Hellickson did have a minor injury in February, he should be a full go as we get set to start the regular season.

Hellickson shouldn’t be drafted over fellow teammate James Shields, but he is close to that ADP ranking and that makes him a nice late round selection for your squad.

Michael Pineda – Mariners: This 6’5 monster must be an imposing figure for hitters to face, and he should have some dominant performances this season in the pros. While some are concerned about Michael Pineda’s mechanics for the long hall, he should be viewed as a pitcher who can win a starting job to begin the season and is worth a roster spot in at least AL only leagues when he’s officially called to Seattle.

Kyle Drabek – Blue Jays: The son of Doug Drabeck, this young prospect should make the starting rotation to begin the season as the Blue Jays are developing their rotation. Kyle Drabeck has enough skill to be a starter in the pros right now and is a good roll of the dice option in the final rounds of your fantasy draft.

Sadly, Drabek does pitch in the American League East, but he may have an advantage the first time around the league as veteran hitters aren’t familiar with his stuff.

Zach Britton – Orioles: Baltimore may be slow with Zach Britton to begin the season, but I do expect him to be on the team and make an impact this year. The Orioles need as much young pitching as they can get because they are in great need of help in that area. Britton should be a solid pro pitcher at some point, and it helps that he has a strong coaching staff waiting for him in the majors.

Mike Minor – Braves: Look to Mike Minor as the second best minor league starting pitcher to make an impact for fantasy baseball this season. Minor should be in the Braves rotation as a No.5 starter but I wouldn’t be surprised if he out pitches various guys on his own staff.

Relief Pitchers

Chris Sale – White Sox (can start as well): The team hasn’t officially decided if Chris Sale will be a starter or a relief pitcher this season, but he is likely headed to the pen. Sale has all the projected tools to start right away, and he may get pushed into the rotation at some point this spring with Jake Peavy still recovering from injury.

Sale will be a dominant relief pitcher but if even more valuable as a starter as he would rackup more innings and have better chances to accumulate wins.

Jordan Walden – Angels: If Fernando Rodney and company should struggle this season (likely to happen) then the Angels will probably call up Jordan Walden to save games in the ninth inning. This team needs a future prospect for years to come and Walden is that guy.

Aroldis Chapman – Reds (can start as well): With a 105 mile an hour fastball in his arsenal, Aroldis Chapman is a very dangerous man. I’m not sure he’s one of the top 100 players in the game today (was ranked that way this off-season), but he is clearly an impact pitcher for the Reds. Much like Chris Sale, Chapman could start but is likely to be a relief pitcher.

Unlike the White Sox, the Reds have all their regular starters healthy and Chapman is probably best served as a dominant pitcher to help bridge the gap from the starter to Francisco Cordero in the ninth inning. Look to Chapman to post a very low ERA and WHIP to go with a high strikeout ratio.

Catchers

J.P. Arencibia – Blue Jays: I’ve been talking about J.P. Arencibia often since the team traded away Mike Napoli in January to the Rangers. This kid has legit power and is in one of the better ball parks in recent years to go deep. Look for Arencibia as a great sleeper prospect for your fantasy team in later rounds.

Jesus Montero – Yankees: There are at least 15 to twenty teams that could be starting Jesus Montero as their catcher for strong offensive purposes, but unfortunately he is with the Yankees. That said, if Russell Martin should fail to bounce back then the Yankees will probably turn to Montero at some point this season.

For now Montero is stuck behind Martin and Jorge Posada and may start the season in the minors.

Hank Conger – Angels: Unfortunately, for Hank Conger he is stuck in a franchise that places high importance on defensive ability before offensive talent at the catcher position. We watched Mike Napoli struggle for consistent playing time until Jeff Mathis suffered an injury last season.

If Mathis should get injured again the Angels should be forced to give Conger a try, and he could be a valuable catcher off the waiver wire at some point this season.

First Baseman

Kila Ka’aihue – Royals: This is a make or break season for Kila Ka’aihue with the Royals as they are loaded at first base in the minors. This season Ka’aihue and Billy Butler will rotate between playing at first and designated hitter. Ka’aihue is a cheep source of power and can be had at the end of your fantasy baseball draft.

Roll the dice on this kid as long as he’s playing respectable in the spring as I think he can be a sleeper this year.

Freddie Freeman – Braves: The National league has a couple nice first baseman that should be up in the pros this year. Freddie Freeman is one of those hitters, and he is likely to be the Braves starting first baseman to being the year. Look to Freeman as a nice late round pick in deep leagues and he should deliver a productive first year in Atlanta.

Brandon Belt – Giants (outfielder as well): The World Series Champs are starting to put talented hitting prospects together with their pitching stars in recent years. Look to Brandon Belt as a great young contact hitter who should hit over .300 upon his arrival to the big league team.

Unless Belt has a strong spring, he will probably start the year in AAA as the Giants have a tone of veteran players ahead of him. If Belt continues to hit well in the minors he should be with the big league team by June as injuries and poor play should befall a few of the Giants’ veterans, and Belt’s skills will out weigh their presence on the team.

Second Baseman

Dustin Ackley – Mariners: Seattle’s prized second baseman got back on track last year in the minors and is likely to break camp as a starting middle infielder. Dustin Ackley has good skills but won’t be a solid power hitter. That isn’t a big problem at his position for fantasy baseball as many players don’t hit for power.

Look to Ackley as a sneaky sleeper who will probably only be selected on draft day in AL only fantasy baseball leagues in spring.

Sean Rodriguez – Rays: Tampa Bay supports a nice young middle infield that will go through its growing pains this season. Sean Rodriguez is probably the top talent of the two as he can hit for respectable power at his position and can steal a decent amount of bases.

Shortstop

Reid Brignac – Rays: This shortstop has had his stints with the pro team already but this year he should be given a regular role in the offense. Reid Brignac has decent power but won’t steal a bunch of bases. Look to Brignac as a deep sleeper who probably won’t be selected in mixed leagues on draft day.

Third Baseman

Mike Moustakas – Royals: Don’t expect Mike Moustakas to make the Royals to start the season but that is mainly because they want to obtain his contract rights for an extra year. Moustakas is one of the best power prospects in the game and will belt out home runs while keeping a solid batting average.

This is a kid that will be jumped on big time upon his announcement to the big league team. The Royals are finally looking like a team that should be winning lots of baseball games in a few seasons.

Outfielders

Mike Trout – Angels: This kid has big time skills and will steal a tone of bases upon his arrival to the pros. Unfortunately, Trout’s chances to make the pro team at the start of the season were diminished with the arrival of Vernon Wells. Still, fantasy baseball owners need to keep Trout in mind as a player who will fly off the waiver wire upon his arrival to the pro’s.

On another note, Trout was named the top prospect in the minors by MLB Network recently and that should just further the hype on this kid in the future.

Chris Carter – A’s: The A’s have a bunch of veteran players who will push Chris Carter into the minors to begin the season. Look for Carter to receive a call up at some point this season and when he does, the young power hitter will be a nice source of home runs.

Desmond Jennings – Rays: Another talented outfielder in the American league and it’s the same old story as veteran free agent signings have probably pushed Desmond Jennings into the minors to begin the season. Jennings will be a solid fantasy outfielder in future years, but he may have to wait past June for a call up if veterans like Johnny Damon stay healthy.

Domonic Brown – Phillies: Philadelphia will probably force Domonic Brown to win a starting job over Ben Francisco this spring, but he should get it done. While Brown struggled in his pro stint last year, he could bounce back for a breakout season in 2011 for fantasy baseball owners.

Either way, this kid will be selected in fantasy baseball drafts this spring, and it would be wise to jump on him as a late round value.

Bryce Harper – Nationals: Ok, Bryce Harper won’t be with the team for most of this season but I would be surprised if the team gives him an invite in September. The Nationals have done a good job of bringing in young talent and fans will want to get a taste of the franchise star in Harper. It wouldn’t hurt the kid to get some time in at the end of this year if he can put together a solid minor league season.

If called up, he will be an instant pickup for fantasy owners as we head down the stretch and into fantasy baseball playoff weekends.

More 2011 MLB Fantasy Baseball Help

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