Panzram
03-15-2006, 03:15 PM
Jeremy Hermida, Marlins
Height/Weight: 6-4, 200
DOB: January 30, 1984
Despite being only 22 and owning a mere 41 major league at-bats, Hermida will be asked to hit third and help carry the Marlins' youthful lineup. He ripped up Double-A in 2005 with a .293 average, 18 homers, 63 RBI, 77 runs, 23 steals, and 111 walks over 118 games. Hermida then made headlines by jacking a grand slam in his first major league plate appearance. He has the talent, attitude, and plate patience to be a five-cat contributor from Opening Day, and the left-handed batsman projects to be a solid fourth or fifth outfielder in combo leagues.
Delmon Young, Devil Rays
Height/Weight: 6-3, 205
DOB: September 14, 1985
Fantasy owners likely don't need to be introduced to Dmitri's little brother. Young is a monster in the molding. Between Double-A and Triple-A in 2005, he batted .315 with 26 homers, 99 RBI, 92 runs, and 32 steals. The only knock on him is a lack of plate patience, although fantasy owners have another reason to take him down a notch – no starting job. Carl Crawford, Rocco Baldelli, Aubrey Huff, Jonny Gomes, Joey Gathright, and Damon Hollins provide the Devil Rays with more than enough outfield depth, and Delmon may need to open the season in the minors. Even so, he could go the route of recent rookies like Francoeur, David Wright, and Ryan Howard and give fantasy teams a major jolt with a mid-season call-up.
Eric Reed, Marlins
Height/Weight: 5-11, 170
DOB: December 2, 1980
While his teammate Hermida does everything pretty well, Reed is basically a two-trick fish. He's all about speed and aims to be this season's version of Taveras. Reed split time between Double-A and Triple-A in 2005, logging 110 games and 442 at-bats. He hit .276 with two homers, 35 RBI, 54 runs, 40 steals, and only 20 walks. The Marlins will ask Reed to replace Juan Pierre in center and at the top of the lineup. Reed's minor league history suggests that he'll hit closer to .300 and, provided he sticks around, swipe 30-40 bases. Fantasy owners should start looking at his name when digging up speed in the late rounds.
Josh Willingham, Marlins
Height/Weight: 6-1, 200
DOB: February 2, 1979
Willingham will find his name in the infielders article, too, but we figure it doesn't hurt to mention him twice. This 27-year-old knows how to handle the wood (.324, 19 homers, 54 RBI in 219 Triple-A at-bats), but he struggles with the leather. New manager Joe Girardi will help Willingham with his catcher skills this spring, but if that doesn't work, Josh will join Hermida and Reed in the outfield. Either way, the Marlins plan to get this rookie plenty of at-bats, and fantasy owners should be able to use his quality bat at both positions.
Brian Anderson, White Sox
Height/Weight: 6-3, 200
DOB: March 11, 1982
The Aaron Rowand trade not only gave the White Sox a true left-handed power presence in Jim Thome, but it also opened up a starting spot for their top prospect. Anderson batted .295 with 16 homers, 57 RBI, and 71 runs in 118 Triple-A games before flopping in the majors last season. The blonde-haired outfielder has struggled with injuries and strikeouts (127 in 131 games) and won't have a prominent spot in the lineup, but he should be the every-day starter when the season opens and at least deserves a look in AL-only fantasy leagues.
Jerry Owens, White Sox
Height/Weight: 6-3, 195
DOB: February 16, 1981
We're placing Owens right behind Anderson in this article because that's where he is in real life. Owens isn't as polished as Anderson, but he'll push him for the starting job this spring. In 2005, he captured the Southern League batting title by hitting .331, and he added in 99 runs, 52 RBI, and 38 steals. Even better, Owens made a positive impression on manager Ozzie Guillen last spring. He'll be a quick phone call away even if he opens the season at Triple-A.
Carlos Quentin, Diamondbacks
Height/Weight: 6-1, 225
DOB: August 25, 1982
Quentin isn't quite as highly-regarded as Young, but he finds himself in a similar boat this spring. Shawn Green and Luis Gonzalez are cemented in the corner outfield spots, and the Diamondbacks added Eric Byrnes and Jeff DaVanon to play center and occupy the fourth outfielder spot. Quentin has nothing left to prove in the minors, as he batted .301 with 21 homers, 89 RBI, 98 runs, and nine steals at Triple-A in 2005. He also walked (72) more times than he struck out (71). NL-only fantasy owners need to know Quentin's name because he's an injury or trade away from being a strong fantasy outfielder.
Nick Markakis, Orioles
Height/Weight: 6-2, 185
DOB: November 17, 1983
The Orioles bought themselves time with both Markakis and fellow outfielder Val Majewski by acquiring Corey Patterson, Jeff Conine, and Kevin Millar this winter, but fantasy owners should see that threesome as one big, short-term solution. Between High-A and Double-A in 2005, Markakis batted .310 with 15 homers, 92 RBI, 78 runs, and two steals. He was rated as the top prospect in the Carolina League and took home the All-Star MVP award. Basically, Markakis is a stud, but Majewski and he will likely open 2006 as a tremendous Triple-A tandem. By midseason, though, both outfielders could be running around Camden Yards.
Corey Hart, Brewers
Height/Weight: 6-6, 200
DOB: March 24, 1982
Hart and Quentin can probably share sob stories. This man-of-many-mitts can play all three outfield and both corner infield positions, but he's blocked by Carlos Lee, Geoff Jenkins, Brady Clark, Corey Koskie, Bill Hall, and Prince Fielder. It's too bad because Hart also looks to be ready for the Show. He batted .308 with 17 homers, 69 RBI, 85 runs, and 31 steals in 113 games at Triple-A in 2005, and he'll likely need to accept a bench role with the Brewers this spring. As with Quentin, Hart appears to be one ailment or deal away from helping fantasy squads.
Jason Kubel, Twins
Height/Weight: 5-11, 190
DOB: May 25, 1982
Kubel was poised to be in this article last season after logging 60 at-bats with the Twins in 2004. Prior to that, he tore up Double-A (.377) and Triple-A (.343) pitching and looked ready to push Jacque Jones out of a job. However, he shred up his left knee in the Arizona Fall League and missed all of the 2005 campaign. Kubel is in the mix for the right field job this spring, but he may need to return to Triple-A because of the lost season. Even if that happens, he'll earn a quick call-up with a hot start and begin mashing pitches around the Metrodome.
Brandon Watson, Nationals
Height/Weight: 6-1, 170
DOB: September 30, 1981
No outfield is tougher to predict right now than the Nationals, who could open the season with Jose Guillen, Alfonso Soriano, and Sammy Sosa or with Watson, Ryan Church, and Marlon Byrd. As it currently stands, Watson holds a slight edge on the center field job because he's the only able leadoff hitter in the system. The left-handed batsman got off to a slow start at Double-A in 2005, but between there and Triple-A, he ended up batting .324 with 38 steals. He has very little power and rarely walks, but, like Endy Chavez in 2004, Watson could help fantasy owners strictly based on his decent bat skills and outstanding speed.
Ben Johnson, Padres
Height/Weight: 6-1, 200
DOB: January 18, 1981
Johnson earned 75 at-bats with the Padres late last season and might have had a starting job were it not for the Mike Cameron trade and the Brian Giles re-signing. As it stands, Johnson will battle Terrmel Sledge for the fourth outfielder role and could rise to fantasy prominence if Cameron, Giles, or Dave Roberts suffers an injury. His swing is not without flaws, but last year's Triple-A numbers (.312, 25 homers, 83 RBI in 107 games) suggest that he's ready for prime time.
Franklin Gutierrez, Indians
Height/Weight: 6-0, 194
DOB: February 21, 1983
Baseball fans with good memories might recall Gutierrez as the gem of the Dodgers-Indians swap that involved Milton Bradley. He's lost some of his luster since moving to Cleveland, but Gutierrez still enters 2006 as a rookie outfielder to watch. Injuries curtailed Gutierrez's production in each of the last two seasons and are the reason why he'll likely open the season at Triple-A. However, only Casey Blake and Jason Michaels stand in his way at the corner outfield spots.
Height/Weight: 6-4, 200
DOB: January 30, 1984
Despite being only 22 and owning a mere 41 major league at-bats, Hermida will be asked to hit third and help carry the Marlins' youthful lineup. He ripped up Double-A in 2005 with a .293 average, 18 homers, 63 RBI, 77 runs, 23 steals, and 111 walks over 118 games. Hermida then made headlines by jacking a grand slam in his first major league plate appearance. He has the talent, attitude, and plate patience to be a five-cat contributor from Opening Day, and the left-handed batsman projects to be a solid fourth or fifth outfielder in combo leagues.
Delmon Young, Devil Rays
Height/Weight: 6-3, 205
DOB: September 14, 1985
Fantasy owners likely don't need to be introduced to Dmitri's little brother. Young is a monster in the molding. Between Double-A and Triple-A in 2005, he batted .315 with 26 homers, 99 RBI, 92 runs, and 32 steals. The only knock on him is a lack of plate patience, although fantasy owners have another reason to take him down a notch – no starting job. Carl Crawford, Rocco Baldelli, Aubrey Huff, Jonny Gomes, Joey Gathright, and Damon Hollins provide the Devil Rays with more than enough outfield depth, and Delmon may need to open the season in the minors. Even so, he could go the route of recent rookies like Francoeur, David Wright, and Ryan Howard and give fantasy teams a major jolt with a mid-season call-up.
Eric Reed, Marlins
Height/Weight: 5-11, 170
DOB: December 2, 1980
While his teammate Hermida does everything pretty well, Reed is basically a two-trick fish. He's all about speed and aims to be this season's version of Taveras. Reed split time between Double-A and Triple-A in 2005, logging 110 games and 442 at-bats. He hit .276 with two homers, 35 RBI, 54 runs, 40 steals, and only 20 walks. The Marlins will ask Reed to replace Juan Pierre in center and at the top of the lineup. Reed's minor league history suggests that he'll hit closer to .300 and, provided he sticks around, swipe 30-40 bases. Fantasy owners should start looking at his name when digging up speed in the late rounds.
Josh Willingham, Marlins
Height/Weight: 6-1, 200
DOB: February 2, 1979
Willingham will find his name in the infielders article, too, but we figure it doesn't hurt to mention him twice. This 27-year-old knows how to handle the wood (.324, 19 homers, 54 RBI in 219 Triple-A at-bats), but he struggles with the leather. New manager Joe Girardi will help Willingham with his catcher skills this spring, but if that doesn't work, Josh will join Hermida and Reed in the outfield. Either way, the Marlins plan to get this rookie plenty of at-bats, and fantasy owners should be able to use his quality bat at both positions.
Brian Anderson, White Sox
Height/Weight: 6-3, 200
DOB: March 11, 1982
The Aaron Rowand trade not only gave the White Sox a true left-handed power presence in Jim Thome, but it also opened up a starting spot for their top prospect. Anderson batted .295 with 16 homers, 57 RBI, and 71 runs in 118 Triple-A games before flopping in the majors last season. The blonde-haired outfielder has struggled with injuries and strikeouts (127 in 131 games) and won't have a prominent spot in the lineup, but he should be the every-day starter when the season opens and at least deserves a look in AL-only fantasy leagues.
Jerry Owens, White Sox
Height/Weight: 6-3, 195
DOB: February 16, 1981
We're placing Owens right behind Anderson in this article because that's where he is in real life. Owens isn't as polished as Anderson, but he'll push him for the starting job this spring. In 2005, he captured the Southern League batting title by hitting .331, and he added in 99 runs, 52 RBI, and 38 steals. Even better, Owens made a positive impression on manager Ozzie Guillen last spring. He'll be a quick phone call away even if he opens the season at Triple-A.
Carlos Quentin, Diamondbacks
Height/Weight: 6-1, 225
DOB: August 25, 1982
Quentin isn't quite as highly-regarded as Young, but he finds himself in a similar boat this spring. Shawn Green and Luis Gonzalez are cemented in the corner outfield spots, and the Diamondbacks added Eric Byrnes and Jeff DaVanon to play center and occupy the fourth outfielder spot. Quentin has nothing left to prove in the minors, as he batted .301 with 21 homers, 89 RBI, 98 runs, and nine steals at Triple-A in 2005. He also walked (72) more times than he struck out (71). NL-only fantasy owners need to know Quentin's name because he's an injury or trade away from being a strong fantasy outfielder.
Nick Markakis, Orioles
Height/Weight: 6-2, 185
DOB: November 17, 1983
The Orioles bought themselves time with both Markakis and fellow outfielder Val Majewski by acquiring Corey Patterson, Jeff Conine, and Kevin Millar this winter, but fantasy owners should see that threesome as one big, short-term solution. Between High-A and Double-A in 2005, Markakis batted .310 with 15 homers, 92 RBI, 78 runs, and two steals. He was rated as the top prospect in the Carolina League and took home the All-Star MVP award. Basically, Markakis is a stud, but Majewski and he will likely open 2006 as a tremendous Triple-A tandem. By midseason, though, both outfielders could be running around Camden Yards.
Corey Hart, Brewers
Height/Weight: 6-6, 200
DOB: March 24, 1982
Hart and Quentin can probably share sob stories. This man-of-many-mitts can play all three outfield and both corner infield positions, but he's blocked by Carlos Lee, Geoff Jenkins, Brady Clark, Corey Koskie, Bill Hall, and Prince Fielder. It's too bad because Hart also looks to be ready for the Show. He batted .308 with 17 homers, 69 RBI, 85 runs, and 31 steals in 113 games at Triple-A in 2005, and he'll likely need to accept a bench role with the Brewers this spring. As with Quentin, Hart appears to be one ailment or deal away from helping fantasy squads.
Jason Kubel, Twins
Height/Weight: 5-11, 190
DOB: May 25, 1982
Kubel was poised to be in this article last season after logging 60 at-bats with the Twins in 2004. Prior to that, he tore up Double-A (.377) and Triple-A (.343) pitching and looked ready to push Jacque Jones out of a job. However, he shred up his left knee in the Arizona Fall League and missed all of the 2005 campaign. Kubel is in the mix for the right field job this spring, but he may need to return to Triple-A because of the lost season. Even if that happens, he'll earn a quick call-up with a hot start and begin mashing pitches around the Metrodome.
Brandon Watson, Nationals
Height/Weight: 6-1, 170
DOB: September 30, 1981
No outfield is tougher to predict right now than the Nationals, who could open the season with Jose Guillen, Alfonso Soriano, and Sammy Sosa or with Watson, Ryan Church, and Marlon Byrd. As it currently stands, Watson holds a slight edge on the center field job because he's the only able leadoff hitter in the system. The left-handed batsman got off to a slow start at Double-A in 2005, but between there and Triple-A, he ended up batting .324 with 38 steals. He has very little power and rarely walks, but, like Endy Chavez in 2004, Watson could help fantasy owners strictly based on his decent bat skills and outstanding speed.
Ben Johnson, Padres
Height/Weight: 6-1, 200
DOB: January 18, 1981
Johnson earned 75 at-bats with the Padres late last season and might have had a starting job were it not for the Mike Cameron trade and the Brian Giles re-signing. As it stands, Johnson will battle Terrmel Sledge for the fourth outfielder role and could rise to fantasy prominence if Cameron, Giles, or Dave Roberts suffers an injury. His swing is not without flaws, but last year's Triple-A numbers (.312, 25 homers, 83 RBI in 107 games) suggest that he's ready for prime time.
Franklin Gutierrez, Indians
Height/Weight: 6-0, 194
DOB: February 21, 1983
Baseball fans with good memories might recall Gutierrez as the gem of the Dodgers-Indians swap that involved Milton Bradley. He's lost some of his luster since moving to Cleveland, but Gutierrez still enters 2006 as a rookie outfielder to watch. Injuries curtailed Gutierrez's production in each of the last two seasons and are the reason why he'll likely open the season at Triple-A. However, only Casey Blake and Jason Michaels stand in his way at the corner outfield spots.