2006 rookies - SP

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AL
Jonathan Papelbon SP Boston Red Sox
It's expected Papelbon and his plus fastball will join the Red Sox rotation this coming Spring after closing out his major league debut as a reliever. The 24-year-old posted a 1.47 WHIP in 34 IP last year with 34 K. He made 3 starts of his 17 appearances and went 5 innings in each with 2 or fewer runs allowed. Papelbon posted a 0.92 WHIP in 114+ IP at AA/AAA in 2005.

NL
Anthony Reyes SP St. Louis Cardinals
Reyes is a quality SP prospect but is considered a risk due to his injury record. He could get a chance to win a rotation spot this Spring Training and the 24-year-old has a high ceiling if he can stay healthy. Reyes had a 0.75 WHIP in 13+ IP in the majors this past year after posting a 1.08 WHIP in 107+ AAA IP with 136 K.

11/09/05
AL
Francisco Liriano SP Minnesota Twins
The 22-year-old Liriano is among the best pitching prospects in baseball with his plus stuff from the left side. He dominated in both AA and AAA stints this past year before posting a 1.10 WHIP in 23+ major league IP with 33 K. The Twins have the makings of a dominate left handed 1, 2 punch a top their rotation in 2006 with Johan Santana and Liriano.

Brandon McCarthy SP Chicago White Sox
McCarthy is another promising young pitcher. The 22-year-old was very good at AAA this year and posted a 1.18 WHIP in 67 major league IP. The World Champion White Sox will most likely find a way to get the 6' 7" McCarthy in to their starting rotation in 2006.

NL
Matt Cain SP San Francisco Giants
The 21-year-old Cain has a big time fastball and posted a 0.93 WHIP in 7 major league starts this past year. He has a rotation spot heading in to 2006 and could quickly over take Jason Schmidt as the ace of the Giants.

Zach Duke SP Pittsburgh Pirates
The 22-year-old Duke was very impressive in 14 major league starts this past year winning 8 of those starts with a 1.81 ERA and 1.20 WHIP. The left handed Duke doesn't have an overpowering fastball, but was dominant in the minors and his 2005 performance in the majors speaks for itself

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SP Justin Verlander, Detroit Tigers – Verlander was the second overall pick in the 2004 draft and made his professional debut in 2005. He split the season between high-A and AA, going a combined 11-2 with a 1.29 ERA, a 0.90 WHIP, and 136 strikeouts in 118.2 innings pitched. He made two starts for the Tigers, going 0-2 with a 7.15 ERA, a 1.77 WHIP and seven strikeouts in 11.3 innings. Verlander was also shut down at the end of the season due to a dead arm. He will compete for the Tigers’ fifth starter spot and will likely enter Spring Training as the favorite.

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LHP Scott Olsen, 22, Marlins

The lefty proved effective in his four-start stint for a contender in 2005 and he'll compete for a spot with a slew of outstanding prospects in a revamped Marlins rotation this spring. We like his upside, but he'll be working for a sub-.500 club, so consider him more of an NL-only prospect.

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I do belive the best here will be Francisco Liriano.

But in fantasy terms for making an Impack in this coming season there a good numbers of them.

Anthony Reyes,Matt Cain,Justin Verlander,Scott Olsen

Not counting Zach Duke becouse I don't he should be listed as a rookie anymore.

[645]

A few pitchers that are not listed here that should make an impack that you should know is Josh Johnson and Jason Vargas from the Marlins.