Which Rookies do you think will make an impact?

[SuperKevin]

Homerism aside, I think Stephen Strasburg is going to make a solid rookie impact for the Nationals. He plays in a pitchers park(at least in my opinion) and he's going to get decent run support.

Offensively Jason Heyward should be starting from day 1 for the Braves and I think he's going to be a serious ROY contender

 

[chazmaniandevil]

buster posey will be starting catcher from day 1
madison bumgarner will start the year in the rotation

 

[FedEx227]

I like Posey a lot, if he starts everyday at catcher he's a definitely ROY contender and a definite chance to make an impact.

Brett Wallace from Oakland.

Alcides Escobar from Milwaukee (I think he's still under the eligibility rules)

Also I think Austin Jackson is going to do some nice work in Detroit, not a lot of power but I feel like he can hit for a pretty solid average and will definitely make an impact.

 

[dj_morton]

I'd agree with Wallace. Not sure about Strasburg. I really haven't seen him play much. Pretty excited to see all the hype.

Bumgardner is the real deal. He played against my little brother in HS. He's a monster on the mound.

Heyward will have a nice year if the Braves choose to move him up. I saw a post on Rotoworld that Johnny Damon has interest in the Braves. If he comes, Heyward will be a September call up at best.



What about Eric Young Jr (COL)? I love the way he plays. Great glove, great speed, solid hitter.

 

[TheSanchize]

Mets, I'd say F-Mart but with the signing of Bay that won't happen. Umm, Jon Niese and Josh Thole. MAYBE Ike Davis.

If not this year for Thole and Davis then next year. And then it would be Davis, Thole and Brad Holt in 2011.

 

[JTRaines92]

Jason Heyward, RoY!

 

[JTRaines92]

I don't know if Heyward will play enough. Isn't he 19 or 20? I'll go with Mad Bum or Buster.

He, he is down there in age but the Braves don't have a solid corner outfield. Nate in the middle and then Diaz in left/right, don't know who will take the other spot. It is his job to lose.

 

[Nash]

Jason Heyward :yep:

 

[Sharkweather]

How can I not pick Heyward.

 

[Goober]

I have high expectations for Escobar this year.

 

[JTRaines92]

They also have Melky Cabrera, who will probably start, as well as Jordan Schafer, who while he did poorly might still get a shot. I think the Braves are smart enough not to rush a 19/20 year old kid to the bigs until he's ready. He was quite impressive in AA and AAA, but I don't seem him making the opening day roster. He'll be up before year's end more then likely though.

Jordan Schafer is a CF and we have Nate McLouth until the next of next season so if Schafer gets a shot it will be then. We got Matt Diaz to either play LF or RF and I think it has been said that Melky is our 4th OF'er. I don't know, like I said, it is his job to lose. He played 1B in high school anyway and we don't have a solid 1B either so he could come in and play 1B/RF/LF so that can't be anything but a plus. I honestly cannot wait man, it's less than two months away!

 

[LiquidLarry2GhostWF]

Brian Matusz, SP, Orioles
Justin Smoak, 1B, Rangers
Alcides Escobar, SS, Brewers
Mike Stanton, OF, Marlins
Neftali Feliz, P, Rangers
Pedro Alvarez, 3B, Pirates

 

[Kuzzy Powers]

Brett Wallace from Toronto.

Fixed for you.. he came over in some part of the brutal Halladay deal.

He damn well better make a fucking impact.

 

[FedEx227]

Fixed for you.. he came over in some part of the brutal Halladay deal.

He damn well better make a fucking impact.

Oh yes... that's right good call. I like him, so I think he'll make an impact for ya.

 

[chazmaniandevil]

lol @ heyward winning. sorry guys, but somebody whos 19/20 and coming in june will not win ROY

 

[goDawgs1433]

As much as I'd like for Heyward to come up and hit .300, bomb 25 homers and drive in 80-90, I just don't see it happening.

The Braves have enough in the OF depth-wise to keep him down until at least midsummer, much like what they did with Hanson last year to make him a Super Two. That will save us an arb year (and thus lots of $$) with Heyward down the road. Unless we absolutely need him, I see the kid starting off in AAA.

 

[NAHSTE]

Heyward will obviously be a huge impact at some point, but it remains to be seen when exactly. I don't think he'll hit for much power this year, I'm thinking 12-15 bombs, provide he gets to 500 ABs, but he'll definitely hit at or around .300.

For those saying he's too young to contend for ROY, a 19-year old did finish 2nd in the AL voting last year (Elvis Andrus, another Braves product). Amazing that along with Tommy Hanson and Pedro (AWAKE EDIT-- Neftali! Not Pedro, Neftali! Neftali I said! I know his name it was 4 AM ok?....Ok?) Feliz, the Braves scouting dept. is responsible for 4 of baseball's best 10 or so players 23 and under. Thanks again, Frank Wren, for flipping Feliz and Andrus for what ended up being Casey Kotchman.

Can you imagine if we had those 4 right now? Don't ask me where we'd play Elvis/Yunel, but I'd take that dilemma any day of the week.

 

[SuperKevin]

I don't think you mean Pedro Feliz. Are you talking about the pitcher on the Rangers with the serious heat?

 

[NAHSTE]

I don't think you mean Pedro Feliz. Are you talking about the pitcher on the Rangers with the serious heat?

Posting at 4 AM FTLLLLL....Neftali. My bad. LOLOL at me saying Pedro Feliz, wow.

 

[NAHSTE]

Schuerholz was GM when that trade happened, not Frank Wren. Frank Wren took over in November of the same year and ended up making the trade be just for Casey Kotchman.

Good call, but it's still Frank Wren's fault. Schuerholz overpaid for Teixiera, but I don't think he foresaw his successor getting 10 cents on the dollar in return.

Wasn't Wren pretty much acting GM at that point? I can't remember the exact timeline, but I know Schuerholz started ramping down his responsibilities a few months before officially stepping down.