10 rookies to watch in fantasy baseball
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Rookie eligibility for batters is determined by at-bats. Once a player has 130 major league at-bats, he is no longer a rookie. Note that it is not plate appearances, for some reason, so Atlanta Braves SS Dansby Swanson is technically still a rookie due to only accruing 129 at-bats despite making 145 plate appearances.
I'm leaving Swanson and Boston Red Sox OF Andrew Benintendi off this list because they're getting drafted in all leagues, and you don't need reminding that they have value on draft day.
The rest of this list will feature players with some question marks heading into opening day, but who could all make a fantasy impact this season.
The Pitchers
RHP Lucas Giolito, Chicago White Sox
The star has dimmed a bit, but Giolito's potential remains his biggest draw. Like many young pitchers, he lacks tight command, and failed to miss bats during his big league cup of coffee in 2016. Giolito got yanked around levels often, so it will be interesting to see what happens. There isn't much of a roadblock in Chicago's rotation, but he remains slightly risky.
Advice: Add to your watchlist
RHP Brock Stewart, Los Angeles Dodgers
Stewart walked more batters than anticipated in his MLB debut last season, but that could easily be anomalous. He should cut down on the free passes and the home runs as he always limited the long ball through every level of the minor leagues. He is slated to compete for a roster spot in Spring Training, but that may mean a trip to the bullpen until an injury opens a spot in the rotation.
Advice: Draft him late if he gets a rotation job. Watchlist if he heads to the 'pen.
RHP Jharel Cotton, Oakland Athletics
Cotton is of interest for a number of reasons. First, he pitches his home games in pitcher heaven at O.co Coliseum. Second, he's locked into a roster spot heading into Spring Training. Third, he showed some spark through five starts in 2016 and should see a bump in his K/9 this season.
Advice: Draft him late in mixed league drafts.
LHP Matt Strahm, Kansas City Royals
Like Cotton, Strahm is expected to break camp with a job in his team's rotation. Access is key, and while there may be a couple prospects with a bit more publicity, Strahm has a job. He was dynamite through 22 relief innings in 2016, striking out 12.27 batters per nine with a 1.23 ERA. He will likely go undrafted, but he makes a good streaming option early on.
Advice: Stream in good matchups early to gauge value.
RHP Tyler Glasnow, Pittsburgh Pirates
Perhaps even more pronounced than some of his contemporaries, Glasnow has trouble locating his pitches. Whether at Triple-A or MLB, Glasnow walked over five batters per nine innings in 2016. The Ks were impressive, and he doesn't give up home runs. He's a touch of command away from being a frontline starter for the Pirates, but he may begin the year in the minors.
Advice: Monitor the Pirates through Spring Training. Draft if he earns rotation spot.
Honorable Mentions: LHP Josh Hader, Brewers; RHP David Paulino, Astros; RHP Robert Stephenson, Reds; RHP Jeff Hoffman, Rockies; RHP Jose de Leon, Rays; RHP Reynaldo Lopez, White Sox
The Batters
OF Manny Margot, San Diego Padres
Margot is listed as the Padres' top hitting prospect at MLB.com, and with good reason. He hit .304 at Triple-A while stealing 30 bases in 124 games. If he can continue to adjust, and assuming he lands a starting job, he will be an excellent source of steals at a discount.
Advice: Draft him late if he gets the job in Spring Training.
OF Hunter Renfroe, San Diego Padres
There is a ton of concern around Renfroe's ability to adjust to breaking pitches, and it's foolhardy to get too caught up with the power he exhibited. He hit four home runs in 36 plate appearances and made great contact. His minor league strikeout rate suggests the average should fall to earth, but the power is real and Petco Park may not be able to hold it.
Advice: Draft him late in mixed leagues but drop him if he struggles.
1B/OF Josh Bell, Pittsburgh Pirates
Bell recently had to undergo surgery on his left knee, bringing his status for opening day into question. This could be enough to suppress his perceived value and keep him off draft boards in mixed leagues. The procedure is supposedly minor, and Bell is worth eyeing early on should he play. He walked more often than he struck out and has big power potential.
Advice: Draft him if his recovery is swift. Otherwise, add him to your watchlist.
OF Aaron Judge, New York Yankees
Judge is more likely to crack the opening day roster than fellow OF prospect Clint Frazier. Judge is a mixed bag. His raw power is palpable, but he has immense trouble making contact. He struck out 44.2 per cent of the time in his 27 games. While that should correct a bit, the Yankees won't hesitate to send him down if he struggles.
Advice: Don't reach. Use a final round draft pick or put him on the watchlist.
C Tom Murphy, Colorado Rockies
Any time you can get value out of the catcher position, you take it. Murphy may split time with Tony Wolters, but Murphy's bat should get him into plenty of games. His propensity for strikeouts is somewhat concerning, but he has hit for big power at every level.
Advice: Draft in two-catcher formats.
Honorable Mentions: 2B Yoan Moncada, White Sox; SS Amed Rosario, Mets; OF Lewis Brinson, Brewers; 1B Dominic Smith, Mets; 1B Rowdy Tellez, Blue Jays; 2B/SS Franklin Barreto, Athletics; OF Bradley Zimmer, Indians
(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)