1. Buster Posey, C, SF: Best catching prospect since Mauer leads NL with 42 July hits
2. Neftali Feliz, RP, TEX: Has had ups and downs, but ranks 2nd in the AL with 28 SVs
3. Jason Heyward, OF, ATL: Hitting .389, with no HRs, in 14 games since return from DL
4. Jaime Garcia, SP, STL: Still battling for Ws, despite rising WHIP — 1.42 since May 31
5. Tyler Colvin, OF, CHC: Best to come for rookie HR leader; is excelling as leadoff man
6. Gaby Sanchez, 1B, FLA: Solid from opening day; subpar power will limit his upside
7. Pedro Alvarez, 3B, PIT: Multi-HR games highlight turnaround from early struggles
8. John Axford, RP, MIL: Former 42nd round pick has emerged with 6 Ws, 15 SVs
9. Starlin Castro, SS, CHC: Rising 20-year-old has .333-2-10-10-4 line as No. 2 hitter
10. Carlos Santana, C, CLE: Absolutely owns the strike zone with a 35 BBs to 28 Ks

11. Brennan Boesch, OF, DET: Hitting proverbial rookie wall with .109 AVG since break
12. Mike Stanton, OF, FLA: Showing immense power (8 HRs), iffy contact rate (61 Ks)
13. Stephen Strasburg, SP, WAS: HUGE talent = HUGE caution with shoulder stiffness
14. Domonic Brown, OF, PHI: Game’s top prospect will be eased into prominent role
15. Jose Tabata, OF, PIT: Continued development makes Tabata, 21, a 2011 sleeper
16. Neil Walker, 2B, PIT: Productive so far, but lacks difference-making power, speed
17. Austin Jackson, OF, DET: Has .365 AVG since the break; leads rookies with 117 hits
18. Ike Davis, 1B, NYM: Revelation in NY; has defied odds with .294 AVG, 7 HRs at home
19. Jonathon Niese, SP, NYM: So-so in fantasy with high contact, light K rate
20. Drew Storen, RP, WAS: With Capps in Minnesota, should soon be full-time closer

21. Alcides Escobar, SS, MIL: Hard luck (.280 BABIP) has played role in subpar season
22. Jon Jay, OF, STL: With enough ABs, would lead all rookies in slugging (.604)
23. Chris Johnson, 3B, HOU: Raking for the ‘Stros; hitting .417 over 13-game hit streak
24. Danny Valencia, 3B, MIN: Hitting his way into Twins’ lineup with .385 AVG
25. Justin Smoak, 1B, SEA: Going gets tougher in Seattle, but still has big power, upside

Ah, the rookie. The most tantalizing, and frustrating, group of players in fantasy. Hard evidence suggests that a very select few will make an impact in their first seasons, but owners still can’t help but go nuts for them in their quests for cheap upside.

To find value in our fantasy rookies, we look for a collection of three attributes:

1.) Talent, obviously. And not only talent, but in what areas does it project in fantasy? A couple of premium tools, say power and baserunning, generally allow a prospect to overcome inexperience and produce early.

2.) Polish. Often, this trumps overall talent, in terms of making an immediate impact. Mature rookies, especially those who have spent several seasons in the minors, adjust quickly and produce with consistency.

3.) Opportunity. All the talent in the world means very little if there are no jobs to fill. The first step for a prospect is grabbing a roster spot. The next is earning enough confidence from his manager and prominent roles on his team. Read more »

Some say the sophomore slump is a myth, but a documented list of players has suffered its full effects.

Just ask Eric Hinske. Coming off a rookie season in which he won the American League Rookie of the Year award with 24 home runs, 13 stolen bases and 99 runs, Hinske faded into relative mediocrity and never played at the same level. Past award winners Dontrelle Willis, Jason Jennings, Angel Berroa and Bobby Crosby have equally suffered from this tragic disease.

With the 2008 Major League Baseball season coming to a close this weekend, fantasy owners, specifically keeper leaguers, can start to think about 2009. This season’s exceptionally deep rookie class will give owners several second-year players to consider as keepers and early draftees next season. Read more »

Lugging veterans’ bags, shagging balls in the outfield, and suffering through rookie hazing all come with the territory of being a first-year player in Major League Baseball. They do what they can, on the field or otherwise, to earn their teammates’ respect as they get used to life in the big leagues.

Some players, like Cincinnati’s Jay Bruce, are lucky enough to learn from historical greats like Ken Griffey Jr. Others, like New York’s Joba Chamberlain, are forced into the limelight, relied upon to fill in for an injured star. Then there are surprises like Mike Aviles, who take an opportunity and run with it in a low pressure city. Read more »

Even before major league rosters expand in September, the fantasy baseball world will have seen a lot of fresh faces arrive make contributions to fantasy teams. Young players are the lifeblood of fantasy rosters, especially those who fly so low under the radar that competition is sparse for their services. Rookies can boost fantasy teams to championships at little to no cost during the season.

The trade deadline was full of important transactions, at least as far as this list is concerned. Sure, CC Sabathia, Manny Ramirez and Rich Harden were big deals for their clubs, but they presented little opportunity for fantasy owners to capitalize. Those chances came in the form of younger players, who were likely fantasy free agents on July 31. Read more »

The arrival of much anticipated rookies Jay Bruce and Clayton Kershaw has shaken up the top 10 rookie rankings. The two phenoms join an already impressive class of rookies that includes: early Cy Young contender Edinson Volquez, Red Sox sparkplug Jacoby Ellsbury, and one of the game’s most productive catchers in Chicago’s Geovany Soto.

Here are the top rookies that have and will continue to make huge fantasy impacts. Read more »

Rookies, despite all their inexperience, can make even a novice fantasy baseball manager look like a serious veteran. These are the top 10 rookies so far this season in the fantasy landscape. And yes, the Cincinnati Reds do have an incredible group of young players. Read more »