Prospects and Rookies | In the Eyes of the Optiongirl

The 2012 Major League Baseball season is fast approaching with the Cardinals and Miami Marlins to begin the season at Florida’s new ballpark on Wednesday, April 4^th and  six more teams having their opening day festivities on Thursday April 5^th. Fantasy baseball drafts are happening each day continue to do your draft preparation.  Many managers are doing mock drafting (practice your draft strategy) when they know what number they will be picking. This can be done for free in your Yahoo League and highly recommended, easy to do as it is located on your league page and this should help you to be ready for your draft. This year I will be drafting number seven followed by my husband, and my brother in law. (I hope they don’t take to many players that I want).

Any fantasy baseball manager who wants to win their league needs to know the top prospects and rookies.   I find rookies to be an important part of Fantasy Baseball as they can make a big impact on your team whether by waiver pick or by choosing them when you draft, especially in later rounds.

When I was doing my research, I was exploring my favorite site, rotoworld.com and visited their forum pages.   If you have some free time (LOL) forum boards are a good place to meet other sports fanatics that take baseball fantasy seriously.  You can meet new people where you can share your questions, talk about trade possibilities, find out about injuries, plus more. The Rotoworld forums exposed me to a new writer that I thought I would share with you, Hawk Michaels of Fantasy Sports.

Here is his article about some of the top rookies of 2012 Fantasy Baseball. His forecasts are based on a standard single season redraft mixed AL/NL fantasy baseball league for the 2012 season. Scoring settings include: runs scored, home runs, RBI, stolen bases, and batting average - (R, HR, RBI, SB, AVG). ( ) = players age.

2012 Fantasy Baseball: Rookies - Top 6 of Top 25 Draft if you can 

1. Jesus Montero - Sea - C/DH (22)

A pure offensive talent, Montero’s bat and run producing ability will give him an opportunity to play everyday in the Seattle Mariners lineup during the 2012 season. With sketchy defensive skills as a catcher, Montero will see the majority of his at bats as the DH for the Mariners in 2012. Offering 20 plus home run and 80 RBI potential to go along with a .300 batting average hitting ability, Montero should be considered a favorite to win the AL rookie of the year award in 2012.
2011 Minor League Triple A Stats: 420 AB, 52 R, 18 HR, 67 RBI, 0 SB, .288 AVG
2011 Major League Stats: 61 AB, 9 R, 4 HR, 12 RBI, 0 SB, .328 AVG
2012 Stat Projections: 75 R, 22 HR, 80 RBI, 0 SB, .290 AVG

2. Mike Trout - LAA - OF (20)
At just age 20, Trout played in 40 games and tallied 123 at bats in the Angels lineup last season. However since he did not pass the 130 at bats mark in the majors in 2011, Trout still has his rookie eligibility in tack for the 2012 season. As one of the top prospects in the minor leagues over the last three seasons, Trout will have a great opportunity to take over as the Angels starting center fielder in 2012. Offering a solid combination of power and excellent speed, Trout could tally 15 home runs and 30 stolen bases as a rookie during the 2012 season.
2011 Minor League Double A Stats: 353 AB, 82 R, 11 HR, 38 RBI, 33 SB, .326 AVG
2011 Major League Stats: 123 AB, 20 R, 5 HR, 16 RBI, 4 SB, .220 AVG
2012 Stat Projections: 70 R, 15 HR, 50 RBI, 30 SB, .275 AVG

3. Yonder Alonso - SD - 1B/OF (24)
As one of the top hitting first base prospects in the minors over the past three years, Alonso enters the 2012 season with an opportunity to finally take over as an everyday major league starting first baseman. With the starting 1B job his for the taking in San Diego, Alonso is an advanced hitting and experienced rookie who could easily make a run at rookie of the year honors in the NL for the 2012 season. Expect Alonso to hit in the middle of the Padres’ lineup and become a factor as a power hitting run producer who can also hit for a .300 batting average.
2011 Minor League Triple A Stats: 358 AB, 46 R, 12 HR, 56 RBI, 6 SB, .296 AVG
2011 Major League Stats: 88 AB, 9 R, 5 HR, 15 RBI, 0 SB, .330 AVG
2012 Stat Projections: 75 R, 18 HR, 85 RBI, 5 SB, .290 AVG

4. Devin Mesoraco - Cin - C (23)
As one of the best hitting catcher prospects in the minor leagues during the 2011 season, the 23 year old Mesoraco will be given an opportunity to take over as the Cincinnati Reds everyday starting catcher as rookie in 2012. Offering an excellent power hitting bat, Mesoraco has plenty of potential to tally 15 plus home runs during the 2012 season. Fantasy baseball teams will definitely want to target Mesoraco has a high upside catcher pick in their fantasy baseball drafts this season.
2011 Minor League Triple A Stats: 436 AB, 60 R, 15 HR, 71 RBI, 1 SB, .289 AVG
2011 Major League Stats: 50 AB, 5 R, 2 HR, 6 RBI, 0 SB, .180 AVG
2012 Stat Projections: 50 R, 15 HR, 55 RBI, 0 SB, .270 AVG

5. Tyler Pastornicky - Atl - SS (22)
After a breakout season in 2011 while playing at both Double A and Triple A, Pastornicky enters the 2012 season with an excellent opportunity to claim the Braves starting shortstop job. Having yet to make his major league debut, Pastornicky is still considered major league ready and will be relied upon to contribute significantly in the Braves offensive lineup in 2012. Offering 30 stolen base potential and excellent on base skills, Pastornicky could become a solid run scoring option as an ideal #2 hitter in the Braves lineup.
2011 Minor League Double A Stats: 355 AB, 50 R, 6 HR, 36 RBI, 20 SB, .299 AVG
2011 Minor League Triple A Stats: 104 AB, 15 R, 1 HR, 9 RBI, 7 SB, .365 AVG
2011 Major League Stats: NA
2012 Stat Projections: 80 R, 8 HR, 55 RBI, 25 SB, .275 AVG

6. Bryce Harper - Was - OF (19)
The most highly talked about prospect in the MLB entering the 2012 season, Harper who is only 19 years old, could find himself as the youngest player in the majors at some point during the 2012 season. With a mid-season call up very likely for Harper in 2012, fantasy baseball teams will likely overpay for Harper to begin the 2012 season, but could very easily be rewarded abundantly over the second half of the season. Offering an excellent combination of power and speed, Harper’s future is today’s version of Matt Kemp.
2011 Minor League Single A Stats: 258 AB, 49 R, 14 HR, 46 RBI, 19 SB, .318 AVG
2011 Minor League Double A Stats: 129 AB, 14 R, 3 HR, 12 RBI, 7 SB, .256 AVG
2011 Major League Stats: NA
2012 Stat Projections: 30 R, 8 HR, 35 RBI, 10 SB, .280 AVG

To see the complete list of 25 Rookies & Prospects for the 2012 fantasy baseball season, check out his blog at www.hawkfantasysports.wordpress.com

You can also find other information - top 100, sleeper picks and rankings for all positions

I also would like to share Baseball America 2012 Prospects you.

Rank. Player Pos., Team Age ETA

1. Bryce  Harper OF , Nationals Age: 19. ETA: 2012. He should get to the majors as a teenager; settle in and enjoy it.

2. Matt  Moore LHP, Rays Age: 22. ETA: 2012. He makes it look so easy, and he’s so good he’ll make David Price a No. 2 starter.

3. Mike Trout OF  Angels Age: 20. ETA: 2012. His signing scout, Greg Mohrhardt, has since been promoted to Angels crosschecker.

4. Yu  Darvish RHP, Rangers Age: 25. ETA: 2012. t’s hard to moderate expectations for proven Japanese ace, but he should definitely surpass the Dice-K bar.

5. Julio Teheran RHP, Braves Age: 21. ETA: 2012. There’s absolutely no link between his last name and Darvish’s Iranian heritage.

6. Jesus Montero C, Mariners Age: 22. ETA: 2012. He should face less pressure replacing Miguel Olivo rather than Jorge Posada.

7. Jurickson  Profar SS, Rangers Age: 19. ETA: 2013 He should beat out golf, cheesy theme parks as Myrtle Beach’s top 2012 attraction.

8.  Shelby  Miller RHP, Cardinals Age: 21. ETA: 2013 He’s looking to become the first big leaguer named Shelby, and it should happen soon.

9.  Trevor  Bauer RHP, Diamondbacks Age: 21. ETA: 2012 The unique ones are the hardest to project, and no one’s as unique as Bauer.

10. Dylan  Bundy RHP, Orioles Age: 19. ETA: 2013. First goal: Beat big brother Bobby to Baltimore. Next: Make the Orioles relevant. 

I wish you much success on your draft and upcoming baseball season. I appreciate you and give thanks for you stopping by my blog.  Please feel free to share your thoughts, or ask me questions directly by email at BonnieGortler@gmail.com.  Create an excellent week! ~Bonnie 

Bonnie Gortler is a successful stock market guru who is passionate about teaching others about social media, weight loss and wealth. Bonnie is also a huge sports fan who successfully lost over 60 pounds by applying the many lessons learned through her commitment toward personal growth. Choose your very own FREE down-loadable gift from Bonnie by visiting bit.ly/bgoffers. You may also connect with Bonnie via Twitter &Facebook plus subscribe to BonnieGortler.com.

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