2009 Top MLB Rookies

CBS Sports recently released a list of their top 25 rookies and prospects to watch for the 2009 fantasy baseball season.  You can see the full list here:  CBS
Sports’ Top 25 Rookies .  Of these rookies, which ones have the highest potential impact for card collectors and prospectors? 
 
To answer that question, we first need to look at which types of players seem to have the highest appeal to card collectors.  Here, we’re thinking about the short term, because you really won’t know if any of these prospects will turn in a Cal Ripken-esque career at this point.  Generally, power hitters and dominant starting pitchers are the guys that collectors go gaga over.  You might also want to include speed demons in this category (think of a guy like Jose Reyes, Vince Coleman or Rickey Henderson).  You don’t see collectors chasing after great fielders, outfielders with terrific arms, relief pitchers or even closers when it comes to rookies. 
 
Using the above criteria, we can narrow down our list of rookies to keep a close eye on.  Let’s take a look at five of them right now. 
 
 
David Price SP, Tampa Bay Devil Rays – We saw Price briefly in the bigs last year at the tail-end of the regular season and in the playoffs.  In 14 regular season innings, Price had 12 strikeouts and a 1.93 ERA.  He added to those numbers in the playoffs with a win and 8 strikeouts in 5.2 innings pitched.  There’s no reason to doubt that the first overall pick in the 2007 MLB draft will pick up where he left off last year.  
 
Matt Wieters, C, Baltimore Orioles – In one minor league season split between A and AA ball, Wieters had 27 homers in only 437 at-bats.  Think this guy might have some power?  He also had 91 RBI to go with his combined .355 batting average.  They’re saying he’ll start in the minors this year.  Let’s see how long that lasts.  
 
Travis Snider, OF, Toronto Blue Jays – 17 homers in 362 at-bats at AA New Hampshire in 2008; not too shabby.  He should be a starter in the outfield for the Blue Jays in 2009 and he’s only 21.  Pick up his rookie cards now.     
 
Matt LaPorta, 1B / OF / DH, Cleveland Indians – In 293 at-bats at AA Huntsville, LaPorta banged out 19 dingers.  He certainly has the power to become a favorite of rookie card collectors.  LaPorta will probably start the season in the minors, but depending on how the Indians perform, he could be putting balls over MLB fences before the All-Star break.
 
Cameron Maybin, OF, Florida Marlins – Maybin played briefly in the bigs in 2008 with the fish, although he also did so with the Tigers in ’07.  In ’08 he batted .500, albeit in 32 at-bats.  Maybin’s real asset though is his speed and power combination.   He had 21 stolen bases and 13 homers in 290 at-bats at AA Carolina.  This may be the year that Maybin gets his full-time shot at the major league level.