Bad Wax

I don’t know about you, but I miss the rated rookies subset and I think when and if Donruss ever gets their MLB license back they should definitely start producing them again. So in the meantime, I thought it would be fun to create a rated rookie set for this upcoming season. Unfortunately I’m sure Donruss owns the rights to the name so I have to come up a new name. I have come up my own name, which I’m sure has already been used, but what the hell, I’ll call them RIDICULOUS ROOKIES!

The rules are simple. To qualify the player has to have finished in at least AA or higher at the end of the 2008 season. They can have MLB time but no more than 150 at bats or no more than 50 innings pitched. These are all players that should make an impact in 2009. If you have any graphics skills come up with a logo and I’ll send you some bad wax. I’ve got my list and I’m counting backwards from 20 to 1. Let me know what you think.

18 – Ridiculous Rookies – Derek Holland

Player Name: Derek Holland

Player’s Team: Texas Rangers

Will he start the year in the majors this year?: Yes, mid to end of the year.

Position: Staring pitcher

Outlook for this season: I am always apprehensive about nominating a one year wonder.  The truth is though, he moved up from low A to AA last year posting a 13-1/2.28/1.00 averaging about a strikeout an inning.  All three leagues he pitched in are notorious hitters leagues, so that makes those numbers even more impressive.  He is just 22, but the Rangers are so desperate for starting pitching that he will get a long look at Spring Training.  He will start the year off in AAA, but is he continues to dominate, he’ll be in the majors by June.  Reminds me a lot of  Cole Hamels.  He has a good sense of the strike zone a plus fastball, and mixes in a solid change up and slider.

His future: Front of the rotation starter.  If he can stay healthy, which he has, he should turn out to be an ace or a number 2 in the Ranger’s rotation.

Card Values: One of the more affordable Ridiculous Rookies, most of his cards haven’t topped the $5 mark even for game used and autos.  So definitely worth an investment.