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.
9 – Ridiculous Rookies – Dexter Fowler
Player Name: Dexter Fowler
Player’s Team: Colorado Rockies
Will he start the year in the majors this year?: Looks like he opens up in AAA with a June call up.
Position: Outfield
Outlook for this season: Dexter has spent a year at every level in the minors, last year he was in Tulsa of the Texas League. He is a high average hitter, who doesn’t strike out as much as a typical minor leaguer but he still has trouble with patience at the plate. He has is MLB material defensively with an absolute cannon of an arm. He possesses top of the order speed (101 career minor league stolen bases), and gets on base just like a top of the order guy needs to (0.431 last season). His power numbers are low (9 homers last year) but he had 31 doubles which I would think is a good indicator that he should be a 15-20 homer guy as he peaks. A typical season from him I would think would be 0.290/18/75/35 with 90 runs.
His future: Look for him roaming center field by the end of the season. Should be a top of the lineup guy starting next year.
Card Values: They are extremely low. Autographs are going for nearly $2 – $5, game used $2 and rookie cards are going for $1. Way undervalued in my opinion. Use some caution though, speed hitters almost never do well in Colorado.
