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.
6 – Ridiculous Rookies – Andrew McCutchen
Player Name: Andrew McCutchen
Player’s Team: Pittsburgh Pirates
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: I think he is going to become the next great player the Pirates are going to trade in three years. He has all the tools to become a 20/20 outfielder for the Pirates. Here’s the problem, the Pirates have so many outfielders that something has to give in order for him to make it to the majors. He has spent a season and a half in AAA, either they don’t feel he is ready yet, or they know he’s ready, but they keep him down there in order to keep him into his prime years. Either way he’s getting to the majors this year. My guess would be in June. Look for him to eventually become a 0.282/23/89/30 kind of hitter with a great glove and tremendous speed.
His future: As early as late 2009 he should become the everyday CF for the Pirates and by 2010 he will be the incumbent.
Card Values: They are not really high. Autographs are going for nearly $15, game used $8 and rookie cards are going for $2. He is very good and is worth a look se to see how he responds to another year of development in AAA.
