10. Xander Bogaerts, SS/3B, Boston Red Sox
Bogaerts broke onto the scene last year with the tremendous playoff run with the Red Sox. During the playoffs, he hit .296, a solid average for any rookie entering his first post season. Bogaerts has a strong arm and a powerful swing. Whether he ends up playing third base or shortstop, he and Pedroia will lock down the infield of the Red Sox. Look for Bogaerts to have a long and successful career in Boston, despite my hatred for the Sox. (I'm a Rays fan).
9. Jason Heyward, OF, Atlanta Braves
Despite being only 24 years old, Heyward is currently in his 5th season with the Braves. Heyward is typically a consistent player, and in 4 out of his 5 years with the Braves, he hit over .250. 2011 was a real struggle for Jason, hitting only .227. He has obvious power, and the Braves are lucky to have a player who will consistently provide the team with HR's and RBI's. Heyward is one of those guys you can tell will be in the league for a long time. I would suggest the Braves extend his contract ASAP.
8. Wil Myers, OF, Tampa Bay Rays
I've been a die hard Rays fan ever since they joined the MLB in 1998. The Rays have proven that with a winning attitude, a laid back environment, and young talent, a low budget organization can make shit happen. Simply put, Wil Myers could be the next big thing. Wil drops BOMBS. Last year, Myers was awarded with the 2013 American League Rookie of the Year award, and rightfully so. He was called up to the big show on June 18th, and from that day on he proved that he was more than a prospect. Myers ended his rookie year with a .293 average along with 13 home runs and 53 RBI's in just 88 games. For playing only half of the season, Myers put up potential Triple Crown numbers. My only issue with Myers is his inconsistency and strikeout tendency. The Rays made a tremendous leap into the playoffs last year, but Wil seemed to be completely absent. He has rare talent, but until he can put the bat on the ball more often and become a little more consistent, he stays at number 8.
7. Chris Sale, P, Chicago White Sox
6. Yasiel Puig, OF, Los Angeles Dodgers
Ok, let's just first appreciate the amazing bat flip performed by Puig. SWAG. Yasiel Puig is already a household name and he deserves the acknowledgement and publicity. Puig is such an electric player and he's amazing to watch every single game. He made his debut fairly early in the season last year and he is already filling up the highlight reels. Puig became a sensation last season ending his rookie season hitting .319 with 19 home runs and 42 RBI's in only 104 games. Puig could be the next Sammy Sosa (without the needles in his arm), and his hot start this season could promote him to be one hell of a player with a successful career that he is fully capable of accomplishing.
5. Matt Harvey, P, New York Mets
I couldn't talk about Matt Harvey without mentioning the fact that he was born in New London and went to high school in Groton, CT. (Connecticut pride baby!) Harvey took a huge step back in his quest to win his first Cy Young Award when he injured his elbow earlier this year, forcing him to receive "Tommy John" surgery. He is working through rehab and is scheduled to make his return sometime around August. Harvey has tremendous upside, he throws extremely hard (consistently around 96) and has above average off-speed pitches. He has also recorded stellar numbers in his first two seasons in New York. The previous two seasons, Harvey has booked a combined record of 12-10 with an ERA of only 2.39. The only thing we have to look at now is how Matt will come back from surgery. Some guys come back weaker, while some pitchers have come back from rehab a much better pitcher. We have to wait and see what Harvey will become, but for now he is safely at #5.
4. Manny Machado, 3B, Baltimore Orioles
Manny Machado is a STUD. I admire everything about the way he plays the game. He's swift on his feet and he has a terrific bat. He has all the tools necessary to become one of the games greatest players. But before i get ahead of myself, Machado is recently coming off of an injury and he made his season debut just a few days ago. Machado joined the Orioles early on in the 2012 season, and ever since he has been putting up solid numbers. The last two seasons, he has a combined average of .279 with 239 hits, 21 HR's, and 97 RBI's in a total of 156 games. His game can only force me to compare him to one of the games greatest; he goes by the name of Alex Rodriguez. (you might have heard of him?) Manny Machado is an overall terrific player and there is no doubt in my sparse head that he will remain one of Baltimore's beloved athletes for a long time to come. Do NOT be surprised if he picks up a gold glove or two.
3. Jose Fernandez, P, Miami Marlins
Jose Fernandez is a diamond in the rough (sort of). He is one of the very few bright spots for the Miami Marlins, a team who is struggling heavily as an organization. Jose Fernandez lets his awards speak for his talent, as the evidence comes from winning the National League Rookie of The Year award and finished 3rd in voting for the Cy Young award last season. Words can not describe the potential this kid has. He throws absolute cheddar, upper 90's fastball with a breaking ball that i couldn't touch with a shovel. He is already 4-1 this season with an ERA below 1.60, and last seasons statistics were not far off. Last year brought Fernandez to the spotlight as he finished the 2013 season with a 12-6 record and an ERA of 2.19. Along with that, he proved he has powerful stuff by striking out 187 batters in just 172.2 innings. If you're here for my opinion (which i hope you are), I have to believe that Fernandez is capable of doing what Stephen Strasburg accomplished with the Nationals. Jose Fernandez strikes fear into every single batter he faces, and he will definitely be a force for years to come
2. Bryce Harper, OF, Washington Nationals
Bryce Harper is one of the most hyped prospects of all time. Videos of him hitting massive home runs and hitting an absurd .569 as a sophomore in high school led scouts to believe that this kid was for real. Harper was even featured on the front cover of Sports Illustrated as a high schooler, becoming one of the few to ever accomplish that feat. (Lebron James is the first one to come to mind) There was no way to tell if he was for real until his first at bat in 2012 for the Nationals. I was never completely sold on Harper until he proved me wrong by racking up the stats in his first two seasons. In his previous two years with the Nationals, Harper has compiled a combined .272 average with 42 HR's, 117 RBI's, and 260 hits in 257 games. Numbers never lie, and the fact that he averages more than 1 hit per game (barely) shows me that Bryce isn't just a windup and 'swing as hard as he can' guys. He can hit for average and play the field better than most veterans around the league. If Bryce can stay healthy and keep playing like he has, there is absolutely no one in the world that can doubt a bright future for the young man.
1. Mike Trout, OF, Los Angeles Angels
Was this really a surprise? Some of my other top 10 players can be open to debate, but not this one. Mike Trout is simply a BEAST, there's no other way to put it. He is nicknamed "the Millville Meteor" (probably because he hits moon beams). Trout came into the MLB scene late in 2011, where he only hit a measly .220 in 40 games. 2012 would become the year where Trout put his name on the map. The last two years, he has put up numbers that are not only tremendous for a rookie, but insanely good for any player in the league. The previous two seasons, Trout hit for a combined .324 average with 62 homeruns and 196 RBI's in 1,148 at bats. Trout has become one of the greatest players in the MLB and he is slowly becoming the face of the league. If you don't know Mike Trout, you don't know baseball. If Mike Trout continues to put up these monster numbers, there is no telling what he can accomplish.
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