A Look at the Best Rookies (Blue Chip or No)

In my last post, I looked at the best hitting prospects in the game and their impact on our game. Tonight, I'll look at the actual best prospects.

MLB Rookie Hitters, B+ or higher, 2008

Rank	Player	$	TW Cost	+/-	Grade
1	Jacoby Ellsbury	$39	$21	+18	A-
2	David Murphy	$31
3	Kosuke Fukudome	$21	$14	+7
4	Joey Votto	$21	$13	+6	A-
5	Evan Longoria	$21	$14	+7	A
6	Geovany Soto	$19	$11	+8	B+
7	Adam Jones	$13	$18	-5	B+
8	Blake DeWitt	$13			C+
9	Ben Francisco	$12			C+
10	Alexei Ramirez	$11	$9	+2
	Average	$20	$10	$4

The average +/- and salaries are for players who were drafted only.

It looks like Sickels didn't grade players like Fukudome and Ramirez, who weren't "prospects" in the truest sense. Fair enough.

Guys like Murphy obviously make everyone gasp, but except for him, the list isn't that shocking.

However, that's like saying it wouldn't be shocking if the Royals win the World Series this year. Guys like Murphy are what keep us on our toes, and muttering about paying $10+ for the blue chippers when we can get guys like Murphy for next to nothing.

He was a C+ prospect for the Red Sox in 2007 who was dumped into the Eric Gagne deal last year. He was also a former first-round pick who - for the most part - simply didn't seem to be panning out. His 2007 numbers in Triple-A Pawtucket in 2007 screamed 5th OF. Maybe.

You can't really target players like him, though. I liked him a little bit coming into the season, and thought he had a shot at replacing Marlon Byrd. But the best I thought he'd do was put up Byrd-like stats.

You still have to pay for the stronger rookies if you're going to pay for rooks at all. Looking at the chart above, their production is still pretty solid for what was paid.