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| ALSO SEE NL: Ten to watchAL: Position battlesESPN.com's spring training 2000 coverage | | | |
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Friday, May 12
Rookie Yarnall fits into Yankee rotation
Special to ESPN.com
Part of spring training's undeniable charm is the chance to chart the progress of rookies. Last year's American League Rookie of the Year race highlighted the wealth of incoming talent with players like Carlos Beltran, Freddy Garcia, Carlos Febles, Jeff Zimmerman and Eric Chavez, and this year's crop appears similarly impressive.
Many of the AL's best prospects are pitchers, not surprising since teams have placed so much emphasis on drafting and developing young arms in recent years. A look at 10 American League rookies who could make an impact in the 2000 season: Ed Yarnall, LHP, YankeesYarnall doesn't blow people away with unhittable stuff, but the Yankees love his mound poise and competitiveness. His deceptive delivery makes him tough to pick up and his fastball shows great late movement. On a staff in which three starters enter the season at 34 or older, Yarnall represents the future. The Yanks want to incorporate some youth into the rotation, and of course, it never hurts to be left-handed in Yankee Stadium. Yarnall will have the double luxury of pitching for a good team while being brought along slowly, something few teams can afford with their best pitching prospects. 1999 stats: 13-4, 3.47 ERA, 145.1 IP, 136 H, 57 BB, 146 SO (Triple-A Columbus) Vernon Wells, CF, Blue Jays
Wells went from Class A to the big leagues last year, an indication of his immense talent. Just 21, Wells is the proverbial five-tool player, as evidenced by his selection as the top prospect in both the Southern League (Double-A) and International League (Triple-A). There's little doubt that Wells could play every day in Toronto this season -- after all, he started in center for much of the last month of 1999. But the Jays may be committed to giving Jose Cruz Jr. one last look before plugging Wells into the lineup for good. As such, he'll likely open the season in Syracuse, but it won't for long before he takes over center field in Toronto permanently. 1999 stats: .334, 17 HR, 81 RBI, 24 SB in three stops; hit .261 in 88 at-bats with Toronto Danys Baez, RHP, Indians
Baez was the subject of an intense bidding war by several clubs, with the Indians ultimately landing the Cuban defector with a four-year, $14.4 million commitment. Like all Cuban emigres, the background on Baez is somewhat sketchy, but he impressed scouts who saw him pitch for the Cuban national team at the Pan Am Games in Winnipeg last summer. Like Yarnall, Baez will be monitored closely and developed cautiously. He may not be ready for a heavy workload, but he'll be given a chance in spring training to show he can do the job, either in the rotation or in the bullpen. 1999 stats: Not available Matt Riley, LHP, Orioles
After a long dry spell for developing pitchers, the Orioles may have another home-grown prospect to join Sidney Ponson and Mike Mussina in their rotation. Riley is a hard-throwing lefty who has made a meteoric rise through the system, reaching the majors last September at age 20. No junkballer, Riley has averaged better than a strikeout per inning through his brief pro career, with a sharp-breaking curveball responsible for most of his K's. The O's may have enough depth with Pat Rapp to fill out their rotation and give Riley more time to develop at Rochester. But it would be a surprise if he didn't contribute on the major league level at some point this season. 1999 stats: 13-8, 3.05 ERA, 177.1 IP, 147 H, 56 BB, 189 SO (Class A and Double-A) Dee Brown, OF, Royals
The Kansas City outfield is unquestionably the team's strong point, and with Johnny Damon, Carlos Beltran and Jermaine Dye in place, Brown's opportunities would seem to be limited for the 2000 season. Then again, the Royals could deal Damon for some much-needed pitching and open the door for Brown. Still just 22, Brown combines basestealing speed (30 at two minor league stops) and blossoming power. Somewhat limited defensively, the Royals could have Brown take over in left, as he improved his play in the Arizona Fall League and became more consistent. 1999 stats: .331, 25 HR, 102 RBI, 79 BB, 97 SO (Class A, Double-A) Kip Wells, RHP, White Sox
In an organization full of quality young arms, Wells is acknowledged to be the best of the bunch. Chicago's first pick in 1998, he became the third member of that draft class to reach the big leagues when he made seven starts over the final month for Chicago, going 4-1 with a 4.04 ERA. Wells has a four-pitch repertoire (fastball, curve, slider, changeup) that gives him a variety of different looks, but what impresses most is his mound presence, making him appear far older than 22. 1999 stats: 13-8, 3.29 ERA, 156 IP, 127 H, 65 BB, 139 SO (Class A, Double-A) Ruben Mateo, CF, Rangers
Mateo has been touted as a super talent for several seasons now, but injuries have slowed his fast track to stardom. After missing significant playing time in 1998 because of a variety of ailments, he suffered a broken wrist last year and didn't get the introduction to the major leagues the Rangers would have liked. Few doubt that Mateo has the ability, with terrific bat speed and howitzer-like throwing arm. But he must become more selective at the plate and, above all else, remain healthy for an entire season to showcase his skills. 1999 stats: .336, 18 HR, 62 RBI, 6 SB, 14 BB, 36 SO (Triple-A) Mark Mulder, LHP, A's
Like Tim Hudson, last year's rookie mound sensation, Mulder combines above-average stuff with way-above-average instincts, usually a combination for success. The A's gave Mulder a full year at Triple-A, and while the numbers weren't necessarily showy (6-7, 4.06 ERA), he did finish strongly, with two complete game wins in the postseason. With veterans Kevin Appier and Omar Olivares returning and Ron Mahay the top candidate for the fifth slot, Mulder may begin the year with Vancouver, but he should join Hudson before long. 1999 stats: 6-7, 4.06 ERA, 128.2 IP, 152 H, 31 BB, 81 SO (Triple-A) Ramon Ortiz, RHP, Angels
Talk that the young Dominican is bound to be the next Pedro Martinez can be off-putting and result in unrealistic expectations, but Ortiz seems bound for a strong major league career. Like Martinez, Ortiz has a slim build but powerful fastball. He has battled arm problems before, missing most of 1998 with an elbow injury, but he seems to have recovered fully. Ken Hill is nominally the Anaheim ace after the loss of free agent Chuck Finley, but Ortiz could assume that mantle quickly. 1999 stats: 14-7, 3.25 ERA, 155.1 IP, 134 H, 59 BB, 150 SO (Double-A, Triple-A) Carlos Guillen, 3B, Mariners
Guillen's 199 season ended early when he ripped up a knee in the first week and was lost for the year. In Guillen's absence, David Bell claimed the second base job, but with the departure of Russ Davis, Guillen is being shifted to third base. That makes it three positions in three seasons for Guillen, who came up with Houston as a shortstop before being moved to the other side of the bag. Few doubt he has the ability to master third, but there will be a period of adjustment, made more difficult by the fact that he lost a year of development. 1999 stats: Injured, hit .158 in 19 at-bats with Seattle Sean McAdam of the Providence Journal-Bulletin covers the American League for ESPN.com.
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