BASEBALL 2008: Top 10 rookies to watch this season

Updated: March 27, 2008, 7:38 PM ET
Associated Press

NEW YORK -- Troy Tulowitzki was at the center of the Colorado Rockies' run to the National League pennant last season. Here are 10 rookies hoping to have a similar impact in 2008:

CF Jacoby Ellsbury, Boston -- All Ellsbury did last year was hit .353 in 33 games in the regular season and .438 in the World Series. A similar performance this year and the 24-year-old speedster is sure to be one of the most popular athletes in New England.

RHP Joba Chamberlain, New York Yankees -- The Joba Rules gave way to Joba rules as the starter-turned-reliever solidified the Yankees' bullpen late last season. Chamberlain is headed for the rotation at some point, but he'll start the year in New York's bullpen.

2B Jayson Nix, Colorado -- Batted .292 with 11 homers and 24 steals at Triple-A Colorado Springs last year, and won the second-base job during a crowded spring competition.

1B Daric Barton, Oakland -- The Athletics are rebuilding and they may have something with Barton, who hit .347 in 18 games with the big league club last year.

RHP Johnny Cueto, Cincinnati -- The Reds' minor league pitcher of the year the last two seasons, Cueto lit up radar guns all over Florida during spring training.

C Geovany Soto, Chicago Cubs -- Had a huge year at Triple-A Iowa last season and looked good in a short stint with Chicago (.389 with three homers in 18 games).

INF Alexei Ramirez, Chicago White Sox -- It's unclear exactly where he's going to play, but the talented Cuban slugger may have been one of the biggest free-agent bargains of the offseason.

RHP Hiroki Kuroda, Los Angeles Dodgers -- The Japanese starter got a $35.2 million, three-year contract in December and should provide some depth in new manager Joe Torre's rotation.

LHP Manny Parra, Milwaukee Brewers -- With Chris Capuano out and Yovani Gallardo hurting, the Brewers are going to take a good long look at the talented lefty in the early going.

3B Evan Longoria, Tampa Bay -- The sweet-swinging slugger will start the season in the minors, but is unlikely to be there very long. Among the Grapefruit League leaders in RBIs during impressive spring.


Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press

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