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There has been no shortage of talented offensive rookies in 2006. From the speedy Hanley Ramirez (41 steals), the sweet-swinging Ryan Zimmerman (38 doubles, 86 RBIs), the powerful Prince Fielder (23 homers) to the surprising Dan Uggla (20 homers, 86 runs) and Andre Ethier (.339 batting average), first-year hitters have burst onto the fantasy scene this season.

Which begs the question:

With September callups imminent, who's the next rookie hitter to make a big-league splash?

Cory Schwartz
MLB.com Director of Stats and Fantasy 411 co-host


Alex Gordon, Kansas City Royals
If you don't yet know about Alex Gordon, you should. Quite possibly the best offensive prospect in baseball who has yet to see a Major League at-bat, Gordon will be the preseason favorite for the 2007 American League Rookie of the Year award on the strength of a transcendent season in the Double-A Texas League this season. The Royals' No. 1 pick in 2005, Gordon is hitting for average (.326), power (29 homers and 37 doubles for a .602 slugging percentage) and with plate discipline (71 walks and a .431 on-base percentage). Like speed? He's got 22 steals in 25 attempts. And if you like position scarcity, he's a third baseman whose glove is fully expected to handle the transition to the Majors. Or put another way, he's been routinely compared to players like David Wright, Chipper Jones and Scott Rolen. Incumbent Royals third baseman Mark Teahen is having a terrific second half and currently blocking Gordon's progress, but make no mistake, Gordon is the Minor League hitter with the shortest path to Major League stardom.

Mike Siano
MLB.com Fantasy 411 co-host


Delmon Young, Tampa Bay Devil Rays
Delmon Young getting called up Monday solidified him as my choice since I was leaning toward him anyway but wasn't sure if the Rays would call him up or keep him at Triple-A to teach him some humility. Delmon has a lot to prove in the coming weeks and definitely has the talent to do it. Right now, he is a clone of Bobby Abreu, meaning he will hit for average, drive in runs and steal you bases while having less pop then expected. Young is a guy who should be added in all formats since he’s Major League ready when it comes to stepping to the plate.

Alex Cushing
MLB.com Fantasy Writer


Chris Iannetta, Colorado Rockies
It isn't often that rookie backstops come recommended in fantasy leagues.

That is, except for the Rockies' Chris Iannetta, who was called up Saturday and is regarded as one of baseball's top catching prospects.

Above all, Iannetta has impeccable pitch recognition, as exhibited by his impressive 48/55 BB/K ratio between Double-A Tulsa and Triple-A Colorado Springs this year and supported by his prior Minor League output. Similar to many young hitters, the 23-year-old has plenty of gap power (.583 slugging percentage at Tulsa), which should develop into home run pop as he matures.

Iannetta's top attribute for the immediate future, though, is his ability to hit for average. Look no further than his .351 mark at Colorado Springs. Granted, the Texas League and PCL are both hitter-friendly leagues, but Iannetta’s plate discipline will likely enable him to sustain his good fortunes in the bigs. The North Carolina product could even emerge as a top 12 catcher in September, especially with a pair of unimpressive backstops (Yorvit Torrealba, Danny Ardoin) standing between him and a steady dose of playing time. For owners who miss out on the Delmon Young chase, Iannetta makes for an excellent alternative in deep mixed-league play.

Dean Chiungos
MLB.com Fantasy Writer


Chris Young, Arizona Diamondbacks
The baseball season is nearing its stretch run, but the Year of Chris Young has only just begun.

Consider:

• On the heels of back-to-back 20/20 seasons at Class A Kannapolis and Double-A Birmingham, the 22-year-old Young batted .276 with 17 stolen bases, 32 doubles, four triples, 21 homers, 77 RBIs, a 71/52 K/BB ratio and a .532 slugging mark in 402 at-bats for Triple-A Tucson prior to his Aug. 18 callup.
• Young has already made a Major League impact, having gone 4-for-13 (.308) with a double, a homer, three runs scored and two RBIs over his first six games with the big club.
• With Shawn Green out of the picture, Young has started two of Arizona’s last five games in center field (with Eric Byrnes starting in right) and could see everyday at-bats if fellow rookie Carlos Quentin doesn’t do something about his .190 average and .317 slugging percentage in August.
• Young’s Gold Glove potential will only help his case for regular playing time.
• Regardless of his impact down the stretch, the 6-foot-2, 180-pounder’s 30/30 potential and claim to Arizona’s starting center field job in 2007 make him a “no-brainer retainer” in keeper formats.

Cara Pitterman
MLB.com Fantasy Writer


Ryan Garko, Cleveland Indians
If Ryan Garko smacks the ball all over the field but nobody notices, does he make a sound fantasy-wise? If the answer in your league is "no," be the one to pick him up. Through Tuesday, 20 days since his callup to the Indians, the rookie's numbers have been undeniably good: .333 average, four homers, and 17 RBIs. He's even riding an eight-game hitting streak, during which he’s racked up five multi-hit efforts. And lest you think the hot bat is beginner's luck, take a look at the noise he made in 2005, his second full professional season. At Triple-A Buffalo, Garko earned team co-MVP honors with a .303 average, 19 home runs, and 77 RBIs in 127 games. The 25-year-old, who's playing first base but also saw time catching in the Minors, can clearly perform at every level. And in the world according to Garko, it's time take note.

Ben Heller
MLB.com Fantasy Writer


Ryan Garko, Cleveland Indians
It’s nearly impossible to predict which late-season callups will provide that little fantasy boost to put you over the top. For every “can’t-miss” prospect like Andy Marte (.140 average in 57 at-bats for the Braves last year), there’s an un-hyped guy like Rudy Pemberton (21-for-41, 10 ribbies for the ’96 Red Sox) who crashes the September prospect party.

This is why I’ll recommend a guy who’s quietly been tearing things up in August: Indians first baseman Ryan Garko. Through 68 at-bats, the 25-year-old Garko has hit .338 with four homers and 19 RBIs and enters Tuesday’s action with a modest eight-game hitting streak. Best of all, with the Tribe going nowhere in the standings, Garko will get serious playing time in September, which is something you can’t say for a lot of the "can’t-miss" names you’ll be hearing about in the coming weeks. Need a bat? Don’t be afraid o’ the Garko.

Gregg Schwartz
MLB.com Fantasy Writer


Felix Pie, Chicago Cubs and Ryan Garko, Cleveland Indians
With center fielder Juan Pierre set to become a free agent at season’s end, the Cubs are going to have to take a look at his successor, Felix Pie, in September. A highly rated prospect, Pie has been tearing up Triple-A of late, posting a .319 average, six home runs and 10 stolen bases over his last 56 games -- this, after hitting .248 with seven homers and five steals over his first 78 contests this season. With a month to go in 2006, the 21-year-old has a combination of power and speed that could prove to be valuable fantasy commodity over the stretch run.

Another guy I like a lot is Ryan Garko, who can be found on many waiver wires despite having hit .338 with four homers and 19 RBIs in 20 games since being called up from Triple-A. The 25-year-old has been so impressive that the Indians brass is beginning to rethink their plans to permanently move catcher Victor Martinez to first base down the road. If you’re worried that Garko’s emergence is a fluke, stop worrying. In 389 career Minor League games, he hit .295 with 60 homers and 251 RBIs.

Tim Ott
MLB.com Fantasy Writer


Shin-Soo Choo, Cleveland Indians
Everyone is naturally waiting to see what uber-talents Delmon Young and Brandon Wood can do at the Major League level, but owners may also want to take a long look at Indians outfielder Shin-Soo Choo.

Once a highly-regarded prospect in the Seattle farm system, Choo was unable to earn more than the occasional cup of coffee with the Mariners despite posting some impressive Minor League statistics (.893 OPS, 71 runs, 26 steals in 94 Triple-A games this year). The 24-year-old was given a big-league job almost immediately after being traded in late July, though, and he's responded with an .869 OPS and 17 RBIs in 24 games with the Indians.

Choo hasn't displayed much home-run power or aggressiveness on the basepaths so far, but that should come as he gets more used to his surroundings. And given that he's all but assured the opportunity to play every day over the next five weeks, he could wind up making as big of a fantasy impact as any other rookie out there.

This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.