2010 MLB Rookies: The A-Z List

The 2010 Major League Baseball season may go down in history as the year of the rookie. Sports announcers fell in love with the term "year of the pitcher" and pitching had a major part in how the San Francisco Giants won the World Series. However, it was a rookie catcher guiding the pitching staff that really stirred the media fires and his competition for the coveted Rookie Of The Year award was hot. Here is a look at some of the rookie class of 2010. Some make for a good argument and the question: what makes a rookie? And some may have been missed by me altogether and not on the list, having gained a rookie card in the year, but no playing time; alas I am a one man research team and the rookies were many. Here they are in alphabetical order by last name.

A:

Brandon Allen: This player could be a first baseman or an outfielder, depending on where the power is needed and if he is swinging with power. He did not get very much time with the Arizona Diamondbacks to show his stuff, but he did out one over the fence for them.

Pedro Alvarez: A third baseman for the Pittsburg Pirates he may have been hidden from the mass media on a losing team, but local fans may have something to cheer about for years to come. He was the Rookie of the Month for the National League in September of 2010 and was the Player of the Week for the entire league of players in that same month. He cranked out 16 home runs!

Bryan Anderson: He caught 15 games behind the plate for the Saint Louis Cardinals in 2010. He has been considered a better hitter than defender, but is going to need more games to show that off.

J.P. Arencibia: Another example of a player who earned a rookie card, but did not actually play too many games. J.P. Arencibia is a catcher for the Toronto Blue Jays and even though he was only in the big leagues for 11 games he made his presence known: he hit two homer runs in his first game!

Jake Arrieta: This pitcher debuted on a struggling team, the Baltimore Orioles, but managed to fight to a split record of 6 wins and 6 losses. He ended his season with a bone spur, but the Orioles will be looking for him to come back in 2011 with improvements.

Luis Atilano: He spent his rookie year pitching for the Washington Nationals. With a 5.15 ERA and a 6 wins, 7 losses record, he may have to fight hard to keep his big league status.

John Axford: John Axford is a pitcher for the Milwaukee Brewers and he had a strong 2010 rookie season with a record of 8 wins and only 2 losses. He struck out 76.

B:

Brennan Boesch: This outfielder for the Detroit Tigers won Rookie Of The Month honors for the first two months of his major league debut. His hitting impressed everyone through the first part of the season, but he did have some set backs and a not as pretty second half to the year. Tigers fans have high hopes for Brennan Boesch to develop into a more reliable power source in the near future.

Peter Bourjos: This Los Angeles Angel centerfielder has proven to be outstanding defensively, but his bat has some catching up to do. In 181 at bats he hit for an average of .204.

Michael Brantley: His rookie season was plagued with injuries, but this centerfielder will be trying to retain a job with the Cleveland Indians in the future.

Domonic Brown: A right fielder by trade he is considered the top prospect for the Philadelphia Phillies, who made him a rookie in 2010 with 35 games. Now that Jayson Werth is out of the picture, Phillie fans will be looking to Domonic Brown to fill the every day role out there.

Madison Bumgarner: This pitcher for the San Francisco Giants stands on the mound and you can just tell he is a competitor with a take no prisoners workhorse mentality. He all but stole the starting job of Barry Zito during the latter portion of the season, and in fact replaced him on the squad for the playoffs. Madison Bumgarner threw a gem of a game during game 4 of the World Series with an 8 inning shutout.

Alex Burnett: This pitcher for the Minnesota Twins was used in relief during 41 games, but sort of bounced back and forth from the majors to the minors.

Drew Butera: The primary backup catcher for Joe Mauer, he is going to have to do better than his .197 batting average in 2010 if he wants them to sit Mauer more often.

Josh Butler: Josh Butler is a pitcher who got in 4 innings of work for the Milwaukee Brewers in 2010.

C:

Lorenzo Cain: An outfielder who got broken in by the Milwaukee Brewers in 2010, he was traded to the Kansas City Royals where his speed rounding the bases may help set him apart from the competition.

Matt Carson: Matt Carson is an outfielder who got 79 at bats for the Oakland Athletics in 2010. He dinged out 4 home runs, but ended his time with a .177 batting average.

Chris Carter: This player saw some time in Left Field for the Oakland Athletics. His batting average was a mere .186, but that was with only 70 trips up to the plate yielding 13 hits with 3 home runs.

Andrew Cashner: Before the 2010 season started Andrew Cashner was considered the top ranking prospect for the Chicago Cubs. Starlin Castro may have stolen some of the spotlight when it came time for debuts, but this pitcher did take the mound to make it his rookie season. He did not fare too well in the wins to losses ratio with only 2 wins and 6 losses, but he has experience now to build on.

Welington Castillo: He is a catcher for the Chicago Cubs. He did not get much playing time in what the baseball card market dubbed his rookie season, only 7 games. In 20 at bats he got 6 hits with one home run.

Jason Castro: 2010 was the start for this player as the catcher of the Houston Astros. Statistically he is a work-in-progress, but hopes are high for his productivity in the future.

Starlin Castro: Another 2010 rookie who helped start the class tradition of hitting a home run with their first major league at bat. Starlin Castro is the shortstop for the Chicago Cubs. His offensive contributions were irreplaceable for the team and fans took notice. Now he just needs to lower the amount of fielding errors he commits; a team leading 27 and bad for second place honors in all of the National League.

Jhoulys Chacin: This pitcher for the Colorado Rockies got to see some action in 2009, but 2010 was his first full "rookie" season. He had the most strikeouts over all other rookie pitchers in the National League with 138.

Aroldis Chapman: This rookie relief pitcher for the Cincinnati Reds took the majors by storm, burning fastballs over the plate. He was clocked at throwing 105 miles per hour, a record according to many, and the inspiration for a tattoo he now sports on his wrist. The Reds have stated that they will continue to use Aroldis Chapman in the role of reliever for the 2011 season, however, a jump to starting pitcher is not out of the cards.

Tyler Colvin: He manned the outfield and had a very strong season for the Chicago Cubs. His rookie year contributions may end up being overshadowed by how his season was ended. In September, facing off against the Florida Marlins, he was struck by a piece of shattered bat while on the base path. The wood punctured his lung and ended his year.

Allen Craig: Allen Craig is an outfielder rookie who saw playing time in right field for the Saint Louis Cardinals. He managed to pop out 4 home runs in 114 at bats with a .246 average.

Colin Curtis: He earned his Bowman baseball rookie card in 2010 as an outfielder for the New York Yankees. Curtis did not take to the field more than 31 games, but he made a nice substitute when others were injured. A survivor of testicular cancer when he was only 15, Colin Curtis will need to get more playing time to see if he can survive as a big league starter.

D:

Brad Davis: This catcher played his rookie year for the Florida Marlins. He didn't really do anything to make himself standout from the pack, but the "pack" really had some standouts this year. At the age of 28 time is not on his side.

Ike Davis: Ike Davis is a first baseman for the New York Mets. The 2010 season for the Mets was more about ownership drama than it was about on the field feats, but this rookie did not go unnoticed entirely. He set the Mets record for total bases by a rookie, while tying the records for walks and extra base hits by a rookie.

Wade Davis: This pitcher landed in fourth during the voting for American League rookie of the year and is set to be another young franchise talent for the Tampa Bay Rays. He was the American League Rookie of the Month in July and ended the season with a record of 12 wins and 10 losses.

Sam Demel: This pitcher for the Arizona Diamondbacks made his 2010 debut in June. He played in 37 games and managed to gain a record of 2 wins and 1 loss while pitching in relief.

Ian Desmond: The Washington Nationals were breaking in a lot of new talent in 2010 and Ian Desmond stepped up to the majors to play shortstop for them. He had solid offensive numbers for the losing club and managed to swipe 17 stolen bases as well.

Argenis Diaz: This second baseman got in 33 at bats as a Pittsburgh Pirate in 2010. He has since been traded to the Detroit Tigers.

Jason Donald: Jason Donald did what he could for the Cleveland Indians in 2010, taking over the position of shortstop after injuries felled those ahead of him. He still has a lot to prove if he wants to remain their top pick for that spot on the field. His rookie year moment that may be most remember is when he made it safe to first base, though really out, when Jim Joyce ruined the perfect game for Detroit Tigers pitcher Armando Galarraga.

Josh Donaldson: His playing time was very limited in 2010, but he did make it to 32 plate appearances in 14 games for the Oakland Athletics. He is considered a candidate for the role of backup catcher, but has experience at first base or even third if needed.

Felix Doubront: He played in 12 games for the Boston Red Sox in 2010. Even though he had some starting gigs he is projected to land in their bullpen for the future. He had a record of 2 wins and 2 losses on the season.

Matt Downs: Matt Downs played for the Houston Astros in 2010 with Second base being his calling of choice. Whether or not he proved himself the go-to guy for in the future is more likely a matter for spring training contention.

Michael Dunn: The Yankees turned this outfielder into a pitcher and then traded him away to the Atlanta Braves who then traded him to the Florida Marlins who gave him the ball and let him do some pitching in 2010. He made 25 appearances in relief, netting a 1.89 ERA.

Luis Durango: The San Diego Padres gave Luis Durango playing time in 2010 as an outfielder. He showed some promise in 28 games, but needs to get many more under his belt before MLB highlights are featuring him on a consistent basis.

E:

John Ely: This pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers was called a "wrecking ball" by some as he mowed through batters for an impressive start to his season. However, his skills waned as the games went on and he finished 2010 with a 4 wins and 10 losses record.

Jesse English: A pitcher for the Washington Nationals, he had a great debut game, but did not get more than seven innings in the season.

Alcides Escobar: He spent his rookie season as a shortstop for the Milwaukee Brewers, however, the Kansas City Royals took him in an after season trade. He is not a power producer with his bat, only whacking 4 home runs and batting for a .235 average in 2010, but perhaps with a fresh uniform he will live up to his grander potential.

F:

Jesus Feliciano: This 2010 rookie played the outfield for the struggling Mets. In his 54 games he didn't zap them back into contention.

Neftali Feliz: This pitcher for the Texas Rangers took on the ever important role of being the closer. He also closed the American League Rookie Of The Year contest, winning the prize. The Texas Rangers have a bright future with young players like Neftali Feliz, who helped charge them into the 2010 World Series.

Tyler Flowers: Topps and Upper Deck baseball cards, along with others, may have jumped the gun thinking this catcher would play enough to be a rookie in 2010 for the Chicago White Sox. However, he has yet to live up to expectations and did not become the starting catcher he was projected to be. A high amount of strikeouts is what plagues him in the minors and in 2010 he only took 11 trips to the plate.

Juan Francisco: A third baseman, he got his shot with the Cincinnati Reds in 2010 after Scott Rolen succumb to injury. Juan did not exactly capitalize on the opportunity and has a reputation for being a strikeout king; not a good thing when you aren't a pitcher. To be fair his amount of at bats was limited to 55.

David Freese: He was the starting third baseman for the Saint Louis Cardinals in 2010, however, ankle injuries cut his year short. David Freese is still a man with potential to live up to and could be the starting third baseman for the Cardinals in the 2011 baseball season if he stays healthy.

G:

Armando Gabino: Around 4 innings with 7 runs given up, not a great rookie start in 2010 for this Baltimore Orioles pitcher.

Jaime Garcia: A pitcher for the Saint Louis Cardinals he had a standout season, yet flew somewhat under the radar; buried by the press of Jason Heyward, Stephen Strasburg, and Buster Posey. However, when it came time for Rookie Of The Year voting his name was right up there in votes, third from the top. A silver lining of hope for those who invested in Stephen Strasburg, Jaime Garcia had the same surgery on his arm in 2008 and still came back to form for the 2010 season.

Craig Gentry: He did not play as an every day outfielder, but the Texas Rangers did give this rookie some playing time in 2010. He was doing some impressive things in the minors and Nelson Cruz needed a break. Gentry managed to get his lucky first seven hits during the season.

Cole Gillespie: An outfielder for the Arizona Diamondbacks he saw over 100 at bats and hit for a .231 average, but it remains to be seen if he will ever bring any dazzle to his game.

Jeanmar Gomez: The Cleveland Indians put this pitcher on the mound for a rookie season record of 4-5. His stats and lack of diversity in pitches, indicates he may need some more time to develop if they can find a more suited player for the roster in 2011.

H:

Eric Hacker: This pitcher went from the Yankees, to the Pirates, to the San Francisco Giants, and then on to the Minnesota Twins. He only pitched 3 innings in 2010, but lands on this list because there is a "rookie" baseball card in existence of him.

Chris Heisey: An outfielder for the Cincinnati Reds he was not in the nationwide headlines too often, but if the baseball collecting market is any indication of worth he has rising value. In 2010 he hit 8 homers with a .254 average in 201 at bats.

Jeremy Hellickson: A right handed pitcher for the Tampa Bay Rays, this pitcher impressed many with his 2010 performance. The Rays traded away their ace Matt Garza, partially due to their confidence in Hellickson remaining a key part of their pitching staff for the future.

David Herndon: A relief pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies, he may have his work cut out for him to remain relevant on the squad in the future. However, his knack for getting batters to hit ground balls is a plus.

Frank Herrmann: A relief pitcher for the Cleveland Indians in 2010, this rookie had some struggles adapting to left handed hitters.

John Hester: A backup catcher within the ranks of the Arizona Diamondbacks. He is yet another addition to the home run in their first major league at bat club.

Jason Heyward: Coming into the 2010 baseball season Jason Heyward was one of the most talked about prospects and he did not disappoint; hitting a massive home run in his first major league at bat. He is a left handed hitting Right fielder for the Atlanta Braves and came in second place in the voting for Rookie Of The Year. He is no stranger to Buster Posey as a competitor as the two squared off against each other in college games, being from the same region of the country. Heyward was also selected to the All-Star team in his first year.

Brandon Hicks: A third baseman for the Atlanta Braves, he only got to show off his skills in 18 games for the 2010 season. His stats are listed as 5 at bats with 1 walk, 2 strikeouts, and 7 runs. Go figure.

Daniel Hudson: This pitcher started his career with the Chicago White Sox, but was traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks where he made his rookie presence felt in 2010. He had a strong record with 8 wins and 2 losses, even though the Diamondbacks had a weak season overall.

Dusty Hughes: In 2010 The Kansas City Royals gave this rookie pitcher his chance to throw the ball. His numbers were not superstar stats, but reasonable enough that the Minnesota Twins decided to pick him up in January of 2011 for their team.

Luke Hughes: An Aussie who landed with the Minnesota Twins in 2010 and landed his first ever hit baseball in the bleachers for a home run. Danny Valencia has secured his place at third for the near future, so where Hughes fits in with the Twins remains to be seen.

Rhyne Hughes: He did not see much action in 2010, but what he did was at first base with the Baltimore Orioles. In 2011 the Orioles have veteran Derrick Lee manning that base, so Hughes may have to wait for his chance to really shine.

J:

Austin Jackson: Austin Jackson was a hot prospect with the New York Yankees organization, but was traded to the Detroit Tigers where he stepped into the major leagues and made his presence known. A speedy man around the bases he has publicly set some lofty goals for the 2011 season, perhaps going to make a run at some Rickey Henderson records. First one must get on base before he can steal them and Austin Jackson showed he could hit in 2010, leading the majors in that category for the first month of the season. He came in second place in the American League Rookie Of The Year voting.

Kenley Janson: 41 strikeouts in 27 innings! This guy could have had a stellar rookie season if he were around more. He seems to rely only on the fastball and may or may not be burning them over the plate for more innings in 2011 with the Kansas City Royals.

John Jaso: He not only became the catcher for the Tampa Bay Rays in 2010, but also their leadoff hitter. He is still learning, as any rookie is, but the Tampa Bay Rays like what they're seeing in his abilities to man a game from behind the plate.

Jon Jay: He saw action in his rookie season in right field for the Saint Louis Cardinals. He hit for .300 average in 287 at bats, but his future as a starter with the club come 2011 is doubtful as the Cardinals signed Lance Berkman to hang out in right.

Waldis Joaquin: This right handed pitcher got some playing time with the San Francisco Giants in 2010 and his own Topps Finest rookie baseball card. However, the Giants cut him loose at the end of the season and the Chicago White Sox tried to pick him up. I guess he refused the deal and became a free agent, as of this writing I'm not too clear on what became of him or what team he is going to be with.

Chris Johnson: Many did not notice, but Houston Astros rookie third baseman Chris Johnson put up some monster numbers in the 2010 season. The problem is that his offensive upside was countered by a large amount of strikeouts. If he continues to swing as freely as he does, a full second season could prove his statistics to be a fluke and not the norm.

K:

Kila Ka'aihue: Kila made it to the big leagues in 2008, skipped 2009, and then got rookie cards again in 2010. He is a strong hitter and by most accounts should take thw starting first base job for the Kansas City Royals in 2011.

Ryan Kalish: This Jewish outfielder plays for the Boston Red Sox and was responsible for the injury that took out Cleveland Indians rookie catcher Carlos Santana. He held his own amongst the rookie class in 2010 though not as prolifically. The Red Sox are stocked with talent in the outfield so time will tell if Kalish will get the opportunities to truly prove himself beyond a reasonable doubt.

Brad Kilby: The Oakland Athletics sent Brad Kilby to the mound for pitching duties five times in 2010. He actually played more games in 2009, but 2010 Topps Finest baseball cards issued his Rookie Card amongst those of 2010.

Erik Kratz: Another player who will have his rookie status debated if he becomes a major league mainstay in the future, but he did get the coveted status of an RC on a baseball card. He is a catcher who saw 9 games with the Pittsburgh Pirates.

L:

Mike Leake: This pitcher for the Cincinnati Reds went straight from the draft to earning a spot on the team for the season. The last left hander to accomplish that feat was Jim Abbot in 1989. He had a very strong start, but ended up on the disabled list from fatigue. He is one of only two Reds to begin their careers with a record of 5 wins and 0 losses.

Rommie Lewis: He came to the big show as a relief pitcher for the Toronto Blue Jays, but it doesn't look like he brought much relief to the games he appeared in. Rommie Lewis ended 2010 with a 6.75 ERA.

Brad Lincoln: A pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates he played in 11 games with a 1-4 record. The scary thing about his rookie season is he got to finish it with a 6.66 ERA.

Jon Link: A pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Jon Link gave up 12 hits in 8.2 innings pitched. He might want to work on those numbers.

Jonathan Lucroy: He took the starting catching job for the Milwaukee Brewers in 2010 and even though he had some hiccups in offensive production, he showed off enough talent in his rookie year to have him pegged at the position for the near future as well.

M:

Jeff Manship: The Minnesota Twins used this rookie pitcher for 29 innings in 2010. Just a bit shy of the innings count he pitched in 2009 his apparent non-rookie year.

Tommy Manzella: As a rookie in his late 20's Manzella may have hurt his future with his 2010 rookie effort. He won the starting gig as the shortstop of the Houton Astros, but then injury and a lack of bat contribution added sour notes all through the season.

Jhan Marinez: This pitcher for the Florida Marlins played the equivalent of 2.2 innings over 4 games and came away with a 6.75 ERA.

Jeffrey Marquez: If you collect baseball cards you may have landed his Bowman rookie card, but really he only saw pitching action with the Chicago White Sox in a single game. It did not go all too well as he gave up 2 hits and 2 runs.

Brian Matusz: Some may recall seeing Brian Matusz off to an impressive start as a pitcher for the Baltimore Orioles in 2009. However, 2010 rolled around he was a true performing rookie taking the Rookie of the Month honors in August of 2010. The orioles had a rough year, but I guess Matusz did what he could with a record of 10 wins and 12 losses.

Mike McCoy: As a 30 year old infielder Mike McCoy needs people to start noticing his great defensive talents before he becomes as injury prone as the players he tends to fall in as the backup role for. In 2010 he played for the Toronto Blue Jays.

Daniel McCutchen: This pitcher started his rookie season as a starting pitcher for the Pittsburg Pirates. They eventually moved him into a relief roll as his ERA got a little out of hand, ending at 6.12 on the season.

Jenrry Mejia: A top pitching prospect for the New York Mets, they were somewhat baffled by him in his 2010 rookie season. He may be a future starting pitcher, but he is going to have to prove he can handle it ended 2010 with an 0-4 record.

Mike Minor: The Atlanta Braves gave this rookie pitcher his start in 2010. He set a team record for strikeouts by a rookie in a game with 11.

Carlos Monasterios: A relief pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers he struck out 52 batters and took a 3 wins with 5 losses record for the 2010 season.

Adam Moore: As a catcher for the Seattle Mariners, Adam Moore had issues both with defense and offense. His high strike out margin and .195 batting average in 205 at bats does not bode well for his future.

Mitch Moreland: Mitch Moreland took over first base duties for the Texas Rangers in 2010 and contributed with his bat all the way into the playoffs. Ron Washington has already stated Mitch Moreland is lined up to be the starting first baseman come 2010. Winning over the coach, sounds like a good rookie season to me.

Logan Morrison: This man played in the outfield for the Florida Marlins in his rookie year of 2010. He managed 69 hits and 41 walks in his 244 at bats. He should become a familiar face for the team in 2011.

N:

Daniel Nava: This 2010 rookie outfielder took over baseball news with his first ever at bat being a grand slam home run. He is only the fourth player to ever do so.

Jordan Norberto: Jersey number 39, he played 33 games for the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2010, gave up 13 runs with 3 homers, and that's where the 3s stop as he had a 5.85 ERA.

Ivan Nova: His rookie season was spent pitching for the New York Yankees in 42 innings. He will make a run for a starting pitching job in 2011.

O:

Andy Oliver: He was handed the baseball as the starting pitcher for the Detroit Tigers for five games in 2010, earning him the RC logo on his baseball cards. But he left the big leagues in July with an 0-4 record and a 7.36 ERA.

Logan Ondrusek: This Cincinnati Reds relief pitcher managed to walk away from the 2010 season with 5 wins and 0 losses and an ERA of 3.68.

Adam Ottavino: Adam was a pitcher for the Saint Louis Cardinals in 2010. I'm not really sure if he fully understood what a picher is trying to do or if he just had a spell of bad luck, but his statistics are scary stuff with an ERA of 8.46 and 21 runs given up in 22.1 innings. Yikes!

P:

Chris Pettit: Is a top prospect rookie outfielder for the Los Angeles Angels, but technically spent the 2010 season on the disabled list due to shoulder surgery. Another example of a baseball card RC logo landing before the player really does in a season.

Kyle Phillips: Kyle Phillips got some work with the San Diego Padres in 2010. He is listed as a catcher, though third base seems to be on his resume as well. On one play during the 2010 season he threw the ball after catching a strike and accidentally hit it off of the helmet of the batter in front of him.

Buster Posey: He was the catcher for the World Series winning San Francisco Giants, but he did not even play the full season. Called up on May 29th of 2010 he made a huge impact helping the fans get into the game and motivating the team with a hot baseball bat. Technically Buster Posey saw his first action in the big leagues in the year 2009, but it wasn't enough games to steal his thunder as a 2010 rookie debut. He won the Rookie Of The Year award.

R:

Wilson Ramos: He was signed by the Minnesota Twins as a catcher, but All-star Joe Mauer blocked him from too much forward progress. He saw 22 games of action in 2010. Wilson Ramos was traded to the Washington Nationals, where as a back up for Ivan Rodriguez he may have a quicker path to the future starting gig.

John Raynor: He took the field for 11 games in 2010 for the Florida Marlins, playing left field. Topps baseball cards honored him as a rookie in their 2010 Bowman set, but his mere 10 at bats may have him being considered a rookie again in the future.

Will Rhymes: He had a decent 2010 with the limited time he saw playing second base for the Detroit Tigers. The position will be one with some competition in 2011, so he will have to prove he is more than a flash-in-the-pan asset.

Dustin Richardson: He spent 2010 with the Boston Red Sox, pitching a lucky 13 innings of relief. The Red Sox traded him away in November though, to the Florida Marlins. He was one strikeout shy of matching his inning count, with only 12.

Esmil Rogers: A pitcher for the Colorado Rockies, Esmil Rogers made relief appearances that on paper look sad with a 6.13 ERA. However, some might chalk it up to bad luck and believe his stuff is good enough to contend for a 2011 slot in the Rockies rotation.

Tyson Ross: A right-handed pitcher with the Oakland Athletics, he saw some starts in 2010, but what his role will be in the future is unclear.

Dan Runzler: He had a solid season with 41 games for the San Francisco Giants in 2010. However, he ended up cooling his heels on their disabled list. He is a strong lefty reliever option for the club in 2011.

James Russell: This pitcher put in 57 games of work for the Chicago Cubs in 2010.

Kevin Russo: He may not have been a slugger for the New York Yankees, but this rookie proved his worth to the big club in 2010 by being versatile. Russo was a go-to guy whenever injuries struck, he saw playing time at Third base, second base, and outfield.

S:

Fernando Salas: A bullpen pitcher who saw action with the Saint Louis Cardinals in 2010. He did not have a strong finish to his season and created more doubters than not.

Alex Sanabia: This pitcher saw only 15 games in 2010 with the Florida Marlins, but he used that time to take 5 wins and 3 losses.

Gaby Sanchez: He might have played in 2008 and you may have baseball cards calling him a rookie in 2009, but Gaby Sanchez was also considered a rookie in 2010. He was the starting first baseman for the Florida Marlins. A solid performer, one of his most memorable plays might actually be the clothsline maneuver he performed on Nyjer Morgan when the batter decided to charge the mound and start a fight. Gaby Sanchez leveled Morgan to protect the pitcher and received a suspension.

Carlos Santana: As a catcher for the Cleveland Indians, Carlos Santana is expected to be a team leader for some time to come. His 2010 season was solid up until August when he was injured while blocking home plate. The resulting collision ended Santana's season.

Sergio Santos: Sergio Santos was a pitcher for the Chicago White Sox in 2010. He put up some very strong numbers, but needs to get his BB (walks) average down.

Scott Sizemore: This infielder was the second baseman for the Detroit Tigers in 2010, but he failed to impress, getting himself replaced. Where he will stand in the future is not a sure thing as there will be plenty of competition for him should he be seeking the second base job once again.

Anthony Slama: Anthony Slama was slammed around for 6 hits in around 4 innings of work in 2010, but the Minnesota Twins still have high hopes for him as a future closer on the team. His minor league works remains steadily impressive.

Jordan Smith: Jersey number 62 for the Cincinnati Reds, Jordan Smith is a pitcher that went 4-2 in 2010. In a dismal outing against the Arizona Diamondbacks he was ejected for arguing with the umpire on his way to the bench after being replaced by manager Dusty Baker.

Justin Smoak: Nicknamed "The Freak From Goose Creek," this first baseman was traded from the Texas Rangers to the Seattle Mariners for his rookie season. He made a bounce back down to the minors, but was called back up in September to put a strong finish to his rookie season batting .340 with 3 homer runs in his final 14 games. He did have 13 home runs on the season, so: a potential power player in the making.

Mike Stanton: There have been several players in MLB to bare the name Mike Stanton, however, THIS Mike Stanton is an outfielder for the Florida Marlins. When some discuss this player, who's first major league home run was a grand slam, they do so comparing him to the likes of hitting All-Star Albert Pujols. If Mike Stanton can fill those size shoes, then he is going to have one amazing ride to the Hall of Fame.

Tobi Stoner: The New York Mets only showed this rookie off for one game in 2010, but it is the year of his 2010 Topps Finest Rookie Card. In 2009 he played 4 games.

Drew Storen: Stephen Strasburg is getting all of the hype, but Drew Storen also garnered rookie status as a pitcher in 2010 for the Washington Nationals. I'm sure more than one collector got excited when he opened a pack of baseball cards, before realizing it was not a Strasburg in his hands. His first career strikeout was Matt Holliday.

Stephen Strasburg: Jason Heyward started the rookie buzz of the 2010 season, but Washington Nationals pitcher Steven Strasburg took over. He also took over the baseball trading card industry with record sales on his Bowman baseball cards occurring before he even pitched a single inning in the majors! He set a new team strikeout record with 14 batters fanned in his major league debut against the Pittsburgh Pirates. His season ended on a tragic note of injury, however, and his future is a mystery after having to undergo Tommy John surgery. In the baseball card hobby, his card sales have remained strong.

Drew Stubbs: Drew Stubbs was a contributor for the Cincinnati Reds in 2010 being one of only two players in 2010 to hit 20 home runs and steal 30 bases; he hit 22 home runs. His strikeout ratio is too high, but Drew Stubbs made his mark in 2010 and fans should be seeing the non-rookie Drew Stubbs starting in red and white in the future.

T:

Jose Tabata: This outfielder made his major league debut in June of 2010 for the Pittsburg Pirates. He hit for a .299 average and was a rookie leader in defense. Controversy stole some of the production spotlight, however, when it came out that his age upon entering the league might not be accurate; older than stated. Also, his wife was charged with kidnapping a baby which she tried to pass it off as their own!

Hisanori Takahashi: This rookie provided the New York Mets with a solid can-do pitching attitude. He ended up with a 10-6 record, 3.61 ERA, 114 strikeouts, and traded to the Los Angeles Angels.

Ruben Tejada: He saw action at second base for the New York Mets in 2010. No one doubts his abilities with his glove, but his offensive production left a lot to be desired.

Kanekoa Texeira: He started his rookie season as a pitcher with the Seattle Mariners, but they dumped him back down to the minors. He was eventually picked up by the Kansas City Royals to finish his 2010 season with 43 games, 1 win and 1 loss.

Josh Thole: The New York Mets are looking to the future with this catcher and by some accounts the future is now, as Josh Thole's skills behind the plate have impressed the powers that be. Thole may need to step up his contributions somewhat, but it appears the starting job with the Mets is his to lose in 2011.

Steve Tolleson: Steve Tolleson stepped in at shortstop for the Oakland Athletics late in 2010. He didn't do anything much to draw lasting applause or create much fanfare. Where he will be in the future is most likely forgotten.

Josh Tomlin: A starting pitcher who had a winning record for the Cleveland Indians in his rookie season, Josh Tomlin looks to build on his minor successes and seal his spot in the 2011 rotation.

Justin Turner: A second baseman with the Baltimore Orioles he got a hit in 2010, but that's about it.

V:

Cesar Valdez: This pitcher tried to impress as an Arizona Diamondback in 2010, but instead made his big league rookie year a 7.65 ERA in 20 innings affair.

Danny Valencia: This third baseman for the Minnesota Twins came in third in the American league Rookie Of the year voting. However, his batting average, slugging percentage, and OPS numbers were first amongst many American League rookies in 2010 with at least 300 at bats.

Jonny Venters: He impressed many with his 2010 rookie season as a pitcher with the Atlanta Braves. He will use his talents to try and earn himself the job of everyday closer come 2011.

Dayan Viciedo: This power hitting third baseman has a bright future if he can lay off of bad pitches and actually connect with the ball for all of the home runs he has the potential for. He plays for the Chicago White Sox.

Pedro Viola: He pitched more games in 2009 with the Cincinnati Reds than he did in 2010 with the Baltimore Orioles, however, Pedro Viola with a two game ERA of 13.50 has his rookie card printed for 2010.

W:

Neil Walker: The Pittsburgh Pirates converted this catcher into a second baseman and he rode out the season with them batting .296 with 12 home runs.

Brett Wallace: He found himself getting shuffled around in trades before finally landing as the starting first baseman for the Houston Astros. He did not take off like a rocket for the team, but the belief in his potential is there and the Astros are going to give him a long tryout.

Blake Wood: This pitcher did some bullpen work for the Kansas City Royals in 2010. 31 strikeouts in 49.2 innings with a 5.07 ERA.

Vance Worley: A pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies, Vance Worley saw 5 games of action, with two as the starter. His record was 1-1 with a 1.38 ERA. A start to build on!

Danny Worth: Danny Worth is an infielder who spent 2010 with the Detroit Tigers. Shortstop is his position of choice it would seem, but he will need to up his game considerably to even be an option that the Tigers turn to for playing.

Y:

Eric Young Jr.: Eric Young was a baseball player who played for the Colorado Rockies and Eric Young Jr. has made it "like father, like son" also playing for the Colorado Rockies. Also like his father Eric Young plays second base. His 2010 rookie season was somewhat marred by a stress fracture. The Rockies are going to look to him as a speed demon on the bases.

Z:

Lance Zawadzki: A shortstop, he spent his rookie season with the San Diego Padres getting to make appearances in 20 games. Once the season was over, however, the Kansas City Royals staked claim to him and 2011 will see him either donning Royal blue or still waiting to prove himself.

Resources used:
www.mlb.com

www.espn.com

www.beckett.com