Top 5 Milwaukee Brewers Rookies for Fantasy Baseball 2009

As far as Fantasy Baseball rookies go, the Brewers are a young up and coming team blessed with both talented prospects and play time opportunity. Despite finishing second in the N.L. Central with a 90 and 72 record, the Brewers have position battles at third, catcher and second base, making their 2009 crop of rookies ones to watch out for in a Baseball Fantasy Draft.

Angel Salome (C )

The 22 year old Salome has been a minor league hitting machine, compiling a .322 batting average in his fast rise through the Brewers' system. Last season was no exception, as the young prospect hit .360 with 13 homers and 83 RBIs in just 99 games for Huntsville (Class AA). With the fast aging Jason Kendall holding down the job in Milwaukee, you could hardly go wrong taking a late draft flyer on Salome.

Casey McGehee (3B)

Casey McGehee earned a late call up to the Cubs after having a good season in the minors last year. Playing for the Cubs Class AAA team in Iowa, McGehee hit a solid .296 with 12 homers and 92 RBIs. With only Hall and Lamb in front of him in Milwaukee, McGehee has a decent shot at earning a job with the Brewers this year. Pass on him in the draft, but monitor his spring training to see if he will earn a starting job.

Mat Gamel (3B)

Like McGehee, Gamel has a good shot at earning a starting job at third base in Milwaukee this year. A Brewer fourth round draft pick in 2005, Gamel enjoyed an impressive year in the minors last season, hitting 20 homers and 99 RBIs, while scoring 99 runs and stealing 6 bases. Most likely the 23 year old Gamel will spend 2009 in Class AAA ball, but because the Brewers need help at third, it's good to keep an eye out for Mat this year.

Herman Iribarren (2B)

Iribarren will battle Rickie Weeks for a job at second base this year. Herman, a 24 year old out of Venezuela, has enjoyed a highly successful minor league career, turning a few heads in his first season of prop ball in 2004, when he hit .422 in 61 games (Rookie, Class A). A lifetime .315 hitter, Herman is also blessed with speed, stealing 110 bases in 5 minor league seasons. With Weeks never having lived up to his potential, look for Iribarren to have a good shot at the majors this year, though his at bats may be limited.

Vinny Rottino (C )

Rottino is also a catching prospect that has shown a good bat in the minors. In six minor league seasons, Rottino has hit over .300 three times. What's more, he has shown a little bit of speed to go with moderate power, compiling 202 extra base hits and 48 steals in 674 minor league games. Though he does not have Salome's high, high upside, Rottino is worth keeping an eye on.

Statistical References:

www.sports.yahoo.com

www.minors.baseball-reference.com