Top MLB Rookies to Watch for in 2012

There is a certain level of excitement with the onset of Spring Training just days away. The crack of the bat, the snap of the mitt, and the excitement over the possibilities of position battles around the league signal the start of the next nine months of my sporting existence.

And I wouldn't have it any other way.

One of the things I look forward to most at the start of the season is promise of change. The Cardinals will no longer be the World Series champions, the Astros will no longer have the worst record, and everyone will have a clean slate, and none more so than the newest crop of rookies that will make their impact on their teams.

Of the top 100 prospects in the game, several will be ready to make the jump to their major league teams and his the ground running

Matt Moore - SP - Tampa Bay Rays

Matt Moore made quite the impression during a brief 3-game audition at the end of last season and then with another 2 appearances in the ALDS against Texas. In those playoff appearances, all Moore did was toss 10 innings and allowed just one earned run while striking out 8. He's left-handed, throws in the mid to high 90's, and has command of his pitches at any point in the count. His upside may be even greater than teammate David Price, who if you all remember, hasn't worked out too badly for Tampa either. Of course, Tampa may also choose to keep Moore in the minors a bit longer, simply to slow down his service clock, but he's had all the seasoning he needs.

Bryce Harper - OF - Washington Nationals

Harper won't turn 20 until October, but already there are rumors swirling about whether or not he will start 2012 in Washington or make the jump to Triple-A instead. While developmentally, he could likely use the at-bats against higher level minor-leagues before roaming right field in DC, the Nationals are making some significant strides and want to prove to fans that they are serious about competing in a tough National League East. Harper's overall skills are not in question, especially after a strong performance in the Arizona Fall League despite being the youngest player there. However, he is brash and cocky, something that could definitely be tempered a bit by spending at least another season in the minors.

Shelby MIller - SP - St. Louis Cardinals

There is a reason why the Cardinals allowed both Edwin Jackson leave and chose not to truly pursue Roy Oswalt despite his pleas to pitch in St. Louis; they are ready to hand a rotation spot to the 21-year-old phenom Miller. He's go plus pitches in his fastball, change, and curve and has shown excellent command with a 3.55 strike-out to walk ratio across his minor-league career. He'll likely start the season at the back-end of the Cardinals rotation, but could become an important piece of their puzzle to pursue a second straight championship on the backs of their pitching.

Jesus Montero - C - Seattle Mariners

For any other team, Montero would have been starting last season, but with the depth of the Yankees line-up, he was given another season to umm...season. Now after his trade to Seattle in the Michael Pineda deal, he'll be given every chance to prove that his bat will be a major league force. In an 18-game cup of coffee, Montero flashed some of his vaunted power, hitting .328 with 4 home runs and 12 RBI and a .996 OPS for the Yankees. That followed the 18 bombs he hit at Triple-A prior to his call-up. He may struggle a bit to translate that power to Safeco Field in Seattle and his long-term projection may be as a designated hitter or first baseman rather than behind the plate, but he'll be a welcome addition to a Mariner's team looking for offense.

Jarrod Parker - SP - Oakland Athletics

Billy Beane is always looking for a steal, and he managed to swerve one of the better trades of the off-season when we sent Trevor Cahill to Arizona for a package that included Jarrod Parker, Ryan Cook, and Collin Cowgill. Parker is ready to step right into the Oakland rotation. With a plus fastball, change, slider, and a solid curve-ball, he can get the strike-out on any pitch, but he's also a ground-ball machine, which will play well in Oakland.

Anthony Rizzo - 1B - Chicago Cubs

Rizzo is an interesting case. He was the key piece in the trade that brought Adrian Gonzalez to Boston and absolutely tore up Triple-A pitching last season, hitting 26 home runs and driving in 101 in just 356 at-bats. Unfortunately, his call-up didn't go as smoothly, as he struggled to a .141 batting average in San Diego. The Padres subsequently dealt him to Chicago, where he was reunited with Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer, the two men who drafted him in Boston. His strong lefty-swing will make a much bigger impact in the friendly confines of Wrigley Field than in the vast abyss of Petco, so 2012 could be the year to catch him explode.

Yonder Alonso - 1B - San Diego Padres

Some rookies walk into great situations, while others get stuck behind an MVP player. The latter was the case for Alonso, who had proven himself in every way he could in the Cincinnati system, but was ultimately blocked at first base by Joey Votto. Luckily for Alonso, he will get his break in 2012 after he was included in the deal with San Diego that sent Mat Latos to the Reds. Alonso will attempt to build off of his strong debut which saw him have a .943 OPS across 88 at-bats for the Reds, but he'll have to do it at Petco and try to avoid the same stumbling block which hurt Rizzo a year ago. Certainly he'll be one to watch, but moving from Great American Ballpark to Petco will hurt his overall fantasy value.

Will Middlebrooks - 3B - Boston Red Sox

The Red Sox get a lot of flack for the quality of their upper-level farm teams. Coupled with Ryan Lavarnway, Middlebrooks is the exception to the rule and appears on the cusp of joining the Red Sox and being at third base for a very long time. 2011 saw MIddlebrooks continue the steady progression he has made through the system and saw a nice bump in his power numbers, when he tallied 50 extra base hits across Double and Triple-A last season. He'll likely begin 2012 back at Pawtucket, but with health issues plaguing Kevin Youkilis over the last few seasons and a pending option for Youk at the end of 2012, Middlebrooks may see Fenway sooner than later.