Top 5 Rookie Outfielders

by Project Prospect
January 12, 2007
This is the sixth installment of our seven part series on the top 2007 rookies at every position. So far, we’ve ranked rookie catchers, first basemen, second basemen, shortstops, and third basemen.

Note: A player must have rookie status entering the 2007 season in order to qualify for our lists. We rank players based on their potential and the likelihood they will reach that potential.

 
1. Delmon Young, TB: Young, 21, grew up idolizing Vladimir Guerrero, a player who he could someday match talent-wise – he already has the arm. The No. 1 overall pick in the 2003 draft, Young put up .316/.341./.447 vitals in 342 at-bats at Triple-A Durham only to better himself with .328/.349/.492 vitals in 122 at-bats with the Devil Rays.

Young’s weakness to inside fastballs shows in his 0.246 Triple-A and 0.043 MLB walk-to-strikeout ratios, but it’s pretty tough to find any other holes in his game. The 6-foot-3, 205-pounder will be a frontrunner for the 2007 Rookie of the Year Award. Don’t expect him to last very long in your fantasy draft either.

Year   Team   Level   AB   H   2B   3B   HR   BB   K   AVG   OBP   SLG   OPS
2006   Dur   AAA   342   108   22   4   8   15   65   .316   .341   .474   .815
2006   TB   MLB   126   40   9   1   3   1   24   .317   .336   .476   .812






















































 

 

2. Chris Young, ARI: Young, 23, did not disappoint in his new franchise – he came to the Diamondbacks in the Javier Vazquez deal. His .276/.363/.532 line brought him from Triple-A Tucson across the desert to Phoenix by the middle of August. He was on the verge of going 20/20 in Tucson before he was called up, with 20 home runs to go along with 17 steals in 22 attempts (77.3%).

In line for a starting job in 2007, Young looks like a very special talent. He has been compared to Carlos Beltran, Eric Davis, and Mike Cameron – of course, these are all fairly upper end comparisons, though.

Year   Team   Level   AB   H   2B   3B   HR   BB   K   AVG   OBP   SLG   OPS
2006   Tuc   AAA   402   111   32   4   21   52   71   .276   .363   .532   .895
2006   Ari   MLB   70   17   4   0   2   6   12   .243   .308   .336   .694






















































 

 

3. Adam Jones, SEA: In his first full season at Triple-A Tacoma, Jones not only handled a position change (shortstop to outfield) well, but mashed, too, hitting .287/.345/.484 with 16 home runs and 19 doubles, while stealing 13 bases in 17 attempts.

A five-tool prospect, the 21-year-old is Chris Young-lite to us, a tier below because of his inconsistency, lack of plate discipline, and lesser power numbers. Jones is still raw, but the Mariners big league team doesn't have much to offer, so we expect him to start the season in Seattle's outfield. Jones could be a 20/20 man someday with an OPS around 800.

Year   Team   Level   AB   H   2B   3B   HR   BB   K   AVG   OBP   SLG   OPS
2006   Bvd   AAA   380   109   19   4   16   28   78   .287   .345   .484   .829
2006
Hun   MLB   74   16   4   0   1   2   22   .216   .237   .311   .548






















































 

 

4. Adam Lind, TOR: The 23-year-old outfielder has a strong .319/.382/.511 vital line over the course of his minor league career. As if the numbers weren’t enough, the development of Lind at each new level is what’s most impressive.

Lind started off the 2006 campaign at Double-A New Hampshire, blasting 19 HR and 24 doubles to produce a .310/.357/.543 line while appearing in 96 games. Impressive? Not after you see what he did in 34 games at Triple-A Syracuse, where he posted ridiculous .394 BA and .496 OBP numbers to go along with a powerful .596 slugging clip.

Still not enough? Well, Lind did get his first taste of the big leagues as well, using his 60 at-bats to create a line of .367/.415/.600. While it may be fun to speculate on what may happen with some other prospects this season, just simply know what Adam Lind is here to do.

Year   Team   Level   AB   H   2B   3B   HR   BB   K   AVG   OBP   SLG   OPS
2006   NH   AA   348   108   24   0   19   25   87   .310   .357   .543   .900
2006   Syr   AAA   109   43   7   0   5   23   18   .394   .496   .596   1.092
2006   Tor   MLB   60   22   8   0   2   5   12   .367   .415   .600   1.015






















































 

 

5. Ryan Sweeney, CHW: The White Sox have developed a wealth of center field prospects over the last five years. While neither Brian Anderson nor Jeremy Reed (traded to Seattle for Freddy Garcia) look primed for All-Star careers, Sweeney, 21, and Chris Young (traded to the Arizona for Javier Vazquez) still have bright stars.

The 6-foot-4, 200-pound 2nd round draft pick (2003) finally whipped out his power stick in 2006 – albeit in a home run friendly home ballpark – as he posted .296/.350/.452 vitals. Ten of Sweeney’s 13 home runs came while he was hitting at home, but 21 of his 41 extra-base-hits came on the road and he made a huge improvement on his 26 XBH from 2005.

Sweeney makes consistent contact, is a good overall athlete, and has always responded well to challenges. We see the lefty as a potentially average major leaguer in 2007.

Year   Team   Level   AB   H   2B   3B   HR   BB   K   AVG   OBP   SLG   OPS
2006   Cha   AAA   449   133   25   3   25   35   73   .296   .350   .452   .802
2006
Chw   MLB   35   8   0   0   0   0   7   .229   .229   .229   .458






















































 

 

Check back next week for our top 5 rookie starting pitcher list.