5 Sleepers for 2009 Hitter Edition

I've covered a few of the pitchers I think will rise to the forefront in '09 (there's a few more I'll probably post about later), so let's move on to the hitters and see what we come up with.

1. Josh Reddick -- I've posted about Reddick before so I won't go into too much detail right now, but Reddick has some impressive power potential and strikes out a lot less than most people think. He didn't perform all that well during the his time in Winter League this year, hitting just .198, but he also hit 5 home runs in just 98 at-bats. He compares very well to guys like Justin Morneau, Ryan Braun, and Matt Williams, and has the potential to hit between .280-.300 and post 30-40 home runs in his prime on a regular basis. When I first looked into his numbers, I was concerned that he hit just .214 at AA in 2008, but his BABIP during that time was just .221, down from a career average of about .340. I expect his '09 stats to bounce back up once his BABIP fluctuates back towards his average. Besides his offensive stats, Reddick is an above average outfielder, with the capacity to steal 15-20 bases a year. I think that if the Red Sox let him do his thing with the bat and give him a chance to shine in the field, he could be a very talented player.
2. Max Ramirez/Taylor Teagarden -- Between Ramirez and Teagarden, one or both of them is going to have a big year in 2009. Jarrod Saltalamacchia is still considered the favorite to win the starting job for Texas, but there's still a good chance he gets traded and the Rangers go with Teagarden instead (which I think is the best move). That would leave Ramirez in AAA for one year, after which the Rangers could trade him or Teagarden for some pitching. Both hitters could put up some great offensive numbers while playing very well defensively in the majors, and no matter which one the Rangers ultimately settle on, they're both going to be very good.
   
3. Brandon Laird -- This is going to be my wild card pick for 2009. Laird has only played at A ball thus far in his career, and he has a huge roadblock in his way that goes by the name of Mark Teixeira. As the little brother of catcher Gerald Laird, I think Brandon understands that if he wants to play in the big leagues, he's going to have to prove himself and find a position where he fits in with the rest of the Yankees plans. That probably means a move to the outfield, and a lot of work on his defense. However, Laird can hit the cover off the ball, and if he keeps at it, he might find his way to the majors in a few years.
4. Yonder Alonso -- I'm not sure if a top 10 pick can really be considered a sleeper, but Alonso has been a bit overlooked in my mind. Sure, Pedro Alvarez, Buster Posey, and Justin Smoak will all be solid hitters, but I think Alonso may prove to be the cream of the crop. Great patience, power to all fields, and a chance to play in Cincinnatti could all culminate in big numbers down the road.
5. Chris Carter (both of them) -- There are 2 Chris Carters out there that could have big years in '09 - Chris Carter of the Red Sox and Chris Carter of the Oakland A's. The Boston Chris Carter is going to have to leapfrog some incumbent starters, but due to age and injury, I think there's a good chance he could very well find his way into a quasi-fulltime position in a few months. At this point, I'd give him an .850 OPS and 20-25 home runs in 600 plate appearances (but I think 350-400 plate appearances are more likely, so maybe just 15 home runs). The Oakland Chris Carter has got some power in his stroke, but he also strikes out a lot and that could become a problem. The one thing I really like about the Oakland Carter is that his stats thus far compare very well to Chris Davis, except that Carter walks a bit more.

So, that's it for the hitters for now. Feel free to add your own if you have any. We'll check back in 6 months to a year and see how this list looks.

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5 Sleepers for 2009 Pitcher Edition

Last year about this time, I wrote a post for Wax Heaven with 10 sleeper picks for 2008 (5 pitchers and 5 hitters). I thought I'd take a moment to quickly review my picks, and then make a short list or pitchers to watch in 2009.


2008 Review 5 Sleepers Pitchers Edition

1. Francisco Liriano

Liriano wasn't completely under the radar last spring, but he also wasn't getting a lot of attention either. He's probably a good sleeper pick for '09 as well.

2. Trevor Cahill

I think this was a pretty good sleeper pick. Cahill had a great season and could start sometime for the A's in '09.

3. Jaime Garcia

The biggest question mark with Garcia going into '08 was whether his arm would hold up. It did...for a while. Would've been a nice addition to the Cardinals if he could've stayed healthy. Too bad.

4. Brett Anderson

I really think Anderson could be very special.

5. Sean Gallagher

Gallagher didn't blow anybody away in '08, but I think he could do a lot better in '09. His teammate Gio Gonzalez could also be considered a sleeper pick this year.

2009 5 Sleepers Pitcher Edition

1. Jack McGeary

While he spent almost the entire year at rookie ball, McGeary posted 28.3% K% and walked just 10 batters in 52 innings while maintaining a 68% GB%. To get McGeary, the Nationals agreed to pay the 6th round pick $1.8 million and allow him to attend Stanford University, maintain his own workout schedule, and play minor league ball in the summer while Washington footed the bill for his 4 year education. Weird, right?

2. Nick Barnese

Recently named the Rays 7th best pitching prospect by Baseball America, I think Barnese could end up in the top 25 prospects for all of baseball next spring. He's got really good stuff, and he's in a great system to develop even further. So far, Barnese has put up almost identical numbers to what Trevor Cahill posted through A ball, and his curveball mixed with his command should baffle hitters throughout 2009.

3. Dae-Eun Rhee

Straight out of Seoul, Korea, 19 year old Rhee reportedly already has 3 solid pitches, and is working on a fourth. Good control, good strikeout rates, keeps the ball down, and the Cubs are in love with him.

4. Christian Friedrich

Friedrich may not pan out like I think he will, but in 48 innings last year at A ball, he averaged 12.2 stikeouts per 9 innings, while walking just 2.8 per 9 innings. He keeps the ball down, which will come in handy in Colorado, and his numbers compare very well to Neftali Feliz, who was recently named the number 4 prospect in all of baseball by Keith Law of ESPN.

5. Jhoulys Chacin

Chacin is slowly getting some attention, including a recent spot on ESPN's top 100 prospects. He has excellent control, keeps the ball low in the zone, which -- like Friedrich -- will come in handy in Colorado. He's not an overpowering pitcher, but he has good numbers so far, and should climb up all the various rankings fairly quickly.

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