In a baseball scoreboards feature, I have reviewed 3 of the most promising rookies for the year 2011.

Every team in every sport requires young talent to come through the ranks every year, so that they can replace their non-performing or players that have become a bit too old for the game (Jamie Moyer, anyone?) Being an older player doesn’t necessarily means they are not performing (again, Jamie Moyer!) but their fitness starts to deteriorate, which can cause inconsistencies in their performances. However, the point remains, rookies are important and here are the top 3 rookies with the greatest potential coming into 2011.

1 – Bryce Harper, 18 – if you haven’t yet heard of this kid, then you had better start your engines; your Internet search engines that is! Harper has become the most talked about sensation in baseball. He has been compared to the likes of Alex Rodriguez, Justin Upton and Ken Griffey Jr., and has been termed as even better then the trio! He proudly owns the title of the “Lebron James of baseball”, ever since a sports commentator used this term. He is 18 years old, 6’4” tall and weighs around 210 pounds. When he was just 16 the baseball scoreboards showed that he hit Tropicana Fields’ history’s longest homerun (560 feet). Initially he played as a catcher, but soon after being drafted to the Nationals he was assigned to outfield. However, he is expected to take over right field once he goes into the Major league. If he has a drawback, it is that most baseball officials describe the kid to be extremely ill tempered, and to have a huge ego i.e. a very bad attitude.

2 – Jesus Montero, 21 – the Yankees recognized this boy’s talent very early on, when he was just 16 years old. Since then the Yankees have resisted the urge to trade him and it is paying off. Already at age 16, a Yankee scout said that he was showing catching abilities as great as those of Travis Hafner’s. Montero has the potential to become a great hitter as well (averaging .289, 21 homeruns and 75 RBI at AAA in 2009), but for now the Yankees are focusing on developing his catching skills. However, the Yankees’ decision to play him as a hitter will depend greatly on how they manage and handle Jorge Posada.

3 – Aroldis Chapman, 23 – don’t be fooled by Chapman’s physique; he is thin enough to be blown away by a breeze, but his delivery seems to be just that: a breeze! The left handed Cuban can throw deliveries touching 100mph (fastest: 105mph), claiming the spot as one of the fastest left handed pitchers in baseball today. Although he is a tad bit inconsistent in his performances, in 2008 he went for 3.89 ERA with 6-7 as compared to a 4.03 ERA and 11-4 in 2009. However, Chapman still has a lot of promise and potential, which is why the Reds’ signed him on the last offseason. However, due to his inconsistency, the Reds still need to decide whether to play him as a started or a reliever.

For more information; go to:
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