2007 AL All Rookie Team

Kudos to The Sports Flow for coming out with this idea. I was reading their selections and I was trying to decide who I would take for my all rookie team. The only problem was I had too many players I wanted to put on my team. So I decided to have one for the AL and one for the NL.

American League

Catcher-Jeff Mathis, LA Angels
I guess. There's really no one else to put at catcher, and nothing much to say about Mathis. Had 2 HR in 58 AB's in 2005. Definitely a dead spot in the AL lineup.

First Base-Ryan Garko, Cleveland Indians
The Stanford alum's only obstacle in Cleveland is playing time. If he gets into the lineup he will produce. This year he's hitting .284 with 3 HR. The 3:1 K/BB isn't good, but hopefully it's a case of small sample size.

Second Base-Dustin Pedroia, Boston Red Sox
Even though PECOTA rated Pedroia the #6 prospect in all of baseball, I don't see him being that good. However, he will walk more than he strikes out. He should be good for around a .375 OBP, which would be good for a second baseman and nine hitter. On this team though he could bat leadoff.

Shortstop-Alexi Casilla, Minnesota Twins
If I would have made this list a couple months ago, my SS would definitely have been Brandon Wood. However, his move to 3B means Alexi Casilla gets moved into the role. Casilla is PECOTA's #1 SS prospect and the 7th ranked prospect in all of baseball. Casilla is seen as sort of a faster version of Pedroia. Hopefully his plate discipline will improve.

Third Base-Alex Gordon, Kansas City Royals
From college player of the year, to minor league player of the year, to rookie of the year. Gordon is struggling so far in 2007, but he probably just needs time to adjust to major league pitching. Gordon will figure it out, and I see him hitting around 25 homeruns this season.

Leftfield-Adam Lind, Toronto Blue Jays
Lind, who went to South Alabama led the Eastern League (AA) in slugging percentage last year. Lind, who was a first baseman as an amateur, will probably move positions a few times before eventually settling in as a DH. Lind has had a tough go of things so far this season, going .242/.320/.424 in 18 games. But scouts and statheads alike agree that Lind will go on to put up big numbers in his career.

Centerfield-Elijah Dukes, Tampa Bay Devil Rays
Character issues were a big concern for Dukes, but all indications are that he has put those to rest so far with Tampa. With the Rays glut of young outfield talent, Dukes is the one that scouts consider to be the most talented. A proverbial five tool player, Dukes has the potential to be a perennial 20/20 player.

Rightfield-Travis Buck, Oakland Athletics
A rookie out of Arizona State, Buck probably has the least potential out of anybody besides perhaps Mathis and Pedroia. Injuries in the Oakland outfield have pressed Buck into playing time, and all signs point to that being a long term position. Buck has shown power, but figures to be mostly a gap hitter during his major league career.

Designated Hitter-Billy Butler, Kansas City Royals
One scout has called Butler, who was drafted as a third baseman, "the worst professional infielder I've ever seen." Obviously Butler's calling card is his bat. The Royals drafted him in the first round as a signability pick, but Butler has proven to be a potential star, putting up huge numbers at every level. He and Gordon figure to be cornerstones for the next decade.

Starting Pitcher-Matt Garza, Minnesota Twins
The USA Today Minor League Player of the Year, Garza was one out away from losing his rookie status. Inexplicably Garza began 2007 in AAA, but with Sidney Ponson's struggles he doesn't figure to be there for long. Kevin Slowey and Scott Baker are both having better seasons in AAA, but Garza has the highest upside of the three.

Starting Pitcher-Phil Hughes, New York Yankees
Highly regarded as the top pitching prospect in all of baseball, Hughes unfortunately was placed on the Disabled List and will likely not return to the Yankees until July. Hughes has a plus fastball and an amazing curveball, plus he has a major league changeup which sets him apart from a lot of prospects. Picked in the lower half of the first round, Hughes helped spearhead the movement by the Yankees to improve their farm system.

Starting Pitcher-Adam Miller, Cleveland Indians
Miller missed a large chunk of 2005 due to injury, but he still is a top prospect. Miller is still the 6th starter or so in Cleveland, and it is unclear how much time he will spend in the majors in 2007. But he is a huge part of the Tribe's future plans. In 5 starts in Buffalo this year, Miller is 3-0 with a 2.32 ERA and 30 strikeouts to just 11 walks.

-Note: I have never agreed with MLB's policy that Japanese players (a la Daisuke Matsuzaka) should be viewed as rookies, so that is why he is absent from this team.

Leave a comment as to who you would switch out of this team