올 AL 주목할 만한 신인들.

Youth is served Prospecting for the AL's top rookies in 2000 Click here for more on this story Posted: Friday March 10, 2000 04:50 AM Ramon Ortiz recorded 524 strikeouts in 471 minor league innings. Brian BahrAllsport By Lonny Krasnow, CNNSI.com In any fantasy league, you have to know your rookies and spring training is the best time to get acquainted with the next wave of potential impact players. While most of the top prospects are in camp, only a couple dozen will make Opening Day rosters, and even fewer will see significant playing time this season. Now is the time to separate the prospects from the suspects. Here's a preseason team-by-team breakdown of the American League rookies who are most likely to help your fantasy team in 2000. Anaheim Angels -- RHP Ramon Ortiz After elbow troubles in 1998, Ramon Ortiz regained his status as a top pitching prospect in 1999. Ortiz (6-0, 165 lbs., 95 mph fastball) has drawn comparisons to Pedro Martinez and figures to be the Angels No. 1 starter before too long. His durability is a concern, but he looks like a solid fantasy pick, especially in strikeout leagues. Baltimore Orioles -- RHP Matt Riley and 1B Calvin Pickering Pickering, 23, is ready for the show but is blocked by veterans. Wait for Will Clark's annual trip to the DL before jumping on the big fella. With Scott Erickson sidelined, 20-year-old Matt Riley has a chance to make the Opening Day roster with a big spring. Lefties that throw 95 mph are always worth a flyer, but he probably needs some innings in Class AAA ball before he can help your team. Boston Red Sox -- RHP Jin Ho Cho, RHP Tomo Ohka, RHP Juan Pena Cho and Ohka dominated in the minors last year, but Pena looked the most polished in his major league audition. It's a tough call, but one of these arms will start the year in the Red Sox rotation. The smart money is on Ohka, who went 16-2 with a 2.46 ERA in stops at Trenton, Pawtucket and Boston. AL Rookie of the Year candidates 1. Ruben Mateo 2. Ed Yarnall 3. Carlos Guillen 4. Ramon Ortiz 5. Mark Quinn Chicago White Sox -- RHP Kip Wells The 1998 first-round pick went from Class A to the majors in one season. His combined 17-9 record was based on good command, a decent fastball and a nasty curveball. Wells went 4-1 with a 4.04 ERA in seven major league starts last year, so he's a lock for the White Sox rotation. Cleveland Indians -- RHP Danys Baez The Tribe may have a younger version of El Duque in Baez. The Cuban defector signed a four-year, $14.5 million deal in November after leading Cuba to a gold medal in the Pan Am games. Baez, 22 (or maybe 25), is expected to be in Cleveland's starting rotation sometime this year, but spring training will tell how soon. Detroit Tigers -- 1B/C/DH Robert Fick Fick dislocated his shoulder last year in spring training and it delayed his arrival until September. The 26-year-old is a career .316 hitter in the minors and figures to get 300-400 at-bats this year with Detroit. He's a great sleeper pick as your back up catcher. Mateo hit at least .300 with serious pop in each of his last three minor league seasons. Vincent Laforet/Allsport Kansas City Royals -- RHP Orber Moreno, OF Mark Quinn Moreno remains the Royals' closer of the future as long as his shoulder is 100 percent. The right-hander had a K/BB ratio of 320/88 in the minors and has allowed just 57 hits in 102 innings over the past two seasons. The Mighty Quinn won a batting title hit 25 homers in the PCL before blasting six more in 60 at-bats with the Royals in 1999. At 26, his time is now and the Royals plan on playing him regularly. Minnesota Twins -- C Matt LeCroy LeCroy is the Twins best power prospect, and with Terry Steinbach's retirement, the opportunity could be now for the former Olympian. Javier Valentin will get the first crack at the starting job behind the plate, but LeCroy is worth a small investment if makes the Opening Day roster. Why wouldn't you want the next Mike Piazza? New York Yankees -- LHP Ed Yarnall Last year's MVP of the AAA International League (14-4, 3.71 ERA, 146 K in 145.1 IP) will be the Yankees' fifth starter in 2000. Yarnall was drafted by the Mets, sent to Florida in the Mike Piazza deal and stolen from the Marlins in the Mike Lowell trade. Think Andy Pettitte five years ago (12-9, 4.17 ERA, 114 K). Oakland A's -- LHP Mark Mulder, LHP Barry Zito Mulder, the No. 2 overall pick in the 1998 draft, has great poise and should have a spot in the Oakland rotation. He threw 17 scoreless innings in the PCL playoffs and starred for Team USA at the Pan Am Games. Zito probably needs more work in the minors, but his numbers last year were outstanding (6-1, 3.16 ERA, 97 K in 68.1 IP). Seattle Mariners -- 2B-3B Carlos Guillen, RHP Kazuhiro Sasaki Guillen played three games at shortstop and two games at second base before tearing up his knee in the first week the 1999 season, so he maintains his rookie status. The Mariners plan on playing Guillen at third base. Sasaki, 31, is Japan's all-time saves leader -- 229 saves in 10 years, including 45 in 1998. If his elbow is healthy, he will take Jose Mesa's job. Tampa Bay Devil Rays -- RHP Dan Wheeler Rookie pitchers rushed to the majors on bad teams generally don't make good fantasy picks, but if you're feeling lucky, grab the 22-year-old Wheeler. Texas Rangers -- 3B Mike Lamb, OF Ruben Mateo Lamb hit a ton at Class AA (.324-21-100) and was impressive in the Arizona Fall League, but who knows if he can make the jump to the bigs. He could probably use a half year of Class AAA. Mateo, 22, hit .336 with 18 HR and 62 RBI in 253 at-bats last year before a promotion to the majors, where a where a broken hamate bone in his left wrist ended his season. The center fielder is a five-tool prospect and an early favorite for Rookie of the Year honors, but you have to question his durability and plate discipline. Toronto Blue Jays -- OF Vernon Wells Simply put, Wells is the bomb. He hits for average and power, and steals bases. He was named the top prospect at three minor levels last year at age 20 and he held his own in a late-season call-up. Overall, Wells hit .323 with 19 HR, 89 RBI and 25 SB in 1999. The Jays may go with Jose Cruz Jr. in center field and let Wells continue his growth in Syracuse. But if he's on the Opening Day roster, grab him, especially if you're in a keeper league.