Sport-Blog.com

As the Major League Baseball annual ritual of spring training winds down, the list of rookies set to make their mark during the upcoming season is substantial. Anyone of the following has the talent to be considered for rookie of the year come October.

The list of potential first year players with the tools to shine begins with some young, hard-throwing pitchers. Left-handed Francisco Liriano of the Minnesota Twins is one such young arm that many are watching closely. Just 22 years of age, Liriano is a consensus choice of baseball gurus as potentially the top rookie pitcher this season. Yet as spring training winds down, there is talk that Liriano could wind up at Triple A or the bullpen.

Two right-handers look to be potential studs for the Detroit Tigers. Justin Verlander, 23, and Joel Zumaya, 21, have both reportedly reached 98 mph on the radar guns this spring. New manager Jim Leyland is thought to be leaning towards Verlander as the team's fifth starter and to perhaps have Zumaya come out of the bullpen.

Another pitcher set to make a roster and perhaps a likely rookie of the year candidate if he were to be given either a role in the starting rotation or as the team's closer is Jonathan Papelbon of the Red Sox. The hard-throwing, powerful right-hander reminds everyone in Boston of former Red Sox star Roger Clemens. Barring injury, Papelbon looms to be a setup man in the Sox bullpen but the youngster could see action as a starter should any in the Sox starting rotation struggle.

Yet another pitcher with a fastball in the 91-97 mph range is right-hander Matt Cain of the Giants. Barely 20 years of age, Cain was spectacular with the Giants in making seven starts a year ago. The youngster also reportedly has the classic 12-to-6 curveball to go with the 90 mph plus fastball. At 6-3, 230-pounds, Cain is a physical presence and just could be the future of the Giants when and if Barry Bonds calls it quits.

Among the many position players thought to have a chance to make a name for themselves is Ryan Zimmerman, the third baseman of the Washington Nationals. The fourth overall pick in last year's draft had the chance to get the taste of a pennant race last September, hitting .397 in 20 games during his time with the Nationals. His performance led the Nats to trade Vinny Castilla to open up the starting job for Zimmerman. Manager Frank Robinson likened the fielding talents of the third baseman to that of the manager's former Oriole teammate Brooks Robinson,

Florida Marlins outfield prospect Jeremy Hermida brings size and speed to the team's outfield. At 6-4, 200-pounds, Hermida has the size to go along with his ability to run the bases. The rookie started his big league career in truly grand fashion, hitting a grand slam homerun in his first big-league at-bat. Unlike many of the other top prospects who are coming from the college ranks, Hermida was drafted directly out of high school back in 2002.

Kenji Johjima was lured out of Japan with a three-year, 16.5 million contract by the Seattle Mariners. A catcher, the youngster has reportedly been a positive addition to the clubhouse with his personality and presence. Since Japan won the WBC, and with the likes of Ichiro and Matsui already making a name for themselves, the country now has to be thought of as a great training ground for major league prospects.

Yet another college player, Brian Anderson out of the University of Arizona is an outfield prospect for the defending champion White Sox. The development of Anderson led the Sox to swap Aaron Rowand to the Phillies for Jim Thome. The center fielder is not the prototypical fleet footed outfielder but he has a powerful arm and is thought to project to hit 25 home runs at the Big League level.

And finally, there is the youngster of baseball lineage who also qualifies for the all-name team, Prince Fielder. Fielder hopes to bring the same home run swing to the Brewers that his father brought to Detroit, especially the 51 homers Dad Cecil put up in 1990. At 21, Fielder appears to have lived through a great deal off the diamond, experiencing the messy divorce of his parents as well as his father propensity for gambling. Fielder has reportedly slimmed down from 300 pounds, his playing weight in high school.

Of course, this is the list of those with promise, each having the essential tools for success, at least on paper. Only by the end of the season will we know those that lived up to that promise, and who else may have stepped forward to stake a claim.