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Back in March we tried to make some predictions regarding the rookies that might make a mark in 2006. We tossed out the names of five pitchers, Francisco Liriano of the Twins, Justin Verlander and Joel Zumaya for the Tigers, Jonathan Papelbon of the Red Sox, and Matt Cain of the Giants, and five position players, Prince Fielder of the Brewers, Ryan Zimmerman of the Nationals, Jeremy Hermida of the Marlins, Brian Anderson of the White Sox and Kenji Johjima for the Mariners.

The left-handed Francisco Liriano is the consensus choice of baseball experts as possibly the top rookie pitcher this season. Just 22-years-of-age, the Twins have elected to bring Liriano along slowly, having him work out of the bullpen to start the season. In eight games, the lefty has solid 3.77 ERA and eye-popping 21 strikeouts in just 14 innings of work.

Both Verlander and Zumaya are off to good starts with the surprising Tigers. Verlander, 23, has been give a starting role and the power throwing righthander is 3-2 in five starts with a 3.42 ERA. Verlander is tied for the team lead in wins and is second in innings pitched and strikeouts. As expected, Detroit has Zumaya, 21, coming out of the pen. Clocked at 98 miles per hour in spring training, the righthander has made seven appearances totaling nine innings and has shown to be overpowering at times with his 12 strikeouts.

The pitcher making the biggest early season impact has to be Papelbon of the Red Sox. The youngster has simply been untouchable, going 10 for 10 in save situations and tossing 14 plus scoreless innings on the season. Stepping into the closer role while the Sox allow Keith Foulke to return to form after an injury plagued season, the burly righthander has allowed just 9 base runners and has 14 K's in his 14 innings of work. Talk is that the Sox may consider moving him to the starting rotation if Foulke can once again handle the team's closer duties.

The 21-year-old Cain has not fared quite as well with San Francisco. The 6-3, 235 pounders is a physical presence on the mound, but in four starts the righthander is 1-2 with a 5.42 ERA. Still the youngster has 23 innings pitched in those four outings and has 17 strikeouts for the Giants.

Prince Fielder, the son of former major league slugger Cecil Fielder, has to be the early favorite for the Rookie of the Year award in the National League. The big fella' has been tremendous in the early going, leading the Brewers with a .348 batting average and 32 hits in just 24 games. Fielder has also popped five homers and driven in 16 runs, both numbers second best on Milwaukee. The 21-year-old, 260 pounder has made the most of his times making contact, as he has piled up a ton of strikeouts in the early going, 24 to be exact.

Ryan Zimmerman, the third baseman of the Washington Nationals and the fourth overall pick in last year's draft has been given every opportunity to play by the Nats. In 24 games, the youngster has driven in a solid 16 runs, but at .231 with 25 strikeouts, he has not been quite as strong as his end of the season call up performance last September.

Hermida at 6-4, 200-pounds, is thought to have all the physical tools but the Marlins have used the rightfielder sparingly on the season. Hermida has played in just six games, and has seven strikeouts against just five hits on the year. Instead of Hermida leading the way for the Marlins, former Red Sox top prospect of Hanley Ramirez, a Marlin by virtue of the Josh Beckett trade, has stolen the early season thunder in Florida. Ramirez is hitting .318, has 28 hits in just 21 games, and team-leading 20 runs scored.

A college player out of the University of Arizona, Brian Anderson was considered a top outfield prospect for the defending champion White Sox. But it has been tough sledding for the Chicago rookie, hitting just .161 in 19 games. Like many of the other youngsters, it is Anderson's 22 strikeouts in 61 at bats that has been most noticeable.

Kenji Johjima, lured out of Japan with a three-year, 16.5 million contract offer, has been solid thus far for Seattle. In 23 games, the catcher has hit .267, driving in 12 runs and having 20 hits compared to nine strikeouts.

There still a long way to go in 2006, but the season is shaping up as one to watch regarding some exceptionally talented young players on the diamond.