2007 AL Rookie of the Year candidates
2007 Top 5 Rookie of the Year candidates
1. Delmon Young, Devil Rays: For the young man who had been outspoken about not being brought to The Show earlier, it's time to put up and clam up. In his brief exposure -- 30 games last September (.317 with 13 extra-base hits) and this spring (.323) -- he hasn't shown anything that shorts his potential. Young could break in as a 30-30 rookie, but his biggest challenge will be proving to be as good a teammate as he is a player.
2. Daisuke Matsuzaka, Red Sox: The man who will turn Red Sox Nation into the Land of the Rising Daisuke-san. If he can log two wins for each pitch he allegedly throws, Boston will love him in October even more than it does now. His first three starts will come against Cactus League-based teams that haven't yet seen him, which should get him off to a fast start that will only intensify the mania.
3. Alex Gordon, Royals: When camp opened, Kansas City manager Buddy Bell said Gordon, the second player taken in the 2005 First-Year Player Draft, would have to force his way onto the roster. A month later, he was the starting third baseman and had forced Mark Teahen into the outfield. He is making the leap from Double-A Wichita, where he was the consensus Minor League Player of the Year. He's a fluid left-handed swinger who will win batting titles and develop 20-plus-homer power. Yes, it's OK to dream of George Brett.
4. Matt Garza, Twins: This 2005 draft pick, who rocketed up the system last season, has been in an uphill battle to leave Florida with a starting spot locked up. But even if he begins the season on the outside looking in, how long do you suppose a rotation with Ramon Ortiz and Sidney Ponson will be able to keep Garza out? If the Twins successfully defend their AL Central title, he will have more to do with it than either of those two.
5. Akinori Iwamura, Devil Rays: Just when you think the Japanese have exhausted their big-league frontiers, here comes the first corner infielder to try to make a successful jump. He's got hot hands, a cool personality and a bat that should be smoking by July. Ignore his silent spring. Hitters make the adjustment to the Majors much slower; even Ichiro was unimpressive in his first camp with the Mariners, then caught fire.
Source: MLB.com
