Part II in Emack's series on rookies and prospects for 2007.
We have cobbled together the Top 100 Fantasy Baseball rookies to target on Draft Day. But we have to warn you: It is not a top prospects list, which projects long-term potential.
Instead, it is a ranking of Draft Day value for yearly leagues -- assuming you're drafting in March and don't have keepers. We take into account talent, opportunity and proximity to having an impact this year alone, giving you options on fliers to take in deeper leagues on Draft Day.
Trust us: It is harder to project what a Class A prospect might do in 2007 than it is to forecast him long term. He might never get called up ... or he might be the next Albert Pujols. It's a variable that's missing from top prospects lists, where seeing the high ranking of Yankee teenage OF Jose Tabata won't do anything for you. (In fact, Tabata didn't even make our cut).
Also, Angels shortstop farmhand Brandon Wood is an elite prospect, but the fact he is currently slated to open the year in Triple-A puts him at No. 26 below. The same can be said for Philip Hughes , the highly touted Yankees 20-year-old pitching phenom, who checks in at No. 19. For a more in-depth look at the Top 25, click here .
Also, if you think some of these rankings are out of whack, click here . There we list the rookies picked in our AL-only and NL-only analyst leagues.
Note: All ages are based on what they will be opening day (April 1).
Top 100 Rookies to Target on Draft Day Rookies/Prospects Age Pos. 2006 high Destination 1 Delmon Young , TB 21 RF Majors Majors He should break 20-20, but we still see a future 30-30 man here 2 Daisuke Matsuzaka , BOS 26 RH SP Japan Majors Hype will likely have him overrated, but he has big-time potential 3 Alex Gordon , KC 23 3B Double-A Majors Royals say they will give him a shot this spring, can we trust them? 4 Chris B. Young , ARI 23 CF Majors Majors Triple-A numbers didn't match hype, but still have to be intrigued 5 Matt Garza , MIN 23 RH SP Majors Majors Fast-rising flame-thrower was promising in spots late last year 6 Mike Pelfrey , NYM 23 RH SP Majors Majors Enters spring training as No. 5 starter and has big-time upside 7 Troy Tulowitzki , COL 22 SS Majors Majors It didn't take long for Tulo to render Clint Barmes useless 8 Chris Iannetta , COL 23 C Majors Majors Don't be J.D. Closser-shy here, Iannetta is better, we promise 9 Kevin Kouzmanoff , SD 25 3B Majors Majors You don't trade a Josh Barfield unless you have conviction here 10 Kei Igawa , NYY 27 LH SP Japan Majors Not a Dice-K, but we think he can be the better side of Kaz Ishii 11 Homer Bailey , CIN 20 RH SP Double-A Triple-A Has to be very convincing this spring, but his talent is worth gamble 12 Akinori Iwamura , TB 28 3B Japan Majors Even Rays say power won't translate, but he's worth an AL-only flier 13 Adam Lind , TOR 23 OF Majors Majors Showed he can mash, but has to earn at-bats after Big Hurt signing 14 Jason Botts , TEX 26 DH Majors Majors Big power man has wide-open opportunity in still great hitter's park 15 Jeff Baker , COL 25 OF Majors Majors Will get his at-bats at 3B-1B-RF-LF spelling middle of Rox order 16 Miguel Montero , ARI 23 C Majors Majors If he beats out Chris Snyder , he's worth look even in mixed formats 17 Dustin Pedroia , BOS 23 2B Majors Majors Minor league numbers are as intriguing as his talent and opportunity 18 Jeff Mathis , LAA 23 C Majors Majors Another repeat name on this list; has to overcome disappointing '06 19 Phil Hughes, NYY 20 RH SP Double-A Triple-A Talent top notch, but we cannot see Yanks taking him out of spring 20 John Danks , CHW 21 LH SP Triple-A Triple-A This ranking is on shred of hope he opens year in ChiSox rotation 21 Jason Hirsh , COL 25 RH SP Majors Triple-A Astros gave up on him way too soon, but he needs to earn spot 22 Josh Fields , CHW 24 3B Majors Majors Move him into top 5-10 if he wins starting spot in LF this spring 23 Hunter Pence , HOU 23 CF Double-A Triple-A CF is clear for the taking, if not this spring, then by midseason 24 Jeff Niemann , TB 24 RH SP Double-A Triple-A Drafted in Jered Weaver-Justin Verlander-Jeremy Sowers class 25 Edinson Volquez , TEX 23 RH SP Majors Majors Only worth this spot if he reaches potential and earns rotation spot 26 Brandon Wood , LAA 22 SS Double-A Triple-A Power potential for position off the charts; might be best minor leaguer 27 Philip Humber , NYM 24 RH SP Majors Triple-A Another from famed '04 class; swap spots if he beats out Pelfrey 28 Andy LaRoche , LAD 23 3B Triple-A Triple-A Huge pop; if not for shoulder last year, he would be opening-day 3B 29 Kory Casto , WAS 25 LF Double-A Triple-A Not an elite prospect, but has shot at starting on opening day for Nats 30 James Loney , LAD 22 1B Majors Triple-A If not for Nomar re-signing, this future monster would be top 10 here 31 Adam Miller , CLE 22 RH SP Triple-A Triple-A Sowers is ahead of him, but he's a bigger prospect due to K potential 32 Ryan J. Braun, MIL 23 3B Double-A Triple-A Alex Gordon -lite has shot if Corey Koskie (concussion) isn't ready 33 Yovani Gallardo , MIL 21 RH SP Double-A Triple-A Do cartwheels when filthy Francisco Liriano -like talent gets call 34 Humberto Sanchez , NYY 23 RHP Triple-A Majors Just a hunch, but he could be this year's Joel Zumaya relief find 35 Joey Votto , CIN 23 1B Double-A Triple-A Huge bat blocked by just Scott Hatteberg ; two great reasons to buy! 36 Reid Brignac, TB 21 SS Double-A Double-A Offense at thin spot is intriguing and might lead to quick rise 37 Evan Longoria , TB 21 3B Double-A Double-A Bigger prospect than Brignac or Braun, but more blocked at 3B in TB 38 Andrew Miller , DET 21 LH SP Majors Double-A Tigers say second-half return to bigs not out of question this year 39 Tim Lincecum , SF 22 RH SP Class A Double-A '06 pick extremely raw, but Giants feel he could be factor late 2007 40 Billy Butler , KC 20 RF Double-A Triple-A Gordon forced him to RF, but his bat will wind up playing anywhere 41 Andrew McCutchen , PIT 20 CF Double-A Double-A Similar to Lastings Milledge ; could arrive quickly but blossom later 42 Ian Stewart , COL 21 3B Double-A Triple-A Injury-plagued '06 doesn't scare us; potential Helton trade excites us 43 Ryan Sweeney , CHW 22 OF Majors Triple-A Has chance to open year in majors, but numbers aren't great yet 44 Erick Aybar , LAA 23 SS Majors Majors Stuck between Orlando Cabrera and Wood, but can get SBs now 45 Felix Pie , CHC 22 CF Triple-A Triple-A Might get chance to debut this April, but won't star right away 46 Alberto Callaspo , ARI 23 2B Majors Majors Great contact bat, but a UTL man who doesn't hit HRs or get SBs 47 Adam Jones , SEA 21 OF Majors Triple-A Rose quickly, but scouts like him more than statisticians do so far 48 Carlos Ruiz , PHI 28 C Majors Majors Old for a "prospect" but opportunity, position and bat are intriguing 49 Luke Hochevar , KC 23 RH SP Class A Double-A Ranked low, but you can't anticipate an '07 call-up 50 Cameron Maybin , DET 19 CF Class A Double-A Tigers don't mind moving prospects quickly, but he's really young 51 Jay Bruce , CIN 19 OF Class A Class A Top 5 on prospect lists, but low here because he's keeper-only 52 Scott Elbert , LAD 21 LH SP Double-A Double-A LH version of 2006's Chad Billingsley ; could arrive in second half 53 Glen Perkins , MIN 24 LH SP Majors Triple-A A top 15 if he makes rotation this spring (possible, but not likely) 54 Micah Owings , ARI 24 RH SP Triple-A Triple-A Big Unit trade slows him up, but won't keep him from '07 arrival 55 Shawn Hill , WAS 24 RH SP Majors Majors Tommy John patient will have rotation spot if healthy this spring 56 Matt Albers , HOU 24 RH SP Majors Triple-A Competes for spot, but regardless helps Astros, NL-onlys in '07 57 Jeff Clement , SEA 23 C Triple-A Triple-A Coming off bad '06 and needs an injury to soph Kenji Johjima 58 Jarrod Saltalamacchia , ATL 21 C Double-A Double-A Supposed to be better than Brian McCann ; might have to move 59 Thomas Diamond , TEX 23 RH SP Double-A Triple-A Lost some high-end luster, but should develop into solid starter 60 Carlos Gonzalez , ARI 21 OF Double-A Double-A Even better long term than Chris B. Young, but further behind 61 Joe Koshansky , COL 24 1B Double-A Triple-A Helton deal would have opened door, but he needs more time 62 Daric Barton , OAK 21 1B Triple-A Triple-A Disaster '06 in Triple-A means he won't challenge Dan Johnson 63 Travis Buck , OAK 23 OF Double-A Triple-A Power isn't there yet, but he's not far from bigs and might pop 64 Nick Adenhart , LAA 20 RH SP Class A Class A Popular name at trade deadline; could be reason he gets early look 65 Tyler Lumsden , KC 23 LH SP Double-A Triple-A Has shot at rotation, but that's good-news, bad-news right now 66 Javier Herrera , OAK 21 OF DNP injured Double-A Made Andre Ethier expendable then lost '06 to elbow surgery 67 Gio Gonzalez , CHW 21 LH RP Double-A Triple-A Nice talent and White Sox say he could compete for No. 5 spot 68 Justin Huber , KC 24 DH Majors Triple-A Ryan Shealy blocks him; he's running out of time and positions 69 Trevor Crowe , CLE 23 OF Double-A Triple-A Had he been able to transition to 2B, he would be higher here 70 Ryan Goleski , OAK 24 OF Double-A Majors Raw Rule-5er had awesome numbers and has to make roster 71 Jerry Owens , CHW 26 OF Majors Triple-A Not a hitter, but he has AL-only value in Roto leagues for SBs 72 Joel Guzman , TB 22 3B/1B/OF Majors Triple-A Numbers don't equal talent yet, but we're not giving up here 73 Delwyn Young , LAD 24 OF Majors Triple-A Pop was a lot more impressive when he was a 2B, but still 74 Elijah Dukes , TB 22 OF Triple-A Triple-A Dukes of Hazzard remains a problem child, but a talented one 75 Joaquin Arias , TEX 22 SS Majors Triple-A Plus speed but blocked by two studly Fantasy stars at SS/2B 76 Jacoby Ellsbury , BOS 23 OF Double-A Triple-A Speedster could take over in CF if (when?) Coco Crisp fails 77 Larry Broadway , WAS 26 1B Triple-A Triple-A No longer a high-ceiling talent, but might start on opening day 78 Kevin Slowey , MIN 22 RH SP Double-A Triple-A Doesn't have knockout stuff, but you cannot argue with results 79 Brian Bannister , KC 26 RH SP Majors Majors Trade to KC gives him opportunity, but ruins '07 Fantasy potential 80 Cesar Carrillo , SD 22 RH SP Triple-A Triple-A If he doesn't need elbow surgery, he's a big-time sleeper prospect 81 Matt Chico , WAS 23 LH SP Double-A Triple-A Wide-open Nats rotation could help him make quick rise in spring 82 Garrett Mock , WAS 23 RH SP Double-A Triple-A With Chico, Livan Hernandez might nets Nats two rotation Ps 83 Anthony Lerew , ATL 24 RH SP Majors Triple-A Move in and out of bullpen ruined his '06, but might surprise 84 Colby Rasmus , STL 20 OF Class A Class A A raw talent but Cardinals aren't shy about using young players 85 Justin Upton , ARI 19 OF Class A Class A Might he star before B.J.? Headed to hitter's league, so look out! 86 Chris Volstad , FLA 20 RH SP Class A Class A Too young to be considered in earnest in '07, but very talented 87 Clay Buchholz , BOS 22 RH SP Class A Class A Numbers look filthy, but Red Sox have ample depth right now 88 Mitch Talbot , TB 23 RH SP Double-A Triple-A Can move up quick because he can steal rotation spot in spring 89 Blake Hawksworth , STL 23 RH SP Double-A Triple-A Cards have some experimental SPs, so he could arrive quickly 90 Terry Evans , LAA 25 OF Double-A Triple-A Ridiculous '06 numbers came out of nowhere; keep him in mind 91 George Kottaras , BOS 23 C Triple-A Triple-A Another Jason Varitek injury paves way for decent C prospect 92 Jesus Flores , WAS 22 C Class A Majors Rule-5 draftee C coming off 21-HR season making a huge leap 93 Anderson Hernandez , NYM 24 2B Majors Triple-A Weak bat, but steals, plays D and has just Jose Valentin ahead of him 94 Jose Garcia , FLA 22 RHP Majors Majors Long shot for rotation, but soar him up list if he wins closer's job 95 Henry Owens , FLA 27 RHP Majors Majors Old for a rookie, but converted C has outside shot at closer, too 96 Michael Bourn , PHI 24 OF Majors Triple-A Speedster can work way into at-bats, if so, consider him in Roto 97 Beltran Perez , WAS 25 RH SP Majors Majors Might have shot at rotation, which is only way he's useful in '07 98 Neil Walker , PIT 21 C Double-A Double-A Injury-plagued year and Ronny Paulino's arrival slows Walker up 99 Jeff Fiorentino , BAL 23 OF Majors Triple-A Already up in Baltimore twice, but needs to dominate minors 100 Andrew Sonnanstine, TB 24 RH SP Double-A Triple-A Another potential Devil Ray rotation prospect to keep an eye on
You can e-mail Emack your Fantasy Baseball questions to DMFantasyBaseball@cbs.com. Be sure to put Attn: Top 100 rookies in the subject field. Please include your full name, hometown and state. Be aware, due to the large volume of submissions received, we cannot guarantee personal responses or answers to all questions.
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