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Rookies to watch in 2007
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For what could be dozens of young major leaguers, it's a tough act to follow. Last year's crop of rookies was among the strongest and deepest in recent memory, but 2007 is not without plenty of candidates — including a couple actually named Young — to make first-year impacts and be significant fantasy players.

The top 20:

1. Daisuke Matsuzaka, SP, Red Sox: The Japanese pitcher, 26, with plenty of experience at home and in international competition is poised to be a double-digit winner on a playoff contender. He's a hard thrower with good strikeout credentials.

2. Matt Garza, SP, Twins: The USA TODAY Minor League Player of the Year in 2006 should be able to grab one of the two or three available slots in the Minnesota rotation. He should be able to win regularly with the support of a strong offense and a deep bullpen.

3. Chris Young, CF, Diamondbacks: He'll have first crack at starting in center field and, if he wins the job, would bump Eric Byrnes to left field. With 20-homer and 20-steal potential, Young could have the most impact of a deep group of first- and second-year players in Arizona.

4. Kevin Kouzmanoff, 3B, Padres: San Diego traded second baseman Josh Barfield for the power hitter who hit 25 homers combined at Double-A, Triple-A and Cleveland last year. He's a .332 hitter over four minor league seasons.

5. Delmon Young, RF, Devil Rays: Tampa Bay was so confident of his impact this season that Young's at-bats were limited in September so he would qualify for Rookie of the Year voting this season. He has power and speed.

6. Jonathan Sanchez, SP, Giants: San Francisco is turning into a pitching team thanks to mound depth in its farm system. Sanchez has a hard, sinking fastball and an above-average changeup. He got work in the bullpen last year but should start in 2007.

7. Kory Casto, LF, Nationals: He will move from third base, which he played in the minors, and become a leading candidate for the wide-open left-field job in Washington. Casto's biggest asset is power, and he has shown good command of the strike zone.

8. Troy Tulowitzki, SS, Rockies: He didn't tear it up in his major league debut (.240 in 25 games) but showed enough to be given a shot to beat out Clint Barmes for the starting job.

9. Phil Hughes, SP, Yankees: He probably won't start the season in the majors, but the best pitching prospect in the system could force his way to the majors before the All-Star break, especially if Carl Pavano isn't able to nail down the No. 5 spot in the rotation.

10. Kei Igawa, SP, Yankees: The left-hander comes from Japan with less fanfare than Matsuzaka, and he's far less overpowering. But he's an experienced pitcher who should contribute plenty of innings and benefit from the team around him.

11. Dustin Pedroia, 2B, Red Sox: He's most often compared to David Eckstein, though Pedroia has a bit more power. Boston expects him to be the starter at second base and bat ninth.

12. Scott Thorman, 1B, Braves: The trade of Adam LaRoche to the Pirates opens the door for the power-hitting Canadian. The left-handed-hitting Thorman could win the job outright or wind up sharing time with Craig Wilson, though Wilson also could end up in a left-field platoon.

13. James Loney, 1B, Dodgers: He doesn't have a starting job, but he's only a Nomar Garciaparra injury from getting into the lineup. Loney is the team's first baseman of the future and has as much power as anyone already in the Los Angeles lineup.

14. Akinori Iwamura, 3B, Devil Rays: Power numbers from Japan don't always translate equally to the USA, but Iwamura has hit as many as 44 homers on the other side of the Pacific and should be able to take advantage of his new team's home park.

15. Alex Gordon, 3B, Royals: Mark Teahen's strong second half last season complicated Gordon's expected rise. But the second-year pro hit .325 with 29 homers and 101 RBI at Double-A. He could make the big-league club as early as spring training. If so, he'll bump Teahen to the outfield.

16. Humberto Sanchez, SP, Yankees: He's a hard thrower who was the best pitcher in the Tigers system before the Yankees got him in the Gary Sheffield trade. He also has bullpen potential, so he could make the roster as early as spring training as a reliever.

17. Matt Albers, SP, Astros: He'll get a chance to move into the rotation this spring, and his chances of remaining there will depend on his effectiveness and maybe on whether Roger Clemens comes back for another Houston season.

18. Glen Perkins, SP, Twins: Young Minnesota pitchers just keep on coming. Perkins will get a shot at the rotation in spring training, and even if he doesn't make the team then, he probably will get an opportunity during the season.

19. Chris Iannetta, C, Rockies: It's more a matter of when he wins the job. Colorado will look at Javy Lopez this spring and has Yorvit Torrealba as a holdover. But Iannetta should ease into regular duty as the season progresses.

20. Shawn Hill, SP, Nationals: Washington's rotation is wide open, and Hill got a taste of the majors last year. He could be as high as the No. 2 starter behind John Patterson, though it will be for a team not likely to be winning a lot of games. Hill, a ground-ball pitcher, is just regaining his effectiveness after Tommy John surgery cost him the 2005 season.

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Matt Garza was 14-4 at three minor league levels in 2006; he was 3-5 with the Twins.
By Paul Battaglia, AP