Major league prospects for 2003: some rookies who could make a crucial contribution to their big league clubs this season include pitcher Francisco Rodriguez, catcher Victor Martinez, first basemen Hee Seop Choi and Lyle Overbay and outfielders Joe Borchard and Hideki Matsui - Baseball's Top Rated

Baseball Digest, March, 2003 by George Vass

AMONG THE MOST OBSCURE AND mind-numbing statistics to emerge from merciless burrowing through the teeming records of the 2002 season is that rookies accounted for 18.3 percent of all innings pitched but only 8.8 percent of all at-bats--even with rookie pitchers' hitting figures included.

Admittedly, this exotic speck of trivia that only a statistics sycophant could cherish may not impress a reader as an earth-shaking revelation.

Yet, it does stress the incontestable truth repeated incessantly by successions of general managers, managers, scouts and TV and radio color commentators that pitching talent is the most sought-after and scarcest commodity in baseball.

"Pitching is the name of the game," they whine continuously and piteously when caught short, which is the case most of the time.

One might even conclude that a rookie pitcher gets twice the opportunity to display his wares as does a position player. And is doubly in demand.

These days a rookie doesn't even have to display potential as a starter or closer in the minor leagues in order to earn a chance to make it to the big time. What used to be the humble and embarrassing role of a middle reliever has been elevated to significance and even respectability in the last couple of decades. It's no longer a blind alley into which washed-up starters are shoved out on their way to the junk yard.

Certainly, the Angels' sensational youngster Francisco Rodriguez demonstrated that during Anaheim's surprising march to the World Series title last year. He leaped to instant stardom from total obscurity in a setup role.

Chicago White Sox manager Jerry Manuel emphasized the change in discussing Edwin Almonte, a farm system reliever who may emerge as a force in the club's bullpen this coming season.

Right-hander Almonte, 26, rang up 62 saves and a 1.85 earned run average (ERA) between Class AA Birmingham and Class AAA Charlotte the last two seasons. The Sox are likely to test him in middle relief, having acquired ace closer Billy Koch from the Oakland A's in an off-season trade.

"The sixth-inning guys now are as important as the guy who comes in with a two-run lead in the ninth," Manuel stressed. "The sixth inning is where the game is often dictated. Sure, you have come-backs, but not very often against the best bullpens. That's what we're looking for."

Almonte, who led the Southern League in saves with 36 in 2001, and throws a mean changeup, is one of hundreds of rookie pitchers of all descriptions from starters to closers to middle relievers who'll be scrambling for permanent big league jobs this year.

The most highly-regarded in the American League include Anaheim's Rodriguez, Baltimore's Stan Bechler, Cleveland's Jason Davis and Brian Taller, Detroit's Eric Eckenstahler, Kansas City's Wes Obermueller and Jeremy Hill, Oakland's Joe Valentine, Seattle's Aaron Taylor, Tampa Bay's Drew Brazelton, Texas' Ben Kozlowski and Toronto's Mark Hendrickson.

The National League standout may well be Florida's Dentrell Willis, a left-handed starter whom one publication anointed as minor league Pitcher of the Year for 2002. Other N.L. solid prospects include Atlanta's Trey Hodges, Colorado's Cory Vance and Aaron Cook, Houston's Jeriome Robertson, Los Angeles' Ching-Feng Chen, Milwaukee's Ben Diggins and Matt Childers, New York Mets' Pat Strange, St. Louis' Kevin Joseph, San Diego's Clay Condry and San Francisco's Jerome Williams.

The World Series champion Angels' Rodriguez is undoubtedly a special case, a youngster who while still officially a rookie in 2003 has already made baseball history.

He played a major part in getting the Angels into the 2002 World Series and enabling them to beat San Francisco for the title.

Rodriguez, 21, a 6-foot, 175-pound right-hander from Venezuela who made his major league debut in the last two weeks of the regular season, quickly emerged as the pivotal setup man for veteran Angels closer Troy Percival. He earned a remarkable five wins in postseason play, going 1-1 in the World Series in which he struck out 13 Giants in 8.2 innings of critical relief pitching.

Rodriguez dazzled Angels outfielders Tim Salmon and Darin Erstad the first time they saw him after the youngster was called up from AAA Salt Lake on September 18. Rodriguez made his debut that night against Oakland, allowing one hit but impressively retiring three A's batters, striking out the final pair, John Mabry and Mark Ellis, with exceptional fastballs having great movement.

"Darin and I just kind of looked at each other, and our mouths dropped," Salmon said. "It was like we were speechless. I think the first thing that came out of my mouth was `What in the world was he doing in the minors all season?'"

The New York Yankees, Minnesota Twins and San Francisco Giants, who faced Rodriguez in postseason play, probably would echo Salmon's comment. So might have other teams late in the regular season. He appeared in 5.2 innings in only five big league games, with 13 of his 17 outs coming on strikeouts, before his almost incredible feats in the post-season.