The 2005 season is finally here and with that comes new faces. The most exciting part about fantasy baseball is researching who the next superstar is going to be.  Not only is this a very exciting part of the game, but it also can prove to be very beneficial in capturing your fantasy league’s crown.  Who doesn't like to be the one that said, "I had him on my roster before he became an All Star."

Through past history and spring training statistics, I have come up with a list of the top rookies to make major league rosters out of spring training.  These young players will have a big impact on their team's upcoming season, and they also could impact your own fantasy league, hopefully in your favor.

Astros - Luke Scott:  Luke was traded before last season from Cleveland to the Astros for LHP Jeriome Robertson.  Scott is 26, so he's not a young prospect and he will have to prove himself quickly for to keep his spot.  He's a left handed power hitter who posted 19 HR in a half season at AA.  This spring he has hit .278 with 2 HR and 4 RBI.  I wouldn't expect much from him, although he could get a few HR this season with limited action.

Astros - Willy Tavares:  Another part of the trade that sent Jeriome Robertson to Cleveland.  Willy is a speedy CF who plays great defense.  Tavares could easily get between 35 and 40 stolen bases if the 'Stros hand him the everyday starting job in centerfield. Tavares also hit for average in AA last year hitting .335 but lacks power numbers.  He carried that into spring training where he hit .308.  If you are looking for a guy that could hit for a decent average, and steal some bases he might be your guy but don’t look for him to hit more then a couple HR this year.

Astros - Chris Burke:  Burke is looking to fill All-Star second baseman Jeff Kent's shoes for the Astros this season.  He hit

.333 but the team decided to start the year by moving Biggio back to second base which pushes Burke to the bench. If Burke got a full time opportunity look for him to hit around .300, add about 5-10 HR, and steal 10-20 bases.

Braves - Pete Orr:  Pete is a left-handed hitter who posted around .250 this spring for the Braves.  He plays a decent SS but with Furcal locked in there he will probably play the role as utility man.  He steals a lot of bases but his lack of power probably will not allow him a lot of playing time this season.  I think he is worth a flier for stolen bases in deep NL-only leagues just because he could very well get a little playing time this summer.

Braves- Ryan Langerhans:  Although Ryan had a very disappointing spring (Batting under .150), he still made the major league roster for the Atlanta Braves to start the season.  He can hit for average and power and is a decent fielder.  He could make a run for a starting position this summer if his bat picks up, so he is probably a safer pick in deep NL only leagues than is Pete Orr.

Phillies - Gavin Floyd:  Gavin is a top of the line pitcher who will have every chance this season to find a spot in the Phillies rotation.  Floyd had a rough spring, allowing 18 runs in 25 IP with a 16/13 K/BB ratio.  The poor showing would have sent him to AAA in Scranton WB to start the season but injuries to the rotation gave him an opportunity to start the year with the big club.

Rockies - J.D. Closser:  JD had a disappointing spring hitting under .200 with no extra base hits.  He will be taking over for veteran catcher Charles Johnson who was the everyday catcher for the Rockies last year.  Closser isn't much of a prospect and I don’t see him hitting over .250, or adding a lot of pop to the Rockies line up.  I think he will only be the starting catcher because of lack of competition.

Rockies - Garret Atkins:  Atkins impressively hit .397 this spring with 2 dingers as he looked to win the everyday job at 3B this season.

Garret is a line drive hitter but lacks the ability to hit a lot of home runs.  Playing at Coors will benefit him and I look for him to hit close to .300 and add close to 20 HR this season.  His glove is a major concern for the Rockies and it could lead to either a position change, or a demotion back to the minors.

Rockies – Jeff Francis:  One of the top prospects in major league baseball, Jeff will likely be the #3 man in a young rotation.  A solid LHP, he doesn't have what many would consider ACE stuff, but he has put up great numbers in the minors, and all the kid does is win.  He went 1-0 this spring with a 2.25 ERA in 12 IP.  He also tallied up 10 strikeouts with only 3 walks.  The stats are great, but he can’t lose any of his confidence if he gets shelled in Denver the first few months of the season. I wouldn't jump onto his bandwagon until we see him perform in hitter’s heaven.

Angels – Dallas McPherson:  Dallas will begin the season in the minors as he has had problems with his lower back (Herniated Disc).  This leaves Anaheim with a hole at third but when Dallas gets healthy you should see him jump right into the starting lineup in the middle of April. Many scouts think he can whack 40+ HR a year, but the main concern with him is that he might strikeout too much to be big force in the majors (i.e Russell Branyan).  I expect him to play a big roll in the Angels fight for a pennant, and you should see him only get better in the next few years.

Twins – Jason Bartlett:  Jason won the battle for the shortstop job over three other experienced players.  At 25 years of age he is a little old to be considered a prospect.  He has a quick bat, and is a very athletic player that should be able to steal some bases for the Twins this season.  He will likely bat second in a lineup that will be much improved for the upcoming season.  He hit .385 this spring with 2 HRs in 52 ABs,  look for him to continue to hit around .300 this season, with a lot of chances to score runs with Mauer and Morneau behind him.

Athletics – Nick Swisher:  Nick has been one of Oakland's top prospects, and the key player of the "Money Ball” draft.  He has really struggled this spring and might be a surprise to some that he will be the opening day RF for the Athletics.  He has a chance to be one of the better hitters on the team at some point in the future because of his smooth swing, but if he struggles early, look for him to either sit the bench or get moved back down to AAA as Bobby Kielty and newly acquired Charles Thomas look for more playing time.

Athletics - Dan Haren:  Will come into the 2005 season as the team's #3 starter.  Acquired from the Atlanta Braves for ace Tim Hudson, Danny has some big shoes to fill.  He has four impressive pitches that he can control on either side of the plate.  This spring Danny struggled with a 6.65 ERA and will benefit with moving back into a bigger ballpark in Oakland which is considered to most, a pitcher's park.

Athletics – Joe Blanton:  Oakland's top pitching prospect will have Oakland's 4th starting spot.  Although he struggled in AAA last year, I think that has more to do with where he pitched then it does with how he performed.  Blanton posted a 4.74 ERA in a decent spring training performance and  I think he will become the surprise of the pitching staff with a solid 2005 campaign.

Mariners - Jeremy Reed: Jeremy projects as the #2 hitter in what should be a re-tooled Seattle lineup.  Reed won’t hit much for power, but like this spring (which he hit .359), he will be a solid contact hitter and should hit near .300 this season.  With Sexson, Beltre, and Boone batting behind him and Ichiro ahead of him, Reed has a chance to put up great numbers this season and make a run at Rookie of the Year.

Devil Rays - Scott Kazmir: One of the best prospect pitchers in the American League, look for Scott to be either the #1 or #2 pitcher for the Rays this season.  He has the stuff that teams dream about, and it doesn’t hurt that he is also left-handed.  This spring he dominated hitters compiling a 2.16 ERA and 13 strikeouts in just over 16 IP.  If he wants to continue to have success, he must cut down on the bases on balls.

Blue Jays – Russ Adams:  A recent first round pick, Russ looks to probably bat down in the line up for the Jays.  He is a good contact hitter, but probably wont hit .300 this season, but an average of .280 is possible.  He performed well last season after being called up in September but struggled this spring only hitting .204 with no HRs.  He must hit the ball to stay up in Toronto, as he won’t be an everyday player with below average defensive skills.

Indians - Jhonny Peralta: A great young hitter, Jhonny won the starting job for Cleveland with a great spring training in which he hit .404 and 2 HRs.  He will bat ninth for the Tribe who should again have a great offensive hitting team.  Peralta can hit above .300 this season because of his quick hands.  He will hit for contact, and will have a few HRs.  Look for him to contend for Rookie of the Year.

There are certainly more young players that have made rosters this spring but they were not included here if they were already discussed in the preseason prospects articles.