We are happy to introduce a brand new column at Rotochamps for the 2005 season. Ross Keyser has been following the minor leagues for several years now and will be providing us with insights all season on the minor league happenings, and to break down the guys who are called up during the season.  Ross' opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of rotochamps.com and may conflict with other statements or articles posted by the rotochamps brothers..

Leading up to the start of the season I will be reviewing the top prospects that have a chance to make an impact in the 2005 season.  This week I will start with 1-10 on the list and I will bring you another 10 next week.

1. Dallas McPherson; 3B (Ana) -  Dallas will come into spring training with the 3B job his to lose after Anaheim let Troy Glaus go to Arizona in free agency.  He brings a heavy bat which some project to someday hit 40+ HR.  The thing to watch with McPherson is his strikeout total as sometimes he does have trouble putting the ball in play, striking out more then 150 times last season between AA and AAA. His HR totals might be close to what he hit in the minors, but I think it is a stretch to say that he's a .300 type a guy.

2. Scott Kazmir; SP (TB) - After being traded from the New York Mets to the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, Scott shot right through the minors to the show.  He is labeled as one of the top left-handed pitching prospects in the game with a hard fastball that tops out at around 96 mph and is projected to grow as he fills out.  The one thing that is holding Kazmir back is that people close to him says he has a terrible work ethic.  I think for the upcoming season, you can project a similar route that Jeremy Bonderman took.

3. Nick Swisher; OF (OAK) - The head of the Moneyball class from Oakland's 2002 draft looks to be the first of the position players to reach the Show as he looks to have the LF starting position going into spring training.  Nick is a perfect fit for Billy Beane and the Athletics as he draws walks, gets on base, and just does the little things that make him a great ballplayer.  He looks to be a guy who can hit 25 HR a year, and hit near .300 in his prime with a high OBP.

4. Edwin Jackson; SP (LA) - Mr. Jackson was rumored to be including in some trades this offseason, including going to Oakland for Tim Hudson, but instead finds himself competing for a rotation spot in LA.  He has a fastball that can register on the gun at 97mph, making him a threat to be a top of the line pitcher.  In his career, he has a chance to have high strikeout totals and a great ERA playing in Dodger Stadium.

5. Joe Blanton; SP (OAK) - Blanton was another Moneyball draftee out of the 2002 draft for the Oakland Athletics.  Blanton struggled a little bit in AAA last year, but don’t look too closely at the numbers.  The PCL is known as a hitter’s league, and his K/BB ratio was still very impressive at 143/34.  He controls the strike zone very well for such a young player and although he doesn’t have the stuff that the pitchers ahead of him have, he still can be a very effective middle of the rotation guy and a major league work horse.

6. Jeremy Reed; OF (SEA) - Jeremy Reed came over from Chicago in the trade that sent Freddy Garcia to the White Sox.  Reed makes consistent contact with the bat, which will probably lead to him hitting high in the lineup for the M's.  Reed is a guy who has consistently had more walks then strikeouts in his career.  He has decent speed and will steal some bases while hitting around .300 and throwing in a little pop.

7.  Jose Capellan; RP (MIL) - He was traded from Atlanta to Milwaukee this past season and looks to be the guy to close games out for the Brew Crew in '05.  Unlike the other closer on this list, Capellan has a rocket for an arm and can pump in 97mph fastballs consistently.  His lack of another pitch makes me think that he will be a closer instead of a starter in the majors.

8. Chris Burke; 2B (HOU) - With Jeff Kent gone, second base is wide open for Burke to come into spring training and claim as his own.  He has terrific speed and can steal close to 35 stolen bases a year.  He is projected as a near .300 type hitter with surprising pop for a guy that doesn’t even hit the 6' line.

9.  Huston Street; RP (OAK) - Huston has a shot at making the big leagues with a strong spring training.  Oakland didn’t make the playoffs in '04 because their bullpen was so unreliable.  Street could be the hammer the A's were missing last year to close out games.  He isn’t your typical closer as he doesn’t throw the ball remarkably hard, but he works hitters in and out with his subpar fastball and plus off speed pitches. He raced through the minors last year and is ready to compete for a bullpen spot in 2005.

10.  Jeff Francis; SP (COL) - Jeff just might have the second best stuff among prospects, and certainly had one seasons in the minors in 2004.  If he was playing in any other stadium or for any other team, he would probably be much higher on this list.  Playing at Coor's Field in Denver just drops his value for obvious reasons. Even though he only throws a fastball that reaches 91, he had a remarkable number of strikeouts last season in AAA.  He's 6'5 and the ball just seems to come in quicker then it actually does and he really understands how to set up a hitter.