The National League West had been thought of as the weakest division in the game. However in 2009, the West garnered the division champion (LA Dodgers) and the wild card winner (Colorado Rockies). All of the teams in the division rely on young talent to win. The Dodgers have a young core of outfielders Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier, catcher Russell Martin, and first baseman James Loney. They also rely on hurlers Clayton Kershaw and Chad Billingsley and closer Jonathon Broxton. The SF Giants have two-time CY Young award winner Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain, and Jonathon Sanchez in the rotation and MVP-candidate Pablo Sandoval in the middle of the lineup. The Rockies core is all young with shortstop Troy Tulowitzki, catcher Chris Iannetta, outfielders Carlos Gonzalez, Dexter Fowler, and Brad Hawpe, and pitchers Jeff Francis, Ubaldo Jimenez, and Franklin Morales. The Arizona Diamondbacks have a young lineup with Stephen Drew, Conor Jackson, Mark Reynolds, Justin Upton, Miguel Montero, and Chris Young. The San Diego Padres, who are rebuilding, have young pitching with guys like Mat Latos, Chris Young, and Chris Richard. What young star will breakout in 2010 and help his team win? Here’s a few:

Blake DeWitt

Blake DeWitt, LA Dodgers (2B): For the second straight year, the Dodgers signed a veteran second baseman. Last year it was Orlando Hudson and this year is Jamey Carroll (though he is more of a utility man). So the 24 year old DeWitt has not earned a spot on the team, even though it looked like he inherited a starting job.

“I’m going to work hard, improve as much as possible and get to Spring Training ready to win a job and help this team win…I realize some things you can control and some things you can’t,” DeWitt said. He continued on to say, “There’s always somebody ready to fight for a job. He’s [Carroll] a good player and I look forward to playing with him and learning a lot from him…Nothing is given to you in this game. You’ve got to go out and earn it.” That is a good attitude to have as a young player.

Last year DeWitt was shuttled back and forth between Triple-A Albuquerque and LA after hitting .264 in his rookie year. GM Ned Colletti believes DeWitt needs to play everyday which is one of the reasons why DeWitt has become a utility player (he can play third, second, and shortstop).

2010 is a big year for DeWitt to see if he can win the second base job. If he can, he could provide another impact bat in the young Dodgers’ order.

Ian Stewart

Ian Stewart, Colorado Rockies (3B): Stewart hit 25 homeruns and drove in 70 in 2009. However in 147 games, he hit just .228. With the Rockies not re-signing Garrett Atkins, the soon-to-be 25 year old will need to make improvements offensively for the Rockies to be successful.

When the Rockies selected Stewart in the first round of the 2003 draft out of high school in California, they envisioned the power that Stewart has showed. However his career Major League average is just .238. The glaring issue for him is the strikeouts, as he struck out 138 times in 2009. He also must regain his stroke against left-handed pitching. In 2008 he hit .370 in 54 at-bats against lefties but it dropped to .178 in 101 at-bats in 2009.

No one talked about Stewart’s defense coming up through the minors, but he has been steady at third base. His .969 fielding percentage (seven errors) in 2009 was the third highest in Rockies history. His defense has become a source of pride for him.

If Stewart hits for a higher average, he will be a complete player. He is an important cog in the Rockies lineup and they need a breakout year from him.

Tags:

Blake DeWitt, Colorado Rockies, Ian Stewart, LA Dodgers, NL West

Michael Bourn

Michael Bourn, Houston Astros (CF): Bourn had a breakout year in 2009 as he hit leadoff for the Astros while also playing stellar defense in centerfield as he won his first Gold Glove. The keys (and the strengths) for Bourn have always been speed and defense. In his first year with the Astros in 2008 after being traded from the Philadelphia Phillies, Bourn hit just .229 in 138 games, though he did steal 41 bases. The knock on Bourn has been the strikeouts (111 in 2008) and the inability to consistently get on base (.288 on-base percentage). You cannot steal first base.

However 2009 was the type of season the Astros envisioned when trading for him. He hit .285 in 157 games with 27 doubles and 12 triples and a National League-leading 61 stolen bases. Unfortunately he struck out 140 times, though he increased his on-base percentage to .354. In his Gold Glove year of 2009, Bourn had 11 outfield assists with just three errors in 150 starts.

The Astros are getting older with mainstays Lance Berkman and Roy Oswalt struggling to stay healthy and motivated. For the Astros to compete, they will need another solid season from Bourn. The 27 year old will need to get on base and wreak havoc on the bases. The pressure is on both him and fellow outfielder Hunter Pence to put up All-Star numbers. Bourn needs to prove that 2009 was not a fluke year and that he can improve on his performance. So far in spring training, Bourn has played in three games, going 1-for-9 with a run scored and an RBI.

Jeff Clement

Jeff Clement, Pittsburgh Pirates (1B): Clement was one of the game’s top catching prospects when he was selected in the first round of the 2005 draft by the Seattle Mariners out of USC. However multiple knee surgeries have limited Clement and a trade to Pittsburgh has now made him a first baseman.

Clement has always been considered a liability behind the plate, but he has also struggled offensively (which was his strongest tool). While with Seattle in 2008, he hit just .227 with five homeruns and 23 RBIs in 2003 at-bats. In 2009 with two Triple-A teams, he combined to hit .274 with 21 homeruns and 90 RBIs.

Despite his desire to return to catching, Clement has the chance to seize the vacancy at first base. Garrett Jones, who is coming off a breakout rookie season, will start in either right field or at first base. That allows manager John Russell to mix-and-match his lineup. “Honestly, it’s a heck of a lot easier than catching is,” Clement remarked when talking about moving to first base.

If Clement is to take advantage of the opportunity the Pirates are giving him, he needs to show the power and offensive potential that made him a first round draft choice. He needs to stay healthy, and at just 26 years old, could turn his career around in Pittsburgh. So far in spring training, he has played in just 3 games, going 1-for-7 with a run scored and an RBI.

Tags:

Houston Astros, Jeff Clement, Michael Bourn, NL Central, Pittsburgh Pirates

Jeff Samardzija

Jeff Samardzija, Chicago Cubs (P): Samardzija looks more like a Major League pitcher than an All-American wide receiver. “That’s a big transformation, and that’s a really profound statement as far as I’m concerned. It says he’s making the adjustments and really stepping forward and looking like a Major League pitcher,” manager Lou Piniella said.

The two sport star at Notre Dame committed to baseball full-time when the Cubs drafted him in the fifth round in 2006. He was on a rapid pace to reach the big leagues when he joined the bullpen in 2008. In 26 games he had a 2.28 ERA. It was a good situation for him to be in. “It was the pennant race and I enjoy playing in those situations as opposed to non-pennant race situations,” Samardzija said. He likes being on the big stage. “It almost doesn’t give you too much time to think, which, being a young guy happens a lot,” he said.

With Ted Lilly not expected to be ready for Opening Day, there are two rotation spots open, which Samardzija would like to win. Koyie Hill, a Cubs catcher in camp, said he can tell that he has been working on his breaking ball and he looks as good as he has seen him. The curveball was Samardzija’s offseason project and he worked on refining the hard slurve in winter ball. Hill said, “He took a lot of initiative this offseason and really worked hard and you can tell.”

“He’s got natural talent. It’s just a question of refining it,” Piniella said. The Cubs need a refined Samardzija to have a legitimate shot at the NL Central title. It is a stage that he thrives in.

Jay Bruce

Jay Bruce, Cincinnati Reds (OF): Bruce was the top rated prospect in 2008 when he was promoted to much fanfare in May. He reached base in his first six plate appearances and collected 11hits in his first 19 at-bats. Though he could not continue the hot streak, he did have a solid rookie season.

2009 was not a season Bruce or the Reds were expecting. He missed two months with a fractured right wrist while attempting a sliding catch. It was the first time he had to deal with adversity. “Everyone should deal with adversity, and I’m going to use it as a positive to come back this year and be the player that I know I can be,” Bruce said. In 101 games, Bruce hit just .223 with a .303 on-base percentage. Discipline at the plate has been an issue as he struck out 75 times with 38 walks. The other concern is that he needs to prove that he can hit left-handed pitching (a .210 average with just 2 homeruns in 2009).

The good signs are that his wrist is healthy and he hit .326 with 4 homeruns and 17 RBIs in his final 18 games. All indications are that Bruce will be the everyday right fielder and defensively he is good, as he had 11 outfield assists in 2009.

“Every season is important,” Bruce said. For the Reds to challenge for a playoff berth, they will need Bruce to produce in the middle of the lineup (probably will again bat sixth). “Success breeds confidence,” Bruce said. “I still have confidence from my first couple of weeks in the big leagues. It showed me I could do it then, and there is no reason to think I can’t do it again.”

Tags:

Chicago Cubs, Cincinnati Reds, Jay Bruce, Jeff Samardzija, NL Central

The National League Central has been a battle between the St. Louis Cardinals, Chicago Cubs, and Milwaukee Brewers over the last few years. The Houston Astros always seem to make a run. The Cincinnati Reds have improved and are hoping to compete in 2010. The Pittsburgh Pirates always hope to play well but they field a team of young talent that every team hopes to make a trade for. Every veteran team needs young talent to win. The Brewers have become successful with the infusion of Ryan Braun, Prince Fielder, and Corey Hart. The Cardinals have seen Yadier Molina become the best catcher in the game. The Cubs may have a double-play combination of Ryan Theriot and Mike Fontenot (who played together at LSU). The Reds have Cuban phenom pitcher Aroldis Chapman to go with Dominican hurlers Edison Volquez and Johnny Cueto and Homer Bailey. Every year the Pirates have new talent to throw into the fire with last year bringing up outfielders Andrew McCutchen and Garrett Jones. Who will have a breakout year in 2010? Let’s take a look.

Colby Rasmus

Colby Rasmus, St. Louis Cardinals (CF): Rasmus was the best player in the disappointing three game sweep at the hands of the LA Dodgers in the National League Division Series. He doubled three times and reached base six times, which was a resurgence for the outfielder who struggled in the second half. However the sky is the limit for Rasmus.

“I think Colby was, overall, remarkable,” manager Tony LaRussa said. “He had to live up to the expectations of fans. The organization has hyped him. He had to earn the job on a club that had a chance to win.” These expectations came with the honor of being named the Cardinals number 1 prospect and a preseason candidate for Rookie of the Year.

Heading into the 2009 spring training, Rasmus lifted weights to hopefully add more power to his well-rounded game. However he dealt with injuries and illness in the second half that saw him hit just .216 with 5 homeruns and 18 RBIs. Overall he hit .261 with 25 doubles, two triples, 16 homeruns, and 52 RBIs. So this offseason he focused more on endurance that will keep him effective for six or seven months. The key for Rasmus is to expand his 2009 first-half numbers (.278 average) over an entire season.

Rasmus believes a year of experience will help him live up to the expectations. “I feel more relaxed,” Rasmus said. “I kind of know that to expect going in.” The club will be counting on Rasmus at the top of the order and one of their only left-handed bats. He will need to improve his on-base percentage if Albert Pujols, Matt Holliday, and Ryan Ludwick want to put up huge RBI numbers. When Skip Schumaker is in the lineup, Rasmus will probably bat further down in the order. He does not feel entitlement to the centerfield job. He knows he needs to work just as hard to help the Cardinals win. So far this spring training, Rasmus is 4-for-7 with zero strikeouts.

Casey McGehee

Casey McGehee, Milwaukee Brewers (3B): In 2009, McGehee was slated for a utility role (though he was a long shot to even make the club out of spring training), but he became an everyday player with a .368 average and 5 homeruns in June. He cooled off in mid-summer but finished strong in September with a .337 average and 5 homeruns. Only Philadelphia’s Ryan Howard had more RBIs in September than McGehee (27 to 26). His performance made Bill Hall expendable.

Brewers GM Doug Melvin has compared McGehee to the LA Dodgers Casey Blake, in that Blake developed late. The big question is whether or not McGehee can carry his stellar rookie season over to 2010. If not, the 27 year old could give up at-bats to prospect Mat Gamel. McGehee played 2009 on a bum knee but had surgery to clean out loose bodies, though the problem could persist. However McGehee proved he can push and perform through the pain. “I think there’s a huge difference between being injured and being hurt. If you can get out there and play, you should get out there when you’re called upon,” McGehee said. McGehee is 2-for-7 so far in spring training. Look for McGehee to give Prince Fielder protection in the order throughout the 2010 season.

Tags:

Casey McGehee, Colby Rasmus, Milwaukee Brewers, NL Central, St. Louis Cardinals, Tony LaRussa

John Lannan

John Lannan, Washington Nationals (LHP): Everyone knows that the Nationals are trying to win in the next two years. All eyes are on $15 million man Stephen Strasburg to be the savior. However for the Nationals to succeed, the players who have been with the team need to keep improving. That starts with Lannan, who was the Nationals ace in 2009. The homegrown left-hander was steady despite facing every team’s ace almost every night. At just 25 years old, he went 9-13 with a 3.88 ERA in 206.1 innings. He walked 68 and struck out 89 while hitters hit .266 against him. Pretty good numbers for a young starting pitcher that is often overlooked in the division.

In the offseason the Nationals added some veteran leadership, one in particular that should help take the pressure off of Lannan. That would be Jason Marquis, who was brought in to bring stability to a young, unknown rotation. The 31 year old pitched 216 innings with a 15-13 record and a 4.04 ERA. The first time All-Star’s ERA is a little high but he pitched at Coors Field in Colorado. Now the Nationals have two innings-eaters at the top of the rotation. They also have a new attitude. “…ever since we got Nyjer [Morgan] he definitely added a new element to the clubhouse and Pudge [Rodriguez] has been great and so has Jason [Marquis], so every addition we’ve made has definitely made the clubhouse more enjoyable and there’s definitely a better feeling in the clubhouse,” Lannan said on ESPN’s Baseball Tonight.

The question is who will be the Opening Day starter (Lannan was named Opening Day starter today). Both pitchers understand the honor of taking the ball for the first game. Manager Jim Riggleman’s decision may come down to who he feels comfortable with facing the defending National League champion Philadelphia Phillies twice (and Roy Halladay) in the first nine games. “We’re just going to have to try to see who we’re more comfortable with-the combination of the Opening Day situation and facing the same team twice,” Riggleman said. Lannan has yet to beat the Phillies in his career (0-6) and has a high ERA (5.82) against them. Marquis has been average against the Phillies in his career (5-3 with a 4.38 ERA). The only way the Nationals can compete in the NL East is to have solid pitching and it starts with the starting rotation. Lannan will be key.

Jesus Flores

Jesus Flores, Washington Nationals (C): The last two seasons have been disappointing for Flores. In 2008, the Phillies Chase Utley bulldozed him in a collision at the plate, crumpling his ankle. In May of 2009, Flores was hit by a foul tip off his shoulder off the bat of Arizona’s Chris Young, costing him the rest of the season. All of this happening to a young catcher who earned a spot on the Nationals in 2007 after being selected in the Rule V draft. He even beat out veterans Paul LoDuca and Johnny Estrada in 2008 and everything was going well until the freak injuries.

Now the Nationals signed veteran catcher Ivan “Pudge” Rodriguez to a two-year deal in December. Flores idolized Pudge when he was growing up in Venezuela and believes he can learn a lot. “…Ivan has been one of my heroes since I started catching,” Flores said. “Now having him as a teammate, that will be very valuable to me…and the knowledge he has about baseball will be very important for anyone. The young pitchers, as well as myself, are going to learn a lot from him.”

Flores’ top priority in spring training is becoming 100 percent healthy because he is rehabbing both his shoulder and elbow. The Nationals have seen flashes of his offensive potential as he hit .301 with four homeruns and 15 RBIs in 29 games in 2009. He is a career .260 hitter but he is still young (just 25) so the numbers should climb.

With Wil Nieves slated to catch along with Pudge, the Nationals will give Flores all the time he needs to get healthy. If he proves healthy, he could make the team out of spring training. If not, he could be activated around the same time rookie Stephen Strasburg makes his debut. Either way, Flores has become mentally stronger through the injuries and look for him to be a force with the Nationals for years to come.

Tags:

Ivan Rodriguez, Jason Marquis, Jesus Flores, John Lannan, NL East, Washington Nationals