As an accompaniment to our Top 20 Rookies list, we're taking an in-depth look at rookie candidates for every club. In this installment, it's the American League clubs, highlighting those with the most real-life and the most fantasy impact potential. If you missed yesterday, click to read our National League Rookie Preview.

• Rookies: Players who have reached the major leagues but still have rookie eligibility.
• No MLB Experience: Players on the 40-man roster who have not reached the major leagues. A single asterisk (*) denotes a player added to the 40-man last offseason, while a double asterisk (**) signifies a Rule 5 draft pick.
• Who You Calling Rookie?: Players who appear in the 2013 Prospect Handbook yet are not eligible for the Rookie of the Year balloting because they have too much major league service time. Not every team has a player in this category.
• On The Horizon: Players who were on a Top 10 Prospects list but are not yet on a 40-man roster, yet have sufficient experience (200 plate appearances or 200 batters faced at Double-A or higher) to forecast at least a cup of coffee in 2013.

We also identify each team's top rookie—right out of the Prospect Handbook—and the rookie with most potential for fantasy impact in 2013. Bear in mind that with few exceptions, such as Mike Trout and Bryce Harper last year, rookies are poor percentage plays in fantasy sports. That's why we recommend most rookies only in keeper or deep single-league formats.

BALTIMORE ORIOLES

Rookies (6)
RHP Dylan Bundy, RHP Steve Johnson, C Luis Exposito, OF Xavier Avery, OF Russ Canzler, OF L.J. Hoes
No MLB Experience (5)
LHP Mike Belfiore*, RHP Zach Clark*, LHP T.J. McFarland**, LHP Tsuyoshi Wada, 2B Jonathan Schoop*
On The Horizon
RHP Mike Wright

Top Rookie: Steve Johnson laid claim to a big league job for 2013 by going 4-0, 2.11 in 12 appearances with Baltimore last year.

Fantasy Impact: The Orioles signed Dylan Bundy to a major league contract out of the draft, so even with his youth he's on an accelerated timetable to Baltimore. A month or two in Double-A and he could be ready to join the big league rotation, where his athleticism and precociousness could rival the 20-year-old version of Zack Greinke. (Leagues: prime keeper target) [...] Continue Reading »

The annual American League and National League media guides, the so-called Red (AL) and Green (NL) books, offer a wealth of contemporary and historical information on all 30 major league clubs: 2012 league leaders, comprehensive managerial registers dating back to the Deadball Era, and listings for all-time league category leaders and award winners, to name just a few.

Of the greatest interest to BA readers of the Red and Green books, however, is the inclusion of each organization's official list of rookies for 2013. This takes the guesswork out of service-time considerations, particularly for relievers, who can log weeks of big league time while making few appearances. The Red and Green books even include an official definition for rookie qualifications (which we have conveniently included at the bottom of this post).

So as an accompaniment to our Top 20 Rookies list, let's take a closer look at rookie candidates for every National League club (we'll do the American League tomorrow). We've broken each club's rookie candidates into one of four groups:

• Rookies: Players who have reached the major leagues but still have rookie eligibility.
• No MLB Experience: Players on the 40-man roster who have not reached the major leagues. A single asterisk (*) denotes a player added to the 40-man last offseason, while a double asterisk (**) signifies a Rule 5 draft pick.
• Who You Calling Rookie?: Players who appear in the 2013 Prospect Handbook yet are not eligible for the Rookie of the Year balloting because they have too much major league service time. Not every team has a player in this category.
• On The Horizon: Players who were on a Top 10 Prospects list but are not yet on a 40-man roster, yet have sufficient experience (200 plate appearances or 200 batters faced at Double-A or higher) to forecast at least a cup of coffee in 2013. This group includes elite prospects such as the Cardinals' Oscar Taveras and the Pirates' Gerrit Cole.

We also identify each team's top rookie—right out of the Prospect Handbook—and the rookie with most potential for fantasy impact in 2013. Bear in mind that with few exceptions, such as Mike Trout and Bryce Harper last year, rookies are poor percentage plays in fantasy sports. That's why we recommend most rookies only in keeper or deep single-league formats.

ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS

Rookies (4)
LHP Tyler Skaggs, SS Didi Gregorius, OF Adam Eaton, OF A.J. Pollock
No MLB Experience (8)
RHP Chase Anderson*, RHP Charles Brewer*, LHP Eury de la Rosa*, RHP Starling Peralta**, RHP Eric Smith*, RHP Zeke Spruill*, OF Keon Broxton*, OF Alfredo Marte*
On The Horizon
LHP David Holmberg, 3B Matt Davidson, SS Chris Owings

Top Rookie: Tyler Skaggs made three strong starts for Arizona before tiring in September and has a good chance to win a rotation job in spring training.

Fantasy Impact: A blend of speed and patience in the minors makes Adam Eaton a safe bet to accumulate runs and double-digit stolen bases for the Diamondbacks, and batting average risk is mitigated by a high contact rate. Just don't expect any contributions in home runs or RBIs. (Leagues: deep mixed) [...] Continue Reading »

As we did last year, here's a look at the 10 youngest players in every full season league, as of April 10. [...] Continue Reading »

You can see them at virtually any minor league game in the country, yet the work they contribute to major league organizations tends to be invisible to the public.

Professional scouting departments scour the minors all season, trying to identify prospects who can swing a trade in their organization's favor. They work overtime—in spring training, in instructional league, in Latin American winter leagues—to find players who could, at the very least, provide complementary value as minor league free agent acquisitions or Rule 5 draft picks.

Pro scouts receive some measure of recognition each July, when out-of-contention teams cash in their veterans for new blood. Behind every minor leaguer who changes teams at the trade deadline, at least one set of eyes has scouted and recommended him.

Likewise, Opening Day provides an opportunity for pro scouting departments to showcase their worth. That's because many of the biggest surprises on Opening Day rosters happen to be players brought to spring training on minor league contracts after being vetted by pro scouts. Let's look at the players who made big league rosters out of spring training after signing minor league deals in the offseason, meaning that organizations had to create room for them on the 40-man roster. [...] Continue Reading »

Loaded Roster

The Giants weren’t shy about sending their top collegiate draft picks from 2011 to start their first full seasons with high Class A San Jose. First-rounder Joe Panik will anchor San Jose’s infield at shortstop, and he’ll have help in the form of second-rounder Andrew Susac at catcher and third-rounder Ricky Oropesa at first base. Other bats worth noting are third baseman Adam Duvall and outfielder Jarret Parker. Lefty Josh Osich, the Giants’ sixth-rounder last year and a college teammate of Susac’s at Oregon State, highlights San Jose’s pitching staff. In the cases of Susac, Oropesa and Osich, they’ll be making their pro debuts in San Jose.

Leap Of Faith

Along with sending a number of 2011 draftees to San Jose, the Giants were even more aggressive with 18-year-old lefthander Adalberto Mejia, sending him to open the year at low Class A Augusta just a year after signing him out of the Dominican Republic. Mejia went 5-2, 1.42 in the Rookie-level Dominican Summer League in his pro debut last year. His fastball has bumped 92 mph and he owns a three-pitch mix, and he impressed Giants officials enough with his maturity to earn a full-season assignment. Augusta will also boast righthander Kyle Crick in its rotation. The 19-year-old Crick was San Francisco's supplemental first-round pick last year and the only high school player they took in the first seven rounds. [...] Continue Reading »

Loaded Roster

The top of high Class A Bradenton’s rotation will be worth the price of admission for Pirates fans, as the Marauders roll out the organization’s top two prospects in righthanders Gerrit Cole, the No. 1 overall pick in last June's draft, and Jameson Taillon, the second pick in 2010. But don't overlook Triple-A Indianapolis, which will have a core of players on the cusp of the big leagues, including outfielders Starling Marte and Gorkys Hernandez and pitchers Jeff Locke, Kyle McPherson, Bryan Morris and Rudy Owens.

Leap of Faith

There’s no time to waste for outfielder Josh Bell, who signed for $5 million at the deadline last year as a second-round pick. He signed too late to play last summer, so the 19-year-old will make his professional debut at low Class A West Virginia. He will be joined by righthander Stetson Allie, the Pirates' 2010 second-rounder who moves up a level despite walking 29 and yielding 19 earned runs in 26 innings with short-season State College last season.

[...] Continue Reading »

Loaded Roster

Double-A Frisco’s infield features the Rangers’ top two hitting prospects in shortstop Jurickson Profar and third baseman Mike Olt. Profar and Leury Garcia should make for an entertaining double play tandem as well. The RoughRiders will also send quality arms to the mound more nights than not, with a rotation including righthanders Justin Grimm and Barret Loux and lefthander Miguel de los Santos.

Leap Of Faith

Profar just turned 19 in February, but it’s no secret that he’s mature beyond his age. Still, that maturity will be put the test as he moves straight from spending all of last year with low Class A Hickory to opening this season in Frisco. [...] Continue Reading »

Loaded Team

Triple-A Nashville has several notable prospects on its roster, but the chance to see 2011 first-round picks Taylor Jungmann and Jed Bradley as well as righthander Jimmy Nelson in the same rotation makes high Class A Brevard County the best place for Brewers prospect watchers. The Brevard County lineup will be much more questionable, as the Manatees will not have anyone from the Brewers' Top 30 Prospects.

Where Is That Guy?

Righthander Mark Rogers will miss the first eight games of the season as he finishes a 25-game suspension for testing positive for a banned stimulant. Once he's eligible to return, he'll step into the Sounds rotation. He's hopeful that carpal tunnel surgery to re-route a nerve in his wrist will help his command. In the past he has lost feeling in his fingers at times while pitching. Outfielder D'Vontrey Richardson failed to report for spring training. Righthander Nick Bucci and first baseman Nick Ramirez were held back at extended spring training due to injuries.

[...] Continue Reading »

Loaded Roster

Sacramento usually ranks as one of the best Triple-A squads and that should be the case again in 2012. Righthanders Jarrod Parker and Brad Peacock, the Athletics’ top two prospects, will front the River Cats’ rotation, while the lineup features Triple-A newcomers in outfielder Grant Green, Oakland’s 2009 first-rounder, and third baseman Stephen Parker as well as returnees first baseman Chris Carter and outfielders Jermaine Mitchell and Michael Taylor.

Leap Of Faith

Although the move didn’t come out of nowhere, it’s still noteworthy that the A’s are sending 2011 first-round pick Sonny Gray to start his first full season with Double-A Midland. The righthander out of Vanderbilt has an advanced repertoire and pitchability, and he may only need one season in the minors. [...] Continue Reading »

Loaded Roster

The Marlins system is one of the thinnest in baseball, but the team’s high Class A affiliate, the Jupiter Hammerheads, should be interesting to watch. When outfielder Christian Yelich joins the team (more on that below), the club will feature six of the the organization’s Top 10 prospects. Joining Yelich will be outfielder Marcell Ozuna, catcher J.T. Realmuto, lefthanders Chad James and Rob Rasmussen, as well as second baseman Noah Perio.

Leap Of Faith

Righthander Jose Fernanez, who was the team’s first-round pick last year, will start the season with low Class A Greensboro. Fernandez only pitched four innings after signing last year, so a full-season assignment is one of the most aggressive placements for an organization that was mostly conservative with its promotions.
[...] Continue Reading »

Loaded Roster

High Class A Rancho Cucamonga will have a prospect starting on the mound almost every night. Lefty Chris Reed and righty Zach Lee, the Dodgers’ last two first-round picks, lead the way, and they’re backed up by another top 10 prospect in righthander Garrett Gould and righthander Angel Sanchez, who flew under the radar last year while posting a 2.82 ERA in low Class A.

Leap Of Faith

There weren’t many surprises among the Dodgers’ Opening Day assignments. Reed will be opening his first full pro season in high Class A, but he did pitch there at the tail end of last season after he signed. Righthander Freddie Cabrera, a 26th-round pick last year out of NAIA Central Methodist (Mo.), earned a spot onto the prospect-laden Rancho pitching staff. He went 1-1, 2.63 with Mayaguez over the winter back home in the Puerto Rican League. [...] Continue Reading »

Loaded Team

If you're last in our minor league talent rankings, loaded is a relative term, but the White Sox have a pair of intriguing teams. High Class A Winston-Salem features two of the team's top four prospects in outfielder Trayce Thompson and righthander Jake Petricka. For Petricka, it's a return to the Carolina League, as last year he showed an amazing fastball but didn't miss many bats due to the ineffectiveness of his secondary stuff. He'll try to show he has made enough progress to move up quickly to Double-A. Thompson just needs to continue cutting down his strikeouts. They will be joined by intriguing catcher Mike Blanke, also making a return trip to Winston-Salem, as well as 19-year-old middle infielder Carlos Sanchez. Double-A Birmingham has an intriguing rotation led by Nestor Molina, Pedro Hernandez and Simon Castro, and solid infield with Juan SIlverio, Tyler Saladino and Andy Wilkins.

Where's That Guy?

The White Sox enter the season in excellent health. No one from their Top 30 Prospects list is being held back by injury, and because of their emphasis on drafting college players and promoting players aggressively, everyone will begin the season in full-season ball. Last year's second-round pick, righthander Erik Johnson, is being held back in extended spring training with tendinitis.

[...] Continue Reading »

Loaded Roster

Nick Castellanos is the Tigers' best hitting prospect and the guy to watch at high Class A Lakeland, but he's joined by a host of players looking to break through. Right fielder Avisail Garcia has been pushed through the system, which is why he hasn't hit much since he was a 17-year-old in the Rookie-level Venezuelan Summer League back in 2008. Now 20, Garcia will get a chance to catch his breath with a return to the Florida State League, where he'll have to show that he can hit in games and is more than just a physical specimen with intriguing tools. Lefthanders Alex Burgos and Bryan Flynn will be in the rotation, while king-sized reliever Bruce Rondon will see if he can find the plate with his 100 mph fastball. Shortstop Dixon Machado is a defensive wizard with a light bat, while outfielder Tyler Collins, a sixth-round pick in 2011, is a natural hitter and an intriguing sleeper.

Leap Of Faith

Lefthander Drew Smyly made the biggest jump, winning a job in the major league rotation despite being a 22-year-old with just eight Double-A games on his resume. He's polished for his age, though, and the Tigers do like to push their better young pitchers. Outfielder Danry Vasquez had a .306 OBP last year as a 17-year-old in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League, but the Tigers are sending him to low Class A West Michigan. Vasquez has some feel for hitting, but he needs to get a lot stronger to be able to hit the ball with more authority, so don't expect a breakout season here.

[...] Continue Reading »

Loaded Roster

Three of the Rockies’ top hitting prospects start the year in Double-A Tulsa’s lineup, led by sweet swinging third baseman Nolan Arenado. He’ll reunite with outfielder Kent Matthes and shortstop Josh Rutledge, who played with him in high Class A Modesto last year. Matthes and Rutledge were also college teammates at Alabama. Tulsa's rotation includes 2011 minor league strikeouts leader Edwar Cabrera and sinkerballing righthanders Parker Frazier and Joe Gardner in the rotation.

Leap Of Faith

Shortstop Trevor Story impressed the Rockies with his maturity in addition to his tools last fall. Story gave the organization the confidence to send the 19-year-old, who was the 45th overall pick in last year’s draft, to low Class A Asheville for Opening Day rather than hold him back in extended spring training. [...] Continue Reading »

Loaded Team

Usually Triple-A is a way station for minor league veterans. But the Memphis Redbirds will begin the season with Cardinals' top prospect, righthander Shelby Miller, as well as third baseman Zack Cox and 10 of the team's top 22 prospects. With first baseman Matt Adams, shortstop Ryan Jackson and Cox, the club will come close to having an all-prospect infield. The Redbirds will light up radar guns as well, with Miller, Maikel Cleto, Eduardo Sanchez, Joe Kelly and Adam Reifer all pitching in the high 90s at their best.

Leap Of Faith

\When the Cardinals talked with outfielder Oscar Taveras about improving his all-around approach this spring, they gave him plenty of incentive to improve his defense and baserunning, with the promise of a jump to Double-A Springfield if he showed significant improvement this spring. Taveras lived up to his part of the bargain, so he will become a rare teenager in the Texas League. He skips over high Class A Palm Beach. Taveras will have one of his 2011 teammates from low Class A Quad Cities making the jump with him in righthander Trevor Rosenthal.

[...] Continue Reading »

Loaded Roster

The Indians don’t have much high-ceiling talent in the upper levels of the farm system, but there are some intriguing names in the lower levels, particularly at low Class A Lake County. The Captains have Cleveland’s No. 1 prospect, shortstop Francisco Lindor, who will play his first full season after the Indians drafted him eighth overall last year. He should hit for average and get on base, though his game will be more about line drives than power. He and center fielder Luigi Rodriguez give Lake County a pair of promising youngsters up the middle. Lefthander Elvis Araujo needs to show he can handle a full-season workload, but he’s a power arm with an extra-large frame. A pair of late-round 2011 draft picks, Jordan Smith and Bryson Miles, could be sleepers in the outfield. LeVon Washington is also on the Lake County roster, but with Rodriguez also there and having passed him as a prospect, he’s going to have to prove himself after a disappointing 2011 season.

Leap Of Faith

The Indians have one of those problems that any team would love to have: too many shortstops and not enough places to play them all. They sent Lindor to Lake County and promoted Ronny Rodriguez to high Class A Carolina. They could have sent Tony Wolters to team with Lindor at Lake County after he spent the 2011 season at short-season Mahoning Valley, but instead they jumped him to Carolina. Wolters has a good approach at the plate, but the Carolina League is a stiff test for any 19-year-old.

[...] Continue Reading »

Loaded Roster

As hoped, the Twins will team several of their top infielders at low Class A Beloit. That includes No. 1 prospect Miguel Sano, as well as Eddie Rosario, his tag-team partner last year at Rookie-level Elizabethton. They combined to hit 41 homers in a half-season last summer. Tyler Grimes and Adam Bryant, a pair of solid college shortstop draftees, join them in the infield, with Grimes figuring to play shortstop. Speedster J.D. Williams mans the outfield, with sleeper Taiwainese prospect Wang-Wei Lin. Three 2011 draftees—righthanders Madison Boer and Matt Summers and lefthander Corey Williams—highlight the pitching staff. Boer, as expected, will start. The other two are currently listed in the bullpen.

Leap Of Faith

The Twins have a glut of shortstops everywhere but in Minnesota. That, and his polished bat, prompted the Twins to jump Levi Michael to high Class A Fort Myers to make his pro debut. The 2011 first-round pick out of North Carolina missed the summer and instructional league games with soft-tissue injuries in his pelvis and groin. The Double-A New Britain rotation will also feature a couple of mild leaps of faith. Righthander Alex Wimmers is a 2010 first-rounder who had “the thing” at the beginning of last season but had righted the ship by the end of the year. Indy ball find Andrew Albers, last seen beating the United States in Canada’s Pan American Games gold-medal victory, will join him in the rotation.

[...] Continue Reading »

Loaded Roster

The Double-A Arkansas squad features prime breakout candidates in Jean Segura, a dynamic shortstop/second baseman, and Johnny Hellweg, a 6-foot-9 power righthander, but the reigning Minor League Player of the Year will suit up for Triple-A Salt Lake, so that's our pick. Center fielder Mike Trout will patrol center field for the Bees, while righty Garrett Richards, the system's top pitching prospect, will anchor the Salt Lake rotation. Catcher Hank Conger, a 2006 first-rounder, will try to play his way back to the big leagues, but for now the out-of-options Bobby Wilson serves as Chris Iannetta's backup in Anaheim.

Leap Of Faith

The Angels jumped last year's No. 1 starter and right side of the infield for Rookie-level Orem straight to the high Class A California League. First baseman C.J. Cron (first round, Utah) and lefty Nick Maronde (third, Florida) are 2011 draft picks with three years of college experience. Second baseman Taylor Lindsey, on the other hand, entered pro ball out of high school as the 37th overall pick in 2010. He won MVP honors in the Pioneer League last year, batting .362/.394/.593 with 28 doubles, to skip right past the low Class A Midwest League. [...] Continue Reading »

Loaded Roster

The system's top two position-player prospects, right fielder Rymer Liriano and second baseman Cory Spangenberg, are with high Class A Lake Elsinore to start the year, but for pure depth the team to beat is Triple-A Tucson. Two of the players the Padres received from the Reds for Mat Latos made the big league club (Yonder Alonso, Edinson Volquez), while the other two are a phone call away in Tucson—catcher Yasmani Grandal, righty reliever Brad Boxberger. Righthanders Casey Kelly and Joe Wieland, the system's top two pitching prospects, will play for Tucson (with Wieland going on Opening Day), as will third baseman/left fielder James Darnell and center fielder Blake Tekotte, both of whom could play their way into big league jobs if they perform in Triple-A.

Leap Of Faith

The Padres skipped righty Keyvius Sampson over the high Class A California League, stationing him with Double-A San Antonio to start the year. He chewed up Midwest League competition last year, ranking second in opponent average (.192) and third in strikeouts (143). San Diego also assigned its top three prep picks from last year's draft—righties Joe Ross and Mike Kelly and catcher Austin Hedges—to low Class A Fort Wayne. [...] Continue Reading »

Loaded Roster

Double-A Corpus Christi has several of the prospects the Astros brought in through trades to bolster the farm system last year, starting with ex-Phillies first baseman Jonathan Singleton, shortstop Jonathan Villar, and righthanders Jarred Cosart and Josh Zeid. Former Braves lefthander Brett Oberholtzer is joined in the rotation by hard-throwing righthander Jose Cisnero and sinkerballer Jake Buchanan, the team’s top-rated homegrown prospect. Outfielders Adam Bailey, Brandon Barnes and Austin Wates are all solid prospects as well.

Leap Of Faith

Outfielder George Springer, the Astros’ 2011 first-round pick, had a strong spring and will go straight to high Class A Lancaster. There, he joins 2009 first-rounder Jio Mier, a shortstop who would just be eligible for the draft in 2012 had he gone to college. The JetHawks should post big home runs numbers thanks to the extremely hitter-friendly environment in Lancaster and the power provided by Springer, DH/first baseman Telvin Nash and outfielder Domingo Santana. [...] Continue Reading »