Five rookies with best long-term futures

May, 30, 2012

5/30/12

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By Jim Bowden | ESPN.com

You know them, though you might not remember them. We’re talking about rookie flashes in the pan -- Joe Charboneau, Bob Hamelin and Bobby Crosby, to name a few. However, you remember the rookies who go on to Hall of Fame careers, guys like Cal Ripken Jr. and Derek Jeter.

This year's class of rookies includes five players who have lasting power and -- barring injury -- should enjoy Hall of Fame or near Hall of Fame careers. Here is a quick glance at the five rookies possessing the best long-term futures, ranked in descending order of future greatness:

5. Yu Darvish, RHP, Texas Rangers
Darvish has been as good as advertised since coming to the major leagues from Japan. He’s gotten off to an impressive start, going 7-2 with a 3.25 ERA in 10 starts. His 66 strikeouts in just 61 innings against major league hitters illustrate his ability to miss bats with an assortment of pitches, from two- and four-seam fastballs, a slow curve, hard curve, slider, cutter and changeup.

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ABOUT THIS BLOG

Jim Bowden

Bowden, who served as the senior vice president and GM for the Cincinnati Reds and the Washington Nationals, is an analyst for ESPN.com. In 1992, Bowden became the youngest GM in MLB history when the Reds hired him at age 31. The Reds finished in first place twice during his 10 years as GM, and he was named MLB Executive of the Year by Baseball America in 1999. After working for ESPN in 2004, Bowden became the first GM of the Washington Nationals when the franchise relocated from Montreal to Washington, D.C., in 2005, working in that role until the 2009 season. Bowden co-hosts the "Inside Pitch" radio show on Sirius XM satellite radio. Follow on Twitter: @JimBowdenESPNxm.