ESPN

Previous years' analysis conclusively demonstrated that rookie starting pitchers generally make bad investments. New rotation pitchers average approximately $1 in 4x4 Roto earnings in their debut year (based on a minimum of 10 starts and fewer than 50 previous MLB IP).

But last season was touted as the Year of the Rookies. In mid-June, Fantasyland author Sam Walker noted that rookies had posted an ERA "that's actually three percent better than the league-wide average," while "AL rookie pitchers had won an impressive 56 percent of their games," and "Josh Johnson, a 22-year-old, has the lowest ERA" in the majors.

Did baseball experience a paradigm shift last year? Are rookie pitchers suddenly good fanalytic investments?

To continue reading this article you must be an Insider