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10 MLB Rookies to Target in Your Fantasy Baseball Draft

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By @JordanWevers

10 MLB Rookies to Target in Your Fantasy Baseball Draft

Boston Red Sox v Pittsburgh Pirates
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Because the curve is often tougher for a pitcher to overcome in their first year -- as well as a higher frequency of serious injuries and inning counts -- you will find more position players than not on this list. Some could be immediate contributors in 2015, while others may be best to stash until the second half of the season or in a keeper league. Here are 10 names to know for next season in MLB.

10. OF - Dalton Pompey, TOR

Baltimore Orioles v Toronto Blue Jays
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10. OF - Dalton Pompey, TOR

Baltimore Orioles v Toronto Blue Jays
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With no more Colby Rasmus, Pompey could be set to see every day ABs as a center fielder in a stacked Jays lineup amidst a very hitter-friendly park. He moved quickly through the minors last year and slashed .358/.393/.453 at Triple-A. His speed on the base paths could also be a late-round bargain in fantasy land, as Pompey has swiped 124 total bases dating back to his 2013 minor league days.

9. 2B - Rob Refsnyder, NYY

Detroit Tigers v New York Yankees
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9. 2B - Rob Refsnyder, NYY

Detroit Tigers v New York Yankees
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Refsnyder has quietly moved his way through the Yankees' organization since being drafted in the fifth round of the 2012 draft. He played college ball for the powerhouse Arizona Wildcats program before hitting 14 HRs and 63 RBIs amongst Double-A and Triple-A last year in just over 500 total ABs. With Robinson Cano in Seattle, there is no roadblock for Refsnyder, who will turn 24 just before Opening Day.

8. LHP - Andrew Heaney, LAA

Oakland Athletics v Miami Marlins
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8. LHP - Andrew Heaney, LAA

Oakland Athletics v Miami Marlins
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Heaney did little to impress in his 29.1 IP from 2014, but his chances of cracking a rather thin Angels rotation on Opening Day are quite high. He is the No. 2 LHP prospect according to MLB.com for a very good reason.

7. OF - Joc Pederson, LAD

Los Angeles Dodgers Photo Day
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7. OF - Joc Pederson, LAD

Los Angeles Dodgers Photo Day
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Teammate Corey Seager deserves honorable mention on this list, but Jimmy Rollins will be the Dodgers' starting SS in April. With Matt Kemp now calling a different SoCal city home in San Diego, it's time for this 22-year-old Palo Alto native to showcase his talent. Pederson hit .303/.435/.582 with 33 HRs, 78 RBIs and 30 SBs across a full season at Triple-A in 2014.

6. OF - Byron Buxton, MIN

AZ Fall League: Salt River v Peoria
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6. OF - Byron Buxton, MIN

AZ Fall League: Salt River v Peoria
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The future is bright in the Twin Cities if Buxton and Miguel Sano pan out. The nation's top ranked prospect is probably better as a keeper league investment, as he missed a good chunk of the season last year due to a concussion. He is yet to play Triple-A ball, so a July call-up could be in the cards for the now 21-year-old, who I tend to think will put up similar numbers to the Orioles' Adam Jones once he has fully matured.

5. RHP - Aaron Sanchez, TOR

New York Yankees v Toronto Blue Jays
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5. RHP - Aaron Sanchez, TOR

New York Yankees v Toronto Blue Jays
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Sanchez was dominant as a 22-year-old out for the bullpen in 2014 for the Blue Jays. Whether he projects to be a starter or potentially a closer in 2015, the chances of him being involved in ROY conversations come September is a very real possibility.

4. OF - Yasmany Tomas, ARI

2013 World Baseball Classic - Pool 1, Game 5: Team Netherlands vs. Team Cuba
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4. OF - Yasmany Tomas, ARI

2013 World Baseball Classic - Pool 1, Game 5: Team Netherlands vs. Team Cuba
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Hoping to follow in 2014 AL ROY and fellow Cuban defector Jose Abreu's footsteps, Tomas will be more of a liability on defense, so his NL roster status does not help his cause since he can not be used as a DH. Scouts say he can hit, but a weak lineup may also have some setbacks to his production. The 24-year-old will benefit from having a healthy Paul Goldschmidt in the lineup daily for protection.

3. OF - Jorge Soler, CHC

Cincinnati Reds v Chicago Cubs
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3. OF - Jorge Soler, CHC

Cincinnati Reds v Chicago Cubs
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Soler exhibited above average power in under 100 major league PAs in 2014 when he crushed five long balls and slashed .292/.330/.573. He also reached the pros before fellow touted prospect and teammate Kris Bryant, but he will have to improve his BB:K ratios in 2015 at the big league level.

2. OF - Rusney Castillo, BOS

New York Yankees v Boston Red Sox
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2. OF - Rusney Castillo, BOS

New York Yankees v Boston Red Sox
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The Boston Red Sox are a smart organization, so dedicating .5 million through seven seasons to a player who has virtually zero playing experience in America should tell you enough about Castillo's ability. His 36 ABs with the BoSox in 2014 is a very small sample size, but he did not fail to impress with a .928 OPS, two HRs, six RBIs and a perfect three SBs in as many attempts.

1. 3B - Kris Bryant, CHC

SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game - World Team v United States
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1. 3B - Kris Bryant, CHC

SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game - World Team v United States
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Another of the multiple young up-and-coming players in the Cubs' farm system, Bryant has been touted as having prodigious power. Well built at 6-foot-5 and 215 pounds, he hit 43 HRs between Triple and Double-A in 2014. With a career 1.095 OPS in two seasons in the minors, Bryant should live up to the hype of his second overall selection in the 2013 MLB draft. Cubs fans hope he becomes the cornerstone of a future dynasty -- and he just may.

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