Grady Sizemore, Tribe. Average, power, drives in runs, steals bases. One of several young Indian players who could be mentioned on this list (though, in keeping with the criteria, both Hafner and Victor Martinez have already driven in over 100 runs in a season). Gotta love the Indians!
Going strictly from those mentioned in the article, I think Overbay, Nick Johnson and Crawford have the best chance. Overbay can have a break out type of year in that lineup in Toronto if he bats in the right spot. Nick Johnson is just about to become a great hitter. Health and the right guys in the order around him will help. Crawford just might be the most exciting player in the game right now. Mauer is going to have a tough time doing it from the catcher position, although he can DH on some days being in the AL. Before I go to far I need to see another couple of years like last year before I call D Lee a superstar. Great year. Do it again. Young is a very good baseball player and he has a shot as well.
It occurs to me that the divide between fantasy baseball players and baseball fans must be very wide, because none of the players in the article are really up-and-coming - they are universally fantasy starters, news of seasons past and hopefully a nice wire pickup last year or the year before (if not earlier). One player who might just stay at "really quite good" levels but who might also vault into the spotlight is Aubrey Huff, whose second half of 2004 was remarkable to say the least, but whose 2005 season was a bit disappointing.
Mikelbyl: the comparison is to Derrek Lee, who was a pretty well established player before last year, when he took it up a notch. I don't think this is supposed to be about up-and-coming prospects who may break out this year, although that's where the thread has gone. Huff is a good parallel. Bubba "I'm not Bobby" Crosby, A's Now that's funny.
