Big names are always great to have. Miguel Cabrera, Mike Trout, Josh Hamilton and the like will fly off draft boards in the early rounds, brining exactly what you’d expect of them to any fantasy lineup.

But in the later rounds, the rounds that most owners will overlook, are where fantasy owners can make or break their season. That’s where rookies come in.

Drafting a rookie shows that you’ve really done your homework as a fantasy owner. However, this year’s class isn’t nearly as strong as 2012.

Many of the rookies don’t have clear paths to starting jobs, and it’s hard to say which player will turn out to be the best. Therefore, don’t expect these top 10 rookies to carry any team to a championship, but they would be nice addition in later rounds that can help shore up any team, and are some of the best sleepers in 2013.
 

1. Wil Myers – Out Field, Tampa Bay Rays

While Myers is slated to start the season in Triple-A, the Rays are convinced that he can be a big-league slugger. In the offseason, the Rays sent Kansas City pitchers James Shields and Wade Davis in exchange for Myers, so he’ll likely be called up to the majors only a few weeks into the season. He proved last season he can perform, hitting .304 in Triple-A with 24 homers and 79 runs batted in, appearing in 99 games. Myers will be in Tampa in no time, and will definitely put up numbers this year.

2. Adam Eaton – Out Field, Arizona Diamondbacks

Eaton, who is scheduled to be the Diamondbacks’ leadoff hitter and starting center fielder on opening day, has an obvious advantage over other rookies in the fact that he’ll be starting right away. He spent most of the time in Triple-A last year, where he stole 44 bases, hitting .355, and reaching base close to 46-percent of the time. Eaton can be picked up in lower rounds, and will turn into a solid triple-threat starter.

3. Jedd Gyorko – Second Base, San Diego Padres

Traditionally a third baseman, Gyorko will be switching over to second as Chase Headley is the lock to start at third for the Padres. He spent most of his time in Double-A and Triple-A in 2012, reaching base 38 percent of the time, all while slugging .547 and hitting 30 homers, as well as driving in 100 runs. There isn’t too much power at second this year, and Gyorko would be a nice pickup if your team is lacking power heading into the later rounds, considering he has a great chance to be the starter on opening day.

4. Trevor Bauer – Starting Pitcher, Cleveland Indians

After spending last year with the Diamondbacks, Bauer was traded to the Cleveland Indians. Bauer did have four starts in the majors last year, putting up a dismal 6.06 ERA. However, in the minors, he posted 200 strikeouts in 156 innings. It’s unclear if he’ll have a starting spot on the Indians on opening day, but expect him to be too loud in the minors for the Indians to ignore.

5. Bruce Rondon – Releif Pitcher, Detroit Tigers

Rondon’s talent is very impressive, but it’s hard to tell where he will fit in the Tigers’ bullpen. It looks like he’s the front-runner for the closing spot in Detroit, but Joaquin Benoit, Octavio Dotel, Phil Coke, Al Alburquerque and Brayan Villarreal are all possibilities. Rondon has only thrown 29 innings above Single-A, but his fastball can hit about 100 mph, and he posted a 1.09 WHIP across the three minor league levels. If you’re looking for a closer in later rounds, Rondon is certain to get some opportunities as the season goes on.

6. Shelby Miller – Starting Pitcher, St. Louis Cardinals

Miller is a tough call as to where he should go. He has great potential, but it’s unsure if he’ll even make it into the rotation. If he ends up earning the fifth spot, he’s a great option for a fourth or fifth starter in a fantasy lineup. In Triple-A last year, he had over 160 strikeouts, and when he was called up to St. Louis, he had 16 Ks in 13.2 innings. In the second half of the season in the Pacific Coast League, he held opponents to a .217 average, only allowing seven walks in 59.1 innings during the second half.

7. Oscar Taveras – Out Fielder, St. Louis Cardinals

While Taveras may be someone to avoid in the draft, fantasy owners will certainly want to follow him throughout the year. St. Louis already has plenty of outfielders, so they sent Taveras down to Triple-A. Taveras has made 327 minor league starts, hitting .321. He spent the majority of his 2012 in Double-A, where he made it on base 38 percent of the time, all while slugging .572. Barring injury to other players, he won’t be starting on opening day, but could certainly be a pickup halfway through the year.

8. Julio Teheran – Starting Pitcher, Atlanta Braves

With Brandon Beachy out until June or July while he recovers from Tommy John surgery, Teheran is likely to get several starts at the end of the year. He was at his best two years ago when he was in Triple-A, posting a 15-3 record and a 2.55 ERA. His numbers weren’t nearly as good in 2012, but he played some winter league ball, posting a 3.23 ERA and striking out 24 batters. He should improve in Atlanta, having plenty of run support and a solid bullpen behind him.

9. Jurickson Profar – Short Stop, Texas Rangers

If you’re in a keeper league, Profar is definitely a player to take a look at. Potentially the best player in this rookie class, Profar is going to be much better a few years from now. The 20-year-old is young and still raw, and currently doesn’t have a starting spot with Elvis Andrus in the lineup. If your league has decent reserve spots, he’s definitely worth a pickup, as he hit .281 in the Texas League last year, hitting 47 extra-base hits, and stealing 16 bases.

10. Dylan Bundy – Starting Pitcher, Baltimore Orioles

Bundy has the most potential out of any pitcher on this list, but it’s not very likely that he’ll pitch deep into 2013. He’s only posted 104 innings at the majors, so the Orioles probably won’t let him go past 130-150 innings this year. He’ll make a few starts at the beginning of the year, and then will likely be switched to a reliever as the year goes on. Bundy went all the way from Single-A to the majors last year, only allowing 29 walks all year. Like Profar, Bundy is more suited for a keeper league, but could still post solid innings and WHIP numbers this year.