15 MLB players under 25 to know

Pos: PitcherB/T: S/RAge: 20 6'1 195 LBS Tulsa, OKBundy's name will be one that should be known by baseball fans by the end of the 2013 season. MLB.com has rated him as the #2 prospect (#1 pitcher) in all of baseball. This right-hander's stuff has scouts drooling over when he will crack the starting rotation in Baltimore. Bundy's repertoire includes a power fastball in the mid-to-upper 90's, and a devastating curveball that keeps hitters off balance at the plate. Look for Bundy to challenge for the AL Rookie of the Year award this coming season if he gets his shot.Pos: 3BB/T: R/RAge: 20 6'3 185 LBS Hialeah, FLMachado will find himself likely to be handling the hot corner for the Orioles for the 2013 season. He was drafted #3 overall by the franchise in 2010 straight from high school and projects to be the organization's future star at shortstop. As one of the top young prospects in baseball, he was thrown into the heat of a pennant race for the Orioles in 2012 and did not fade as he went on a tear at the plate in his first full week as a pro, helping lead the O's to the playoffs. Scouts have been known to compare this 20-year-old to the likes of Alex Rodriguez.Position: SSB/T: R/RAge: 23 6'2 170 LBS Mundo Nobo, CuracaoSimmons is slotted to be the everyday starting shortstop for the reloaded Atlanta Braves in 2013. He showed flashes in his 49 games for the Braves in 2012 and has fans raving about what this 23-year-old is capable of providing to the franchise for years to come. What seems to be a solid glove at short has really helped him become established, but his ability to get on base consistently will be put to the test this year. This will be the case as he is expected to be the Braves lead-off hitter in front of young sluggers Jason Heyward, Justin Upton, and Freddie Freeman. He may be a big key in the success of the 2013 Atlanta Braves.View the list »
Position: CFBats/Throws: L/LAge: 24 5'8 185 LBS Springfield, OH"Spanky" Eaton, as D-Back fans know him, should be the favorite to win the starting centerfield job for the D-Backs. Even if he does not break camp with the starting job, he projects to still be the everyday CF by year's end. Scoutingbook.com says about Eaton: "He's already showing patience coupled with just enough power and hustle to make him a coaches' and fan favorite both. A future franchise player." He could be a dark-horse candidate to win the NL Rookie of the Year.

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Everyone has their favorite MLB players, superstar or not. The thing about most major league players is that, unlike the NFL and NBA, they may not be marketed very heavily. Certain positions in every major sport are over-looked by the casual fan, and that is just how things go. It is not as easy to gain national recognition as a professional athlete as many individuals may believe. That's where others come in and let you know of those players who you need to know, and those you should know. Here are 15 of those very players. Every individual on this list is under the age of 25 with limited-to-no major league experience.

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  • Position: CFBats/Throws: L/LAge: 24 5'8 185 LBS Springfield, OH"Spanky" Eaton, as D-Back fans know him, should be the favorite to win the starting centerfield job for the D-Backs. Even if he does not break camp with the starting job, he projects to still be the everyday CF by year's end. Scoutingbook.com says about Eaton: "He's already showing patience coupled with just enough power and hustle to make him a coaches' and fan favorite both. A future franchise player." He could be a dark-horse candidate to win the NL Rookie of the Year.
  • Position: SSB/T: R/RAge: 23 6'2 170 LBS Mundo Nobo, CuracaoSimmons is slotted to be the everyday starting shortstop for the reloaded Atlanta Braves in 2013. He showed flashes in his 49 games for the Braves in 2012 and has fans raving about what this 23-year-old is capable of providing to the franchise for years to come. What seems to be a solid glove at short has really helped him become established, but his ability to get on base consistently will be put to the test this year. This will be the case as he is expected to be the Braves lead-off hitter in front of young sluggers Jason Heyward, Justin Upton, and Freddie Freeman. He may be a big key in the success of the 2013 Atlanta Braves.
  • Pos: 3BB/T: R/RAge: 20 6'3 185 LBS Hialeah, FLMachado will find himself likely to be handling the hot corner for the Orioles for the 2013 season. He was drafted #3 overall by the franchise in 2010 straight from high school and projects to be the organization's future star at shortstop. As one of the top young prospects in baseball, he was thrown into the heat of a pennant race for the Orioles in 2012 and did not fade as he went on a tear at the plate in his first full week as a pro, helping lead the O's to the playoffs. Scouts have been known to compare this 20-year-old to the likes of Alex Rodriguez.
  • Pos: PitcherB/T: S/RAge: 20 6'1 195 LBS Tulsa, OKBundy's name will be one that should be known by baseball fans by the end of the 2013 season. MLB.com has rated him as the #2 prospect (#1 pitcher) in all of baseball. This right-hander's stuff has scouts drooling over when he will crack the starting rotation in Baltimore. Bundy's repertoire includes a power fastball in the mid-to-upper 90's, and a devastating curveball that keeps hitters off balance at the plate. Look for Bundy to challenge for the AL Rookie of the Year award this coming season if he gets his shot.
  • Pos: 1BB/T: L/LAge: 23 6'3 220 LBS Ft. Lauderdale, FLAnthony Rizzo has made his name known around baseball for swinging one of the better bats for a player his age. Once a top first base prospect for the San Diego Padres, Rizzo was dealt to the Cubs prior to the 2012 season, and made quite the impact once he arrived in Chicago. Rizzo projects to be one of the top 10 1B in baseball in the near future. The power is already there, but his plate discipline and ability in the field have a way to go before he can crack that exclusive list.
  • Pos: CFB/T: S/RAge: 22 6'1 190 LBS Taylorsville, MSThe switch-hitting speedster has already made a name for himself around the big leagues, and he hasn't even played a single major league inning yet. Setting the minor league stolen base record with 155 in 2012, Hamilton has Cincinnati fans' expectations through the roof once he takes over in CF for the Reds. He is unlikely to make it to the Queen City in 2013 until September at the earliest (when rosters expand to 40), but expect there to be fireworks when this 22-year-old gets the call to the big leagues.
  • Pos: PitcherB/T: R/RAge: 22 6'3 255 LBS Valencia, VenezuelaRondon turned heads at the 2012 Futures Game in Kansas City with his overbearing fastball reaching triple digits. With Jose Valverde no longer a part of the Tigers, he has been discussed and projected to take over Valverde's closer role for the defending AL champions. If he does indeed take over that closer role, he will play a major part in seeing if Detroit can make another run at the World Series in 2013.
  • Pos: CB/T: R/RAge: 22 6'3 245 LBS Valencia, Carabobo, VenezuelaIf you do not know this player, take note now. The biggest knock on Perez is that he has never been able to play a full season in the majors, but what he has done is his time up with the Royals behind the plate is quite amazing. Fangraphs.com points out that although his walk rate is not what you would like to see out of him, his future is "incredibly bright." Even with these knocks, the numbers this 22-year-old has put up in his limited time put him in with the likes of Johnny Bench, Ivan Rodriguez, and Joe Mauer at this early age in their respective careers.
  • Pos: CFB/T: S/RAge: 23 6'2 185 LBS Long Beach, CAHicks was once labeled as the top prospect in the Twins organization and they could not wait for his debut in the twin cities. After a 3-home-run game turned heads across baseball this spring, he may just take back that #1 spot in the Twins organization. A 5-tool projection at the next level, he has not quite been able to show exactly what the Twins wanted out of him, especially his base-stealing effectiveness, according to Scouting Book. With Denard Span and Ben Revere traded this past off-season, Hicks' performance in spring may just land this 23-year-old the starting CF job for the Twins come opening day.
  • Pos: PitcherB/T: L/RAge: 22 6'4 185 LBS Smyrna, GAThe once prize right-hander for the Giants was dealt to the Mets for Carlos Beltran at the 2011 trading deadline, and Mets fans could not be more thrilled. Much like Dylan Bundy, Wheeler possesses a major-league-ready power fastball-power curveball combination that Scouting Book says could land him in a MLB bullpen right now. Expect to see him as a staple in the Mets' rotation sometime in 2013, and almost certainly by opening day 2014.
  • Pos: PitcherB/T: R/RAge: 23 6'4 225 LBS New London, CTHarvey made an immediate impact in his ML debut last season, striking out 11 Arizona Diamondbacks over 5 1/3 innings, catching the attention of everyone around baseball. He was electric when he was on and gave Mets fans a glimpse into the future of what may be a top of the rotation that includes he and Zack Wheeler. Harvey struggled a little near the end of the 2012 campaign, some blaming that on the Mets insistence that he throw more two-seam fastballs than maybe he would have liked. If he gain regain that comfort zone and bring the electricity he brought last year, big things may be in store for this right-hander in 2013.
  • Position: PB/T: R/RAge: 22 6'4 220 LBS Newport Beach, CAThe #1 overall pick in 2011 by the Pirates added even more depth to their pitching prospects after drafting hard-throwing righty Jameson Taillon in 2010. Cole has been viewed as having the faster track to the majors and more likely to make an impact in Pittsburgh in 2013 than Taillon, who may still be a little while off, he being drafted straight from high school and all. Pirates fans can't wait to add Cole to their young nucleus centered around all-star and MVP candidate Andrew McCutchen as soon as this season.
  • Pos: CFB/T: L/LAge: 20 6'2 180 LBS Puerto Plata, Puerto Plata, Dominican RepublicConsidered to be the #3 prospect by MLB.com, scouts have said Taveras may be one of the better hitting prospects to be seen in the last decade. The outfield prospect has been said to be one of the most exciting players in all of the minor leagues today. A lot of his talent is raw, but he is quickly learning how to become an effective player and that just may get him to St. Louis sooner rather than later. It is yet to be seen whether he will supplant Jon Jay in center or Carlos Beltran in right field once he cracks the starting lineup in St. Louis, but no matter where he plays in the outfield, watch out once he arrives.
  • Pos: RFB/T: R/RAge: 22 6'3 205 LBS High Point, NCMyers could have easily been one of the players that you should know, seeing as he was the centerpiece of what the Rays acquired in dealing James Shields to the Royals in the off-season. The #1 prospect going into the 2012 season, Myers has one of the more powerful bats seen in a young player. Although he never reached the big leagues with the Royals, which many expected him to end up last season, he is very likely to be in right field for the Rays in 2013. It may not be right away, but he will be worth the wait once baseball fans get to see this player in the Tampa Bay lineup this season.
  • Pos: SSB/T: S/RAge: 20 6'0 165 LBS Willemstad, CuracaoThe switch-hitting shortstop prospect was a hot name around baseball trade talks in the off-season in regards to the Rangers trying to deal for Arizona, now Atlanta, slugger Justin Upton. Similarly enough, Profar has been compared to the likes of Upton with the bat. He made an immediate impact by homering in his first at-bat as a Ranger late in 2012 and he continued to produce effectively during his short stint. The biggest question surrounding him for 2013 is where he will play. With all-stars Ian Kinsler and Elvis Andrus handling second base and shortstop, respectively, plus MVP candidate Adrian Beltre at third base, the question is if Profar will even get enough at-bats with the Rangers to even make a major impact this coming season. If the situation works itself out where he can get a significant number of plate appearances, do not be surprised at all if MLB.com's #1 prospect is the runaway favorite for AL Rookie of the Year.
  • Some, if not all, of these names will mean nothing to you, but they will mean something to MLB one way or another. Players such as Mike Trout, Bryce Harper, Giancarlo Stanton, Yoenis Cespedes, and Chris Sale could have all been considered for this list, but it's likely these names are already household names to baseball fans. These 15 players all bring their own special skills and talents to the table and could end up in the eschelon of Trout, Harper, etc. by either the end of the 2013 or 2014 season. Keep them in mind.
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, Dayton Baseball Examiner

Cody Woods is a recent graduate of Bowling Green State University with a degree in sport management. A former high school catcher and 3rd baseman, Cody has the knowledge of the game of baseball that dates back to the deadball era. He prides himself on the history of America's pastime. Whether it...

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