Young Players in Baseball Provide a Break From Steroids

This year Major League Baseball is witnessing a surge of young talented ball players that remind fans of the mid-90’s when greats like Jeter and A-Rod were phenomenal rookies. Baseball has been in one of its darkest hours the past couple of years due to the “steroid whirlwind” that unfolded resulting in government prodding and indictments. Nevertheless, “The Show Must Go On” and baseball adjusted to steroid-less homers and gave way to young talented players with speed and power.

Slowly as the steroid era is disappearing, baseball has seen the likes of young All-Stars like Hanley Ramirez, B.J. Upton, Jacoby Ellsbury, and Josh Hamilton excel on the Major League level.

Hanley Ramirez – In 2007, he stole 51 bases (for the second year in a row!) and hit 29 home runs. He scored 125 runs and had over 200 hits! He will turn 25 this December.

B.J. Upton – In 129 games in 2007, Upton smashed 24 homers, hit 25 doubles, stole 22 bases (he has 18 already this year), had 82 RBI, scored 86 runs . . . and he did all of this on the Tampa Bay Rays. He is having a better season than last year already and he will turn 24 this August.

Jacoby Ellsbury – In what is his first full year as the starting center fielder for the Boston Red Sox, Ellsbury has rekindled the Johnny Damon days with his speed and contact hitting. Ellsbury is on pace to steal over 70 bases (he has 28 already) and snag over 200 hits (he has 51 so far). He is 24 years old.

Josh Hamilton – As the everyday center fielder for the hot hitting Texas Rangers this year, Josh has excelled in the hitting department with his robust 67 RBI and 80 hits thus far. At the “ripe old age” of 27, he is not as young as others, but in his first full year in center Josh is making waves.

There are other young offensive talented players out there, such as Adrian Gonzalez and Ryan Braun. The newest addition to this list is none other than the highly anticipated and touted Jay Bruce, CF for the Cincinnati Reds. As a top prospect in the minors, Bruce quickly moved into Triple-A and was called up on May 27th. In his eight games as a starter, Bruce has had 16 hits, 3 homers, 12 runs scored, 7 RBI, 7 walks, and 2 stolen bases. I know I could be ‘jumping the gun’, but I am fairly confident that Bruce will be a baseball star far a long time. Oh yeah, he is 21 years old.

With players like these entering the MLB, the fans get a nice break from the hoopla, that is the “steroid whirlwind”, and can watch the games in peace. That is, at least, until Roger Clemens gets found guilty of perjury.