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June 1, 2006 By Eric Mack Senior Fantasy Writer Tell Eric your opinion!

In watching the half-twisting Jered Weaver debut this weekend or the lightning stuff of Francisco Liriano on Wednesday night, you have to be wondering the same thing we have: Where the heck are all the impact in-season hitting prospects? Well, for one, most of them made their teams out of spring training: Hanley Ramirez, Prince Fielder, Conor Jackson, Ryan Zimmerman, Ian Kinsler, Josh Barfield, Josh Willingham and Dan Uggla. Secondly, Delmon Young flew off the bat handle, B.J. Upton still is inflicted with Sax-Knoblauch disease and Brandon Wood looks more like the next Dallas McPherson than Cal Ripken. And frankly, we expect too much. We were spoiled last year with the sudden Fantasy dominance of Ryan Howard, Jeff Francoeur, Robinson Cano and Dan Johnson. It has definitely been a spring to pay attention to the more risky half of the prospect hunt, the pitchers. Things have looked better of late, though. You are going to have to remain patient for Stephen Drew, Howie Kendrick, Alex Gordon, Billy Butler, Joel Guzman, Young and Upton, but we did have a few hitters serendipitously arrive who can impact all Fantasy leagues: outfielders Jason Botts, Lastings Milledge and Andre Ethier. DH/OF Jason Botts, Rangers A Phil Nevin for Jerry Hairston trade Wednesday looks like garbage in, garbage out for the Rangers and Cubs, but it opens the door for a true power threat to walk through. Botts hit a clutch three-run homer Sunday, giving Texas the confidence to make the 6-foot-6, 245-pound behemoth their everyday DH. A few days later, Nevin was packing his bags for Chicago. Botts has immense Fantasy potential in that lineup and ballpark and is a viable flier in any league. He is a must-start right now in AL-only formats and someone to at least stash in mixed leagues that allow you to stow reserves. At the time of the trade Wednesday, Botts' ownership in CBS SportsLine's Fantasy leagues was sitting at 14 percent. At the time of this story, it's up to 18 percent. We say that number climbs to 50 percent when people in your league catch wind of this development, so pick him up immediately. So, just how good is this Californian? Our answer: Every bit as promising as Oakland's Dan Johnson was last season when he hit .275 with 15 homers, 58 RBI and 54 runs in just over half a season. (Forget Johnson's 2006 swoon for the moment.) Botts was hitting a healthy .318 with 10 homers, 32 RBI, 29 runs and five token steals through 148 at-bats in Triple-A. Those aren't fluke numbers either. In his first try in Triple-A in 2005, he went .286-25-102-93-2 and made former No. 1 overall pick Adrian Gonzalez expendable this winter. OF Lastings Milledge, Mets Lastings Milledge is a five-tool prospect, but his immediate future is not entirely clear. (AP) Milledge arrived in New York for his debut at the same age, to the day, as erstwhile ex-phenom Darryl Strawberry: 21 years, 55 days. While his long-term 30-30 potential is great and that fact above intriguing, Milledge was rushed to the big leagues in place of Xavier Nady (15-day DL: appendectomy). Milledge is getting a three-week look and Omar Minaya says Nady will resume his everyday upon his return in late June. Exercise caution on one of the best prospects in baseball. The player drafted on the level of Delmon Young hasn't yet developed the power expected of him, even if his bat speed is blatantly obvious when watching him. He should not be owned in more leagues that Botts right now, but he is at 27 percent. That's hype talking. Milledge, who was .291-4-19-32-8 in 182 at-bats as a Triple-A leadoff man, is more of a 10-20 candidate at this point. He's just too raw compared to the 26-year-old Botts. Own Milledge in all NL-only leagues, but you might find he won't produce enough useful power numbers hitting eighth in his lineup to prove useful in most mixed leagues. Also, Rotisserie owners hoping for steals, be patient. Milledge was just 8-for-14 in his attempts in Triple-A. He's not ready to take off in that regard either. OF Andre Ethier, Dodgers Ethier isn't the prospect Milledge, or even Botts, is but he is earning more playing time by the day, hitting .324 with four homers, 13 RBI and 14 runs scored for the injury-hit Dodgers. That's very good production in NL-only formats for a guy owned in only 6 percent of our Fantasy leagues. Ethier will be getting more time in the near future than higher-ceiling Dodgers outfield prospects Matt Kemp (.335-7-34-40-11 in Double-A) or Joel Guzman (.291-6-33-22-4 in Triple-A). Own him in all NL-only leagues and take a flier on him in mixed formats, too. Ethier has the potential to go .290-15-55-60 this season if he can establish himself as an everyday player, but he will have to hold off the recently called-up Kemp and perhaps Guzman. It's actually a testament to Ethier and Kemp's arrivals that the ex-shorstop Guzman was recently retried at third base. Rookie watch Here are the top rookies in Fantasy to date (stats through May 31): Top 5 AL Fantasy Rookies Position, player, team Rotisserie stats 1 CL Jonathan Papelbon, BOS 0-1, 0.33ERA, 24K, 0.593WHIP, 19SV If he keeps this up, it would be the greatest year for a closer ever. 2 SP Justin Verlander, DET (7-3)-2.55-39-1.105-0 Shockingly little hatemail here for saying trade him after 140 innings. 3 SP Francisco Liriano, MIN (4-0)-2.11-47-1.200-0 The 'Next Johan Santana' looks every bit as good as advertised. 4 C Kenji Johjima, SEA .274 AVG, 5 HR, 25 RBI, 24 R, 0 SB The expectations are returning to earth, but he's still a solid C option. 5 OF Melky Cabrera, NYY .318-0-10-8-2 He has talent and an opportunity to help in all AL-only leagues now. Honorable mentions: 2B Ian Kinsler, TEX; SP Jered Weaver, LAA; SP Casey Janssen, TOR; SP John Koronka, TEX; SP Boof Bonser, MIN; DH Jason Botts, TEX; 1B Kendry Morales, LAA; C Mike Napoli, LAA; 2B Brandon Fahey, BAL; RP Joel Zumaya, DET. Top 5 NL Fantasy Rookies Position, player, team Rotisserie stats 1 SS Hanley Ramirez, FLA .314 AVG, 2 HR, 18 RBI, 44 R, 16 SB No, he won't maintain his 139-runs pace, but 50 steals is possible. 2 1B Prince Fielder, MIL .320-9-33-29-4 He has already stolen as many bases as his daddy did in his career. 3 2B Dan Uggla, FLA .313-6-28-37-3 He isn't this good, but he has proven to be a solid option at second. 4 LF/C Josh Willingham, FLA .263-7-32-17-1 Don't lose faith. Young sluggers like him are streaky. He'll get hot. 5 1B Conor Jackson, ARI .295-6-33-26-0 D woes have him sitting when sinkerballer Brandon Webb pitches. Honorable mentions: 3B Ryan Zimmerman, WAS; SP Josh Johnson, FLA; OF Andre Ethier, LAD; SP Matt Cain, SF; C Russell Martin, LAD; RP Takashi Saito, LAD; 2B Josh Barfield, SD; 1B Mike Jacobs, FLA; SS Ronny Cedeno, CHC; C Ronny Paulino, PIT; OF Jeremy Hermida, FLA; SP Paul Maholm, PIT; SP Michael O'Connor, WAS; OF Shane Victorino, PHI; RP Adam Wainwright, STL; SP Mike Thompson, SD; SP Gavin Floyd, PHI; OF Nate McLouth, PIT; SP Cole Hamels, PHI. On the verge Here are some recently hot minor-leaguers worth tracking (stats through Wednesday, May 31): Minor league hotlist Position, player, team Minor league numbers 1 RP Taylor Tankersley, FLA Double-A: (4-1)-0.95-40-0.882 Moved to bullpen, dominated, leading to Marlins' future closer's call-up. 2 SP Jeremy Sowers, CLE Triple-A: (6-1)-1.12-39-1.106 Jason Johnson and Paul Byrd revivals keep him in a holding pattern. 3 SS Stephen Drew, ARI Triple-A: .308-9-31-29-1 D-Backs might have to fall in the race before they trust a rookie SS. 4 3B Alex Gordon, KC Double-A: .317-9-26-33-12 New GM will need to evaluate system before giving Gordon a call. 5 SS Troy Tulowitzki, COL Double-A: .295-6-25-34-2 The 'Next Bobby Crosby' gets a boost from Clint Barmes' struggles. Honorable mentions: Triple-A SP Chad Billingsley, LAD; Triple-A SP Jordan Tata, DET; Triple-A SP Anthony Reyes, STL; Triple-A C Jeff Mathis, LAA; Triple-A 3B Josh Fields, CHW; Triple-A OF Elijah Dukes, TB; Triple-A SP Tom Gorzelanny, PIT; Triple-A 1B Ryan Shealy, COL; Double-A RF Billy Butler, KC; Double-A Kevin Kouzmanoff, 3B; Double-A SP Thomas Diamond, TEX; High Class A SP Kevin Slowery, MIN; Double-A SP Matt Garza, MIN; Triple-A OF Shin-Soo Choo, SEA; Triple-A OF Charlton Jimerson, HOU; Double-A SP Scott Mathieson, PHI; Triple-A SP Abe Alvarez, BOS; Double-A OF Hunter Pence, HOU; Triple-A 3B/OF Jeff Baker, COL; Triple-A SS B.J. Upton, TB; Triple-A 3B/OF/1B Joel Guzman, LAD; Triple-A SS Jason Bartlett, MIN; Triple-A OF Delwyn Young, LAD; Triple-A OF Nelson Cruz, MIL; Double-A SS Brandon Wood, LAA; Triple-A 1B Larry Broadway, WAS; Triple-A SP Jason Hirsch, HOU; Double-A SP Cesar Carrillo, SD; Double-A C George Kottaras, SD; Double-A SP Mike Pelfrey, NYM; Class A SP Homer Bailey, CIN; Double-A 3B Andy LaRoche, LAD; Double-A OF Wladimir Balentien, SEA; Double-A SP Humberto Sanchez, DET. Baby talk Brandon Purdy: I have Clint Barmes and Josh Barfield in my middle-infield positions. Both of them seem to be struggling and the best free agents in my league seem to be Luis Castillo of Minnesota and Jose Castillo, Freddy Sanchez and Jack Wilson of Pittsburgh. Is it time to make a move on one of those guys or do I wait it out, or even continue to look for a trade possibility? Emack: Barmes' deep, deep slump is really discouraging. He hasn't been the same since he fell down that flight of stairs with the deer meat and his Rookie of the Year hopes in June 2005. He has gone from phenom to busted-up phlash in the pan. You are justified dropping Barmes for Sanchez (if he's shortstop eligible in your league) or Wilson, if that's really the next best option on your waiver wire. Also, Jose Castillo is scorching hot right now and is a decent replacement for Barfield, who is merely going through one of his typical down periods. Barfield has been a streaky hitter throughout his short pro career. He will get hot again, but Castillo has long been hyped as a future middle of the order run producer at the second base position. His recent streak is his talent finally coming out. You don't drop Barfield for Castillo in Rotisserie play because of the steals, but it's advisable in points leagues. You can e-mail Emack your Fantasy Baseball prospect and rookie questions to DMFantasyBaseball@cbs.com. Be sure to put Attn: Prospects in the subject field. Please include your full name, hometown and state. Be aware, due to the large volume of submissions received, we cannot guarantee personal responses or answers to all questions.