Stephen Strasburg‘s major league debut Tuesday night took things to a ridiculous level, of course. But even if that performance is just a taste of what’s to come for Nats fans this summer, Strasburg is far from the only standout rookie this season. Washington found that out firsthand Saturday when Cincinnati Reds rookie Mike Leake — the No. 8 pick in the 2009 draft in which Strasburg went first overall — shut down the Nats.
“He abused us,” a succinct Ian Desmond said after that performance.
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Don’t feel bad, Ian. Leake (5-0, 2.22 ERA) has plenty of other victims this season. At a generous 6-foot-1, 190, he has a smaller frame, and his stuff isn’t necessarily overpowering. Because of that, scouts worry that Leake can thrive only if his command is above average. There just isn’t as much margin for error if he’s around the plate too much. But Leake’s also proved to be such a good athlete that he can consistently repeat his delivery. Because of that he has thrived.
Fans in Washington already know about the No. 10 pick in the 2009 draft, reliever Drew Storen (1-0, 1.93 ERA). He made it to the big leagues even quicker than Strasburg and has become a key member of the Nats’ bullpen. St. Louis hasn’t missed Joel Pineiro in part because Jaime Garcia, a 22nd round pick in 2005, has developed into a reliable No. 3 starter. He is 5-2 with a 1.47 ERA.
Rookie hitters have been even better. Everyone knows about Atlanta’s Jason Heyward by now. The 20-year-old has a .906 OPS, ranking among the top 25 players in all of baseball. But Ike Davis (.817 OPS) has immediately solidified first base for the Mets after an early-season call-up from Triple-A. And catcher/first baseman Buster Posey had 16 hits through his first 10 games with the Giants after his recall Memorial Day weekend.
