The following ranks last season's 27-year-olds (on opening day) by the
production they will be projected to provide Fantasy owners in 2005.
You will notice a number of intriguing names who are coming off their
celebratory age-27 breakthrough. Most notably: No. 1 Miguel Tejada, No. 2 Michael Young, No. 5 Brad Lidge, No. 13 Lew Ford, No. 15 Craig Wilson, No. 17 Ryan Drese, No. 20 Keith Ginter
and No. 31 Bronson Arroyo.
A few promising names here that I see celebrating their career season
one year after age 27 include: No. 9 A.J. Burnett, No. 10 Pat
Burrell, No. 14 Freddy Garcia, No. 21, A.J. Pierzynski, No. 22 Jeff Weaver, No. 23 Aaron Miles, No. 24 Jason
Lane, No. 30 Alex Sanchez, No. 31 Arroyo, No. 34 David Ross, No. 38 Ross Gload, No. 42 Robb Quinlan, No. 44 Adam Everett, No. 45 Alex A. Gonzalez. Be it health, an increase in playing time or
just plain maturation, those guys are prime breakout candidates.
|
Top 28-year-olds by position
|
|
First basemen
|
|
Rank
|
Player
|
Pos
|
Team
|
Exp
|
Games played
|
|
1
|
Aubrey Huff
|
3B/1B
|
TB
|
5
|
3B=86, 1B=38, DH=34, OF=9
|
|
2
|
Lyle Overbay
|
1B
|
MIL
|
4
|
1B=158
|
|
3
|
Craig A. Wilson
|
OF/1B
|
PIT
|
4
|
OF=108, 1B=65, C=4, DH=2
|
|
4
|
Ben Broussard
|
1B
|
CLE
|
3
|
1B=133
|
|
5
|
Ross Gload
|
1B/OF
|
CHW
|
3
|
1B=42, OF=40, DH=13
|
|
6
|
Eric Valent
|
OF/1B
|
NYM
|
4
|
OF=46, 1B=27
|
|
7
|
Jason Phillips
|
C/1B
|
NYM
|
4
|
C=87, 1B=38
|
|
Second basemen
|
|
Rank
|
Player
|
Pos
|
Team
|
Exp
|
Games played
|
|
1
|
Keith Ginter
|
2B/3B
|
OAK
|
5
|
2B=54, 3B=47, OF=2, DH=2
|
|
2
|
Aaron Miles
|
2B
|
COL
|
2
|
2B=128
|
|
3
|
Bo Hart
|
2B
|
STL
|
2
|
2B=4, SS=1
|
|
4
|
Henry Mateo
|
2B
|
WAS
|
4
|
2B=9, OF=1
|
|
Third basemen
|
|
Rank
|
Player
|
Pos
|
Team
|
Exp
|
Games played
|
|
1
|
Aubrey Huff
|
3B/1B
|
TB
|
5
|
3B=86, 1B=38, DH=34, OF=9
|
|
2
|
Troy Glaus
|
DH/3B
|
ARI
|
7
|
DH=39, 3B=19
|
|
3
|
Keith Ginter
|
2B/3B
|
OAK
|
5
|
2B=54, 3B=47, OF=2, DH=2
|
|
4
|
Wes Helms
|
3B
|
MIL
|
6
|
3B=66, 1B=10
|
|
5
|
Rob Mackowiak
|
OF/3B
|
PIT
|
4
|
OF=123, 3B=55, 1B=1
|
|
6
|
Robb Quinlan
|
3B
|
ANA
|
2
|
3B=32, 1B=13, OF=9, DH=4
|
|
7
|
Justin Leone
|
3B
|
SEA
|
1
|
3B=28, SS=2, DH=1
|
|
Shortstops
|
|
Rank
|
Player
|
Pos
|
Team
|
Exp
|
Games played
|
|
1
|
Miguel Tejada
|
SS
|
BAL
|
8
|
SS=162
|
|
2
|
Michael Young
|
SS
|
TEX
|
5
|
SS=158, DH=2
|
|
3
|
Adam Everett
|
SS
|
HOU
|
4
|
SS=99
|
|
4
|
Alex A. Gonzalez
|
SS
|
FLA
|
7
|
SS=158
|
|
5
|
Ramon Vazquez
|
SS
|
BOS
|
4
|
SS=22, 2B=10, 3B=9, 1B=3
|
|
6
|
Derek Wathan
|
SS
|
FLA
|
0
|
|
|
Catchers
|
|
Rank
|
Player
|
Pos
|
Team
|
Exp
|
Games played
|
|
1
|
Johnny Estrada
|
C
|
ATL
|
4
|
C=133
|
|
2
|
Ramon Hernandez
|
C
|
SD
|
6
|
C=108
|
|
3
|
Michael Barrett
|
C
|
CHC
|
7
|
C=130
|
|
4
|
A.J. Pierzynski
|
C
|
CHW
|
7
|
C=118
|
|
5
|
Brian Schneider
|
C
|
WAS
|
5
|
C=133
|
|
6
|
David Ross
|
C
|
LA
|
3
|
C=67
|
|
7
|
Ben Davis
|
C
|
CHW
|
7
|
C=67
|
|
8
|
Jason Phillips
|
C/1B
|
NYM
|
4
|
C=87, 1B=38
|
|
DHs
|
|
Rank
|
Player
|
Pos
|
Team
|
Exp
|
Games played
|
|
1
|
Troy Glaus
|
DH/3B
|
ARI
|
7
|
DH=39, 3B=19
|
|
2
|
Calvin Pickering
|
DH
|
KC
|
4
|
DH=27, 1B=8
|
|
Outfielders
|
|
Rank
|
Player
|
Pos
|
Team
|
Exp
|
Games played
|
|
1
|
Carlos Lee
|
OF
|
MIL
|
6
|
OF=148, DH=5
|
|
2
|
Jose Guillen
|
OF
|
ANA
|
8
|
OF=139, DH=10
|
|
3
|
Pat Burrell
|
OF
|
PHI
|
5
|
OF=122
|
|
4
|
Lew Ford
|
OF
|
MIN
|
2
|
OF=137, DH=26
|
|
5
|
Craig A. Wilson
|
OF/1B
|
PIT
|
4
|
OF=108, 1B=65, C=4, DH=2
|
|
6
|
Jason Lane
|
OF
|
HOU
|
3
|
OF=76, 1B=3
|
|
7
|
Jerry Hairston
|
OF
|
CHC
|
7
|
OF=52, DH=21, 2B=12, 3B=1
|
|
8
|
Alex Sanchez
|
OF
|
DET
|
4
|
OF=78, DH=1
|
|
9
|
Rob Mackowiak
|
OF/3B
|
PIT
|
4
|
OF=123, 3B=55, 1B=1
|
|
10
|
Craig Monroe
|
OF
|
DET
|
4
|
OF=128, DH=2
|
|
11
|
Terrmel Sledge
|
OF
|
WAS
|
1
|
OF=126, 1B=10
|
|
12
|
Ross Gload
|
1B/OF
|
CHW
|
3
|
1B=42, OF=40, DH=13
|
|
13
|
Tike Redman
|
OF
|
PIT
|
4
|
OF=147
|
|
14
|
Jay Gibbons
|
OF
|
BAL
|
4
|
OF=66, DH=16, 1B=14
|
|
15
|
Ben Grieve
|
OF
|
PIT
|
8
|
OF=69, DH=1
|
|
16
|
Abraham Nunez
|
OF
|
KC
|
2
|
OF=106, DH=2
|
|
17
|
Reed Johnson
|
OF
|
TOR
|
2
|
OF=141, DH=4
|
|
18
|
Bobby Kielty
|
OF
|
OAK
|
4
|
OF=72, DH=11
|
|
19
|
Jason Michaels
|
OF
|
PHI
|
4
|
OF=95, DH=1
|
|
20
|
Eric Valent
|
OF/1B
|
NYM
|
4
|
OF=46, 1B=27
|
|
21
|
Marcus Thames
|
OF
|
DET
|
3
|
OF=52, DH=5
|
|
22
|
Dustan Mohr
|
OF
|
COL
|
4
|
OF=104, DH=2
|
|
23
|
Ron Calloway
|
OF
|
NYM
|
2
|
OF=21
|
|
24
|
Bubba Crosby
|
OF
|
NYY
|
2
|
OF=48, DH=2
|
|
25
|
Jason Grabowski
|
OF
|
LA
|
3
|
OF=33, DH=3, 1B=3
|
|
Starting pitchers
|
|
Rank
|
Player
|
Pos
|
Team
|
Exp
|
|
1
|
A.J. Burnett
|
SP
|
FLA
|
6
|
|
2
|
Javier Vazquez
|
SP
|
ARI
|
7
|
|
3
|
Freddy A. Garcia
|
SP
|
CHW
|
6
|
|
4
|
Ryan Drese
|
SP
|
TEX
|
4
|
|
5
|
Wade Miller
|
SP
|
BOS
|
6
|
|
6
|
Jeff Weaver
|
SP
|
LA
|
6
|
|
7
|
Kelvim Escobar
|
SP
|
ANA
|
8
|
|
8
|
Brian Lawrence
|
SP
|
SD
|
4
|
|
9
|
Randy Wolf
|
SP
|
PHI
|
6
|
|
10
|
Bronson Arroyo
|
SP
|
BOS
|
5
|
|
11
|
Sidney Ponson
|
SP
|
BAL
|
7
|
|
12
|
Josh Towers
|
SP
|
TOR
|
4
|
|
13
|
Victor Santos
|
SP
|
MIL
|
4
|
|
14
|
Josh Fogg
|
SP
|
PIT
|
4
|
|
15
|
Wes Obermueller
|
SP
|
MIL
|
3
|
|
16
|
Jason Stanford
|
SP
|
CLE
|
2
|
|
17
|
Gary Knotts
|
P
|
DET
|
4
|
|
18
|
Rob Bell
|
SP
|
TB
|
5
|
|
19
|
Eric DuBose
|
SP
|
BAL
|
3
|
|
20
|
Jason Grilli
|
P
|
CHW
|
3
|
|
Relief pitchers
|
|
Rank
|
Player
|
Pos
|
Team
|
Exp
|
|
1
|
Brad Lidge
|
RP
|
HOU
|
3
|
|
2
|
J.C. Romero
|
RP
|
MIN
|
6
|
|
3
|
Kyle Farnsworth
|
RP
|
DET
|
6
|
|
4
|
J.J. Putz
|
RP
|
SEA
|
2
|
|
5
|
Mike MacDougal
|
RP
|
KC
|
4
|
|
6
|
Scott Linebrink
|
RP
|
SD
|
5
|
|
7
|
Mike Gallo
|
RP
|
HOU
|
2
|
|
8
|
Scott Proctor
|
P
|
NYY
|
1
|
|
NR
|
Felix Heredia
|
RP
|
NYM
|
9
|
|
NR
|
David Riske
|
RP
|
CLE
|
5
|
|
NR
|
Scott Strickland
|
RP
|
NYM
|
5
|
|
NR
|
Travis Harper
|
RP
|
TB
|
5
|
|
NR
|
Kevin Walker
|
RP
|
CHW
|
5
|
|
NR
|
Gary Glover
|
RP
|
MIL
|
5
|
|
NR
|
Chad Harville
|
RP
|
HOU
|
4
|
|
NR
|
Mike Koplove
|
RP
|
ARI
|
4
|
|
NR
|
David Borkowski
|
P
|
BAL
|
4
|
|
NR
|
Rick Bauer
|
P
|
BAL
|
4
|
|
NR
|
Pedro Feliciano
|
RP
|
NYM
|
3
|
|
NR
|
Seth Etherton
|
P
|
OAK
|
2
|
|
NR
|
Fernando Rodney
|
RP
|
DET
|
2
|
|
NR
|
Erasmo Ramirez
|
RP
|
TEX
|
2
|
|
NR
|
Geoff Geary
|
RP
|
PHI
|
2
|
|
NR
|
Tyler Walker
|
RP
|
SF
|
2
|
|
NR
|
Nate Bump
|
P
|
FLA
|
2
|
|
NR
|
Kevin Frederick
|
P
|
TOR
|
2
|
|
NR
|
Aaron Rakers
|
P
|
BAL
|
1
|
|
NR
|
Aaron Looper
|
P
|
SEA
|
1
|
|
NR
|
Matt Thornton
|
P
|
SEA
|
1
|
|
NR
|
Franklin Nunez
|
P
|
TB
|
1
|
|
Overall 28-year-old rankings
|
|
Rank
|
Player
|
Pos
|
$ value
|
|
1
|
Miguel Tejada
|
SS
|
$38
|
|
2
|
Michael Young
|
SS
|
$25
|
|
3
|
Aubrey Huff
|
3B/1B
|
$23
|
|
4
|
Troy Glaus
|
DH/3B
|
$21
|
|
5
|
Brad Lidge
|
RP
|
$20
|
|
6
|
Carlos Lee
|
OF
|
$18
|
|
7
|
Lyle Overbay
|
1B
|
$17
|
|
8
|
Jose Guillen
|
OF
|
$13
|
|
9
|
A.J. Burnett
|
SP
|
$11
|
|
10
|
Pat Burrell
|
OF
|
$11
|
|
11
|
Javier Vazquez
|
SP
|
$10
|
|
12
|
Johnny Estrada
|
C
|
$9
|
|
13
|
Lew Ford
|
OF
|
$8
|
|
14
|
Freddy A. Garcia
|
SP
|
$8
|
|
15
|
Craig A. Wilson
|
OF/1B
|
$6
|
|
16
|
Ramon Hernandez
|
C
|
$6
|
|
17
|
Ryan Drese
|
SP
|
$5
|
|
18
|
Wade Miller
|
SP
|
$4
|
|
19
|
Michael Barrett
|
C
|
$4
|
|
20
|
Keith Ginter
|
2B/3B
|
$4
|
|
21
|
A.J. Pierzynski
|
C
|
$2
|
|
22
|
Jeff Weaver
|
SP
|
$2
|
|
23
|
Aaron Miles
|
2B
|
$1
|
|
24
|
Jason Lane
|
OF
|
$1
|
|
25
|
Brian Schneider
|
C
|
$1
|
|
26
|
Kelvim Escobar
|
SP
|
$1
|
|
27
|
Brian Lawrence
|
SP
|
$1
|
|
28
|
Randy Wolf
|
SP
|
$1
|
|
29
|
Jerry Hairston
|
OF
|
$1
|
|
30
|
Alex Sanchez
|
OF
|
$1
|
|
31
|
Bronson Arroyo
|
SP
|
$1
|
|
32
|
Rob Mackowiak
|
OF/3B
|
$1
|
|
33
|
J.C. Romero
|
RP
|
$1
|
|
34
|
David Ross
|
C
|
$0
|
|
35
|
Craig Monroe
|
OF
|
$0
|
|
36
|
Terrmel Sledge
|
OF
|
$0
|
|
37
|
Ben Broussard
|
1B
|
$0
|
|
38
|
Ross Gload
|
1B/OF
|
$0
|
|
39
|
Eric Valent
|
OF/1B
|
$0
|
|
40
|
Jason Phillips
|
C/1B
|
$0
|
|
41
|
Wes Helms
|
3B
|
$0
|
|
42
|
Robb Quinlan
|
3B
|
$0
|
|
43
|
Justin Leone
|
3B
|
$0
|
|
44
|
Adam Everett
|
SS
|
$0
|
|
45
|
Alex A. Gonzalez
|
SS
|
$0
|
|
46
|
Calvin Pickering
|
DH
|
$0
|
|
47
|
Tike Redman
|
OF
|
$0
|
|
48
|
Jay Gibbons
|
OF
|
$0
|
|
49
|
Ben Grieve
|
OF
|
$0
|
|
50
|
Abraham Nunez
|
OF
|
$0
|
|
|
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