I have to admit, when I first saw Alexei Ramirez in a White Sox uniform, I thought the Sox had broken new ground by scouting for baseball talent in Ethiopia. The kid was so skinny that even Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen thought he was bulimic. Well, as it turns out, the Cuban import has been a fantastic addition to the White Sox this season.

I've already begun my Carlos Quentin for MVP campaign here on FanHouse, so I don't want to litter the place with more "The White Sox rule!" posts, but I have to say, Alexei deserves some recognition for A.L. Rookie of the Year. I wouldn't have said this a few weeks ago, but now with Evan Longoria on the disabled list, there's a chance Alexei could change a few minds.

Not that he cares. He's just honored to be playing here.

"It really feels like a dream right now that I don't want to wake up from," said Ramirez, who played for several national teams and for Pinar Del Rio in his native Cuba before this season.

"In certain lineups, [Griffey] has been hitting behind me, and it's an absolute honor to be in the same lineup."

As for the Rookie of the Year talk:

"It's an honor to be mentioned in that discussion," Ramirez said. "But I'm not talking about it."

That's okay, the media will. While I don't expect Ramirez to take the ROY award this season - even with the injury, Longoria has just been too good - there's a ton of potential in the kid. When I see him playing now he reminds me of a young Alfonso Soriano when he first joined the Yankees.

The only difference being that Alexei can not only play second base well, but it's actually his worst position of the three he plays. He's better suited to play centerfield or his natural position of shortstop. He may only weigh 75 pounds soaking wet, but given a few years Alexei could be a five-tool superstar for the Chicago White Sox.