Wondering which young players could have an impact in the majors this year? Let MLB FanHouse guide the way in Better Know a Prospect. In this edition we look at three players from the mostly either-already-there-or-far-away Colorado system.Dexter Fowler, CF:- The crown jewel of the Rockies' system, he'll likely take over center from Ryan Spillborghs by the end of May. Fowler will turn 23 just weeks before the season begins, and he's already made his major league debut. He got a quick cup of coffee last season after tearing through Double-A to the tune of a .335 average. There's also some yet untapped power potential to go with his blazing speed for this possible future All-Star.
Eric Young, Jr., 2B: As I alluded to in the intro, most of the Rockies' prospects have either already made it to the bigs, or are a few years away. Young isn't a stellar prospect, but he has the ability to be a solid major league bench player. At 24, this could be his year, because second base isn't overly crowded with the big club, especially when considering the shaky history of Clint Barmes. EY Jr., like his Daddy, can run a little bit. He's stolen 87, 73, and 46 bases in the past three years, respectively, in the minors.
Jhoulys Chacin, SP/RP: This Venezuelan phenom is only 21, but his stuff is electric enough to make a leap all the way to the majors later this season, should he progress well in Double-A this year. In 2008, he combined for a 18-3 record in two Single-A stops. He struck out 160 in 177 2/3 innings and compiled a 2.03 ERA. He'll be a starter down the road, but the strong sinking action on his fastball could make him an asset in the Rockies' late-inning relief corps in the short-term. Look for a call in September.
For comprehensive coverage of the minor leagues, visit John Sickels at Minor League Ball and Baseball America. For minor league statistics, visit Baseball-Reference and Minor League Splits.
