Top 10 Players to Watch this Spring

10. Brad Ausmus, 2008: .218 AVG, 3 HR, 24 RBI in 216 AB
- I think we can all agree that backup catcher Brad Ausmus won’t be contributing on the field much this season. So why does he make the list? Because Ausmus is a ‘coach in training’. He is slated to be the relatable veteran presence in the clubhouse that keeps the team loose. He is a guy who can show the young players how to handle themselves off the field. If you believe in a thing called chemistry than you’ll understand what I’m talking about. Even if you don’t believe in chemistry, it’s hard to argue that Ausmus’s baseball smarts won’t benefit the team in some way.
- Prognosis: Every team needs a guy to haze the rookies. This year, Brad Ausmus is that guy. We'll see if his personality is a match with the many young players on the team.

9. Scott Elbert, 2008: 0-1, 12.00 ERA in 6.0 IP (AA: 4-1, 2.40 ERA, 46 K in 41.1 IP)
- If the Dodgers have a secret weapon entering spring, it is Scott Elbert. After missing most of 2007 recovering from shoulder surgery, the former 1st round pick pick was striking out batters again in 2008.
- Prognosis: Elbert is an excellent athlete with a devastating breaking pitch. He was a bit overmatched at the big league level but a solid spring could go along way for his confidence. He has the stuff to succeed, but like every pitcher he needs to locate his pitches consistently. Elbert is a strike out pitcher and he could prove to be a valuable asset for the bullpen this season.

8. Jeff Weaver, 2008, AAA: 4-6, 6.20 ERA in 84.2 IP
- ‘The Weave’ had almost disappeared from the game completely, but Ned did Boras a solid by giving the Spicoli look-alike another shot in LA.
- Prognosis: The Dodgers pitching staff has a strong history of successful reclamation projects and Jeff Weaver seems to fit the bill. The 32-year-old sidearmer has a 2-seam fastball and sweeping slider that could work well in a relief role. We’ll see what Rick Honeycutt can do with him. Like Stults, Weaver might be running out of opportunities. Unlike Stults, Weaver has made a few big paychecks in his day.

7. Eric Stults, 2008: 2-3, 3.49 ERA in 38.2 IP (AAA: 7-7, 3.82 ERA in 117.2 IP)
- If you’re looking for a player to root for this spring, Eric Stults is your guy. At 29, he has spent the last 7 seasons in the minor leagues and gotten a few cups of coffee along the way. In that time the lefty from Indiana has posted a 4.67 ERA in his minor league career. In 2008, things started to click for Stults. He pitched well in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League and even better in big leagues. The highlight of his season being a complete game shutout against the White Sox in June.
- Prognosis: Life can’t be easy for a 29-year-old minor league pitcher. Especially for a guy who has never been considered a top prospect. This spring represents Stults’ best chance yet to crack an opening day roster. Maybe even a starting spot in a seemingly thin rotation. This could be a make-or-break moment in his career. You can’t help but pull for a guy in his situation.

6. Matt Kemp, 2008: .290 AVG, 18 HR, 76 RBI, 35 SB, .340 OBP, .799 OPS
- Kemp is an electric player. He hits line drives, runs like the wind and has a cannon for an arm. Sure he’ll look bad swinging at a slider out of the zone or running through a stop sign from time to time, but Matt Kemp is one of the most exciting young players in the game.
Prognosis: I’m excited to see what Matt Kemp does this spring. Hopefully he develops a knack for hitting more homeruns. The key to Kemp’s season will probably be his patience and pitch selection at the plate. At 24, many are expecting a breakout year from him. I’d also like to see him continue to make strides in his development as a centerfielder as well.

5. Andre Ethier, 2008: .305 AVG, 19 HR, 79 RBI, .375 OBP, .885 OPS
- What a year it was for Andre Ethier in 2008. Not only did he enjoy the best season of his career (thanks in part to Manny’s presence in the lineup) but he and his wife had their first child as well.
- Prognosis: Andre is quickly becoming a fan favorite. And why not? He’s got a fresh face, an appetizing blog and a good looking swing. When I watch Ethier hit I actually start wishing I was left-handed. His approach and mechanics are very solid. According to Fangraphs.com, Ethier led the majors with the highest line drive percentage in baseball last season (26.6%). I think this is going to be the year we see him develop more power to the opposite field.

4. Clayton Kershaw, 2008: 5-5, 4.26 ERA, 100 K, 52 BB in 107.1 IP
- Kershaw, 20, made his MLB debut last year and showed signs of both dominance and youth. All in all, he held his own. The Dodgers continually babied him, and rightfully so, keeping him from getting into too much trouble on the mound. Kershaw will have more responsibility this year and throwing strikes will be of the utmost importance.
- Prognosis: Kershaw has a mid-90’s fastball and an excellent curveball that drops in at about 72-74 MPH. If he can locate his fastball he will be a force to be reckoned with. It would be nice to see him gain confidence in a 3rd pitch, particularly a changeup. Swagger doesn’t seem to be an issue with this kid. If he can minimize walking batters then the sky is the limit for him. It’s always interesting to see how a kid in his early 20’s will handle himself when he enters spring with a starting role.

“Clayton likes to dominate in ping-pong.” -- Clayton’s girlfriend Ellen Melson

3. Jason Schmidt, 2008: DID NOT PLAY 2007: 1-4, 6.31 ERA in 25.2 IP
- We all know the story with this guy. Health is a huge question mark. I can guarantee that Schmidt is hungry to get back on the hill and start pitching again. His last full season was 2006. In both the majors and minors, he’s thrown a total of 48.1 IP in 2 seasons with the Dodgers.
- Prognosis: Don’t expect much, if anything, from Schmidt this season. In 2007, doctors performed exploratory surgery on his throwing shoulder and found that everything was wrong. He gave his arm and career to the Giants years ago. Schmidt has a lot to prove at this point in his career. Give him credit, he’s trying to perform and make good on a big contract. We should all be pulling for him, but realistically his career is over until proven otherwise. This could be the last spring training of his career.

2. Jonathan Broxton, 2008: 3-5, 3.13 ERA, 14 Saves, 11.5 K/9 in 69.0 IP
- Filling in for an injured Takashi Saito, Broxton converted 14 of 17 save opportunities after the all-star break. Listed at 6’4”, 290 lbs. Big Jon is a big dude to be sure.
- Prognosis: Our last memory of Jonathan Broxton involves a towering, back-breaking homerun off the bat of Matt Stairs. At 24, Broxton is being relied upon to fill the closers role full-time. The most volatile position in the game. A position he has been groomed for since 2005. Only time will tell if he has the mental makeup to make a career as a closer. He does have a deadly 1-2 punch. 96 MPH fastball, 88 MPH slider. Let’s hope that Broxton not only locates his fastball in 2009, but that he can also locate a treadmill ASAP.

1. Chad Billingsley, 2008: 16-10, 3.14 ERA, 201 K, 9.0 K/9 in 200.2 IP
- After having a phenomenal regular season Bills finished the year by losing 2 games in the NLCS to the best team in baseball. In those 2 losses, his teammates questioned his toughness while he questioned Russell Martin’s pitch selection. Things got worse for the 24-year-old in November when he broke his leg at his home in Pennsylvania. He has since recovered and Ken Gurnick reports that Billingsley is already throwing bullpen sessions.
- Prognosis: Few pitchers in baseball have as much stuff as Chad Billingsley does. In 2008, Chad made tremendous strides in improving the movement on both his 2-seam fastball and cut-fastball which resulted in more groundballs. Essentially he has a combo of 2 hard pitches, one darts left and one darts right. He has a very solid curveball and a decent changeup as well. A lot of fans are questioning Billingsley’s ability to be an Ace, I am not one of those fans. However, I do think it is imperative for him to establish himself as more of an intimidating presence on the mound in 2009. Just a little more swagger could make him a legitimate Cy Young contender. It all starts with how he carries himself in Spring Training.