Joe Christensen's Sunday Insider: Introducing the next wave

As the summer heats up, these five youngsters are trying to make an impact.

By JOE CHRISTENSEN, Star Tribune

Last update: June 6, 2009 - 10:24 PM

David Price? Matt Wieters? Rick Por- cello?

They are soooo yesterday.

Just when those three prospects started settling into big league roles, teams introduced another wave of new talent this week.

If you like following prospects, your head is probably spinning right now, especially with the draft coming Tuesday. And don't even get us started about Bryce Harper, the 16-year-old catcher profiled in the latest Sports Illustrated as "Baseball's LeBron." (Check him out on YouTube, where there's video of his 502-foot home run off the back wall at Tropicana Field.)

Baseball's talent landscape changes so quickly, it's tough keeping up. But with the Twins headed from Seattle to Oakland, where they'll face a bunch of pitchers barely old enough to buy beer, here's a quick primer on the game's young guns.

Tommy Hanson, Braves

Age: 22 • Position: RHP

Comment: The 6-6 righthander won the triple crown in the Arizona Fall League going 5-0, with an 0.63 ERA and 49 strikeouts in 29 innings. The Braves refused to include him in their talks for Jake Peavy last winter but bungled Hanson's promotion from Class AAA this week, abruptly parting ways with 305-game winner Tom Glavine. Hanson will make his highly anticipated debut today vs. the Brewers.

Gordon Beckham, White Sox

Age: 22 • Pos: 3B/SS

Comment: The White Sox took the power-hitting shortstop out of Georgia with their first-round pick (No. 8 overall) in last June's amateur draft, and promoted him to the big leagues this week after only 59 minor league games. "Now he's here," manager Ozzie Guillen said. "I hope he can save us." Beckham, who is better known for his bat than his glove, supplanted Josh Fields at third base.

Andrew McCutchen, Pirates

Age: 22 • Pos: CF

Comment: The Pirates traded Gold Glover Nate McLouth to Atlanta, opening a spot for McCutchen, who has been a top prospect since his teens. McCutchen had an impressive debut Thursday with two hits, three runs scored a stolen base and an RBI against the Mets. With McCutchen leading off and Nyjer Morgan batting second, the Pirates have lightning atop their lineup.

Fernando Martinez, Mets

Age: 20 • Pos: OF

Comment: Had the Mets been willing, the Twins might have taken him straight up for Johan Santana before settling on Carlos Gomez and three pitching prospects. Before he smashed eight homers in 42 Class AAA games this year, Martinez didn't have gaudy minor league numbers, partly because he was so young compared to his competition. He made his big league debut May 26, becoming youngest player in the National League.

Brett Anderson, Athletics

Age: 21 • Pos: LHP

Comment: The son of Oklahoma State coach Frank Anderson went from Arizona to Oakland in the Dan Haren trade. A tall lefty, Anderson has good command and a veteran's feel for pitching. He is 3-1 with an 3.52 ERA in his past four starts and will face the Twins on Tuesday. Trevor Cahill, a 21-year-old A's righthander, is scheduled to face the Twins on Thursday.

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