Prospects Report: Time to spring a Leake

We said it on Draft Day this spring, numerous times for a couple of reasons. Many of you likely said it as well, but it didn't necessarily carry the same meaning -- the one a bit more crass:

I need to take a Leake.

One owner in 12 percent of CBSSports.com's Fantasy leagues wanted to get their hands on of the best-kept secrets of spring training. The rest of you merely wanted a mid-auction potty break, getting their hands on ... well, nevermind.

Everyone was singing the praises of Braves slugger Jason Heyward this spring, for great reasons. They were drinking the red Kool-Aid on Nats wunderkind Stephen Strasburg and Reds Cuban import Aroldis Chapman. But it is Arizona State product Mike Leake who will make his major league debut Sunday without ever having thrown a minor league pitch.

That is something no current Fantasy Baseball ace can say. Not Strasburg, not Chapman, not Tim Lincecum.

Leake was picked seven slots after Strasburg last June, eighth overall, after going 16-1 with a 1.71 ERA in the Pac-10. Strasburg was the unanimous No. 1 overall choice, going 13-1, 1.32 in the Mountain West with San Diego State.

To put it in major league terms, Leake did his damage as if he was pitching in the AL East equivalent of NCAA Division I ball. Strasburg's level of conference competition was something similar to a Rangers-less AL West (IE, facing teams with a whole lot less punch). For historical perspective: Lincecum went a less-impressive 12-4 with a 1.94 ERA as junior in the Pac-10 at Washington; Mark Prior (remember that one-time flame-thrower?) was a Leake-like 15-1, 1.70 at Southern Cal, albeit as a sophomore.

Those guys needed time in the minor leagues. Leake doesn't. The Reds decided that, which includes manager Dusty Baker, who happened to also have (ruin?) that Prior fellow in Chicago. Leake starts Sunday against those Cubs.

"We just felt that competition-wise that's where he should be," GM Walt Jocketty said.

Leake will become just the 21st draftee to debut without time in the minors.

"Neither Walt nor I have ever had a player without any professional experience," Baker told The Sports Xchange. "But he's a special young man. His poise, his discipline, his control, his command, his pitch selection are far beyond his years."

Leake was 1-0 with a 3.00 ERA, 16 hits, four walks and 10 strikeouts over 18 innings to win the rotation spot so many expected the Cuban defector Chapman would win. Instead, Chapman will be toiling in the minors this Sunday, something Leake might never have to do.

"We're very confident in his ability to pitch at a high level. He demonstrated that this spring," Jocketty told MLB.com. "We drafted him with the idea he was going to be a guy that would get to the big leagues quick. We didn't figure it would be this quick."

That is some praise and some company above that Leake is in. So, how in the world of Fantasy is Leake owned in just 22 percent of CBSSports.com's leagues with his major league debut coming Sunday?

Perhaps it is beceause Leake doesn't possess a mitt-stinging heater that Strasburg, Chapman, Lincecum and Prior have/had. What Leake does have, though, is 90-94 mph (IE plenty) and a solid command of five pitches (fastball, cutter, curve, slider and changeup) according to Baseball America.

Veteran pitchers don't have that. One that comes to mind that did was David Cone, and he was pretty good as a first-time, full-year starter in 1988 with the Mets (20-3, 2.22).

We cannot project Leake to be as good as a Lincecum, Prior, Cone or even a Strasburg this season. For everyone of those, there is a Darren Dreifort (1993) or Mike Morgan (1998), two pitchers who didn't need time in the minors.

But we can advise you: Leake is available in 78 percent of leagues as of this writing and shouldn't be.

On the verge

There are 10 prospects starting in the minors that are owned in more that 20 percent of CBSSports.com's leagues. Here is a quick rundown of those highly-regarded talents (current ownership percentage in parenthesis):

1. Strasburg (86) -- He figures to be on the same timetable as David Price and Tommy Hanson were a year ago; June 1.
2. Chapman (74) -- If not for a back issue, perhaps he could have pushed Leake a lot harder late in camp.
3. Buster Posey (45) -- Something significant needs to happen to Bengie Molina for Posey to get a significant opportunity.
4. Madison Bumgarner (34) -- He had a rotation spot to lose and he managed to do it. That is real discouraging, if not telling.
5. Carlos Santana (29) -- By June 1, fellow Indians rookie Lou Marson could become a career backup or trade bait.
6. Pedro Alvarez (27) -- This slugger will be pushing Andy LaRoche by this summer and impacting all Fantasy leagues.
7. Chris Tillman (25) -- The Orioles have a number of young starters, but Tillman will replace one of the veterans by June.
8. Desmond Jennings (24) -- If not for that wrist injury this spring, he might have been a candidate to start in the majors.
9. Michael Stanton (23) -- He wasn't dominant in Double-A late last year, which the Marlins want him to be first.
10. Leake -- Yes, there are nine (nine!) minor leaguers with no imminent arrival owned ahead of this guy. Wow.

Prospect watch

Every Friday we break down all the minor leaguers who are owned in at least 1 percent of our Fantasy leagues. This will be your essential guide to unearthing the elite prospects before they hit the big time.

Key: -- Call-up is imminent; -- Currently not worth owning in any league; -- Serving a minor league suspension; -- Currently injured.

Top AL rookies to date

1. Austin Jackson, OF, DET -- Huge spring gives way to a quick start, but he has to watch those strikeouts.
2. Michael Brantley, OF, CLE -- He will have to make an impact this week and next because Russell Branyan will be back soon.
3. Reid Brignac, 2B, TB -- He will compete for at-bats with non-rookie Sean Rodriguez at second base all season.
4. Alex Avila, C, DET -- He made the team as a backup, but we figure he will take Gerald Laird's starting spot before long.
5. Scott Sizemore, 2B, DET -- The pop came through late in spring, but he likely should be starting only in AL Fantasy formats.

• Honorable mentions: Neftali Feliz, RP, TEX; Tyson Ross, RP, OAK; Brian Matusz, SP, BAL.

Top NL rookies to date

1. Jason Heyward, OF, ATL -- If you're going to announce your presence with authority, that is the way to do it, Mr. Heyward!
2. David Freese, 3B, STL -- He has flown under the radar, perhaps because of a quiet, injury-plagued 2009 season.
3. Ian Desmond, SS, WAS -- In seven at-bats through Wednesday, five strikeouts, a double and a homer. Talk about all or nothing.
4. Tim Wood, RP, FLA -- He got a circumstantial save in extra innings Wednesday night, since closer Leo Nunez was already pulled.
5. Gaby Sanchez, 1B, FLA -- Has two doubles in two games, so perhaps the gap power will be useful in deeper leagues right away.

• Honorable mentions: Alcides Escobar, SS, MIL; Dan Runzler, RP, SF; Antonio Bastardo, RP, PHI; Carlos Monasterios, RP, LAD; Jenrry Mejia, RP, NYM.

You can e-mail Emack your Fantasy Baseball prospect questions to DMFantasyBaseball@cbs.com. Be sure to put Prospects in the subject field. Please include your full name, hometown and state. Be aware, due to the large volume of submissions received, we cannot guarantee personal responses to all questions.