During the season I’ll be writing two new columns. This one is the first installment of one of them. They will run on consecutive weeks, and then I’ll repeat the columns, update the numbers, and perhaps add some new names if I’m feeling frisky. Or if one you astute readers requests someone to be added. One report will be a rookie report. Said report will track rookies and their fantasy production. The second report will be an MiLB report. That one will track a list of chosen prospects’ minor league production in an effort to give you a leg up on your league mates on the waiver wire or to help you with keeper league decisions.

So, hopefully that covers it. Let’s get into it.

Full discretion, thanks to MLB.tv I have developed a full blown love affair with Xander Bogaerts, and I’ll be writing him up for my Friday column. I hope you’ll give it a read if you’re a Front Office member. And if, for some reason, you aren’t a Front Office member, you can sign up here.

It goes without saying that one week of data isn’t worth anything. But we have to start to somewhere. Bogaerts has been impressive. So have Jose Abreu, Abraham Almonte, Nick Castellanos, and Chris Owings. I did my best to watch as many of Abreu’s plate appearances as I could, and I came away thoroughly impressed. If not for a few windy days in “The Cell,” he could be sitting on at least a couple of home runs already. Seemingly every ball that he hit early on was hit hard. And best of all, he showed power to both center field and the opposite field.

On the pitching side of things, Paxton was phenomenal in his debut. He showed tremendous command, and even flashed a nifty little cutter. Tanaka’s debut got off to a rough start, courtesy of Melky Cabrera, but he rebounded to garner his fair share of strikeouts without walking anyone. I was thoroughly impressed with his stuff, especially his split-finger, which garnered a whopping ten swinging strikes.

As stated above, the next installment of this report will be two weeks from now. By then, we should have more data which will allow us to help you with roster decisions. For the most part though, it’s too early to cut anyone you drafted unless there’s someone available that really, really shouldn’t be on the waiver wire.

See you next week for our minor league update!