1- Mike Trout, CF Age: 20- Trout can do it all. As a 20 year old, he is very much in the hunt to win AL MVP. He is leading the AL in batting average along with stolen bases. Trout is on track to be one of the biggest names in the game and he will be the face of the Angels franchise for a long time.
2- Mark Trumbo, LF Age: 26- Trumbo has been overshadowed a bit by what Mike Trout has been doing, but Trumbo is putting together a terrific season. He is only in his second year, so Trumbo should be expected by the Angels to be in the top half of their order for some time.
1- Justin Upton, RF Age: 24- I don't know why the Diamondbacks would consider unloading Upton. Though he hasn't been great this year, he is only 24 and has shown in the past that he is capable of being an MVP caliber player.
2- Trevor Bauer, SP Age: 21- Bauer has pitched as you would expect from a rookie, but there is no doubt that he could become the next Tim Lincecum and headline a young and deadly Diamondbacks rotation for the future.
3- Paul Goldschmidt, 1B Age; 24- After a slow start this season, Goldschmidt as picked it up, batting around .300 with a solid amount of home runs. Goldschmidt should be a consistent hitter in the top half of the Diamondbacks lineup for the next few years.
1- Jason Heyward, RF Age: 22- Heyward hasn't produced like many thought he would, but give him time because it is only his second season in the majors. Heyward has the potential to be as good as fellow youngsters Justin Upton and Andrew McCutchon, but he does need to begin to prove something or else he might be labeled as a very overhyped player.
2- Craig Kimbrel, RP Age: 24- Kimbrel has been lights out in what his now his second season in the big leagues. Kimbrel looks like he should be the ninth inning man for the next decade with the Braves.
3- Freddie Freeman, 1B Age: 22- At only 22 years old, Freeman has shown that he should be a productive first basemen for the Braves in the future. We'll see if Freeman can take bigger steps toward becoming an all-star level first basemen in the near future.
1- Dylan Bundy, SP Age: 19- Bundy is the prized possession in the Orioles farm system and he is poised to become the ace of the staff within a matter of years. Bundy could easily become a Clayton Kershaw/Felix Hernandez like pitcher for the Orioles and give the O's pitching stafff much needed stability.
2- Adam Jones, CF Age: 26- Jones is having a career year for the Orioles and he is truly proven to be the face of the franchise that the Orioles expected him to be.
3- Matt Wieters, C Age: 26- He hasn't exactly been quite the catcher the Orioles thought he would be, but Wieters has still been productive. He is one of the better catchers in the game and although he isn't quite Joe Mauer, he will continue to produce for the next decade.
1- Will Middlebrooks, 3B Age: 23- Middlebrooks has been good enough for the Red Sox this year that they felt it was necessary to get rid of fan favorite Kevin Youkilis. Middlebrooks is one of the only bright spots the Red Sox have with their youth right now.
1- Starlin Castro, SS Age: 22- Though Castro might have focus issues and isn't always the hardest worker, he is still the best young building block the Cubs have. He was an all-star this year, so it should be a sign of things to come for the Cubs.
2- Anthony Rizzo, 1B Age: 22- Rizzo was recently called up and has been doing big things for the Cubs. The Cubs are a couple years and a couple players away from getting back into the thick of things in the NL Central, but count on Rizzo to certainly be a focal point of the Cubs at that time.
3- Josh Vitters, 3B Age: 22- Vitters still hasn't been called up, but he is one of the better Cubs minor leaguers who is probably the closest to getting called up. He is another one of the Cubs young players who might turn into a star over time.
1- Chris Sale, SP Age: 23- Sale has been nothing short of sensational this year and he is a huge reason why the White Sox are contending. His ERA is tops in the American League and he is only 23 years old. As long as he stays healthy, Sale should be the ace of the Sox staff for many years.
1- Jay Bruce, RF Age: 25- Bruce has been in the league a few years now, but he is still considered a young building block because he is only 25. Bruce has shown consistent power for the Reds dating back to 2009.
2- Aroldis Chapman, RP Age: 24- Chapman is pretty nasty. He might have the best stuff for a reliever in baseball, so he will be a mainstay for the Reds. The question will be whether Chapman stays in the bullpen or makes a move to the starting rotation.
3- Billy Hamilton, 2B Age: 20- Billy Hamilton is lighting up minor league baseball with his speed. He is stealing 100 bases over the course of a year like it is no big deal. Hamilton should be an instant impact once he joins the Reds in the near future.
4- Mat Latos, SP Age: 24- Latos is still a little erratic, but is very capable of putting together elite seasons like he did in San Diego two years ago.
1- Jason Kipnis, 2B Age: 25- Kipnis is emerging as one of the best second basemen in baseball and he is only in his second season. Kipnis is one of the few bright spots for a mediocre Indians club.
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1- Austin Jackson, CF Age: 25- Jackson has broke out in 2012, putting together a career year sort to speak. Though he still can improve, Jackson is showing that he will be a key player for the Tigers in the near future.
1- Giancarlo Stanton, RF Age: 22- Stanton is one of the most dangerous hitters in the game and he is only 22, that is all you need to know.
2- Jacob Turner, SP Age: 21- Turner was recently acquired from the Tigers last week. Hyped to be a young star in the Tigers rotation, he now could get an early opportunity in Miami with things heading the wrong way for them in the NL East.
1- Jose Altuve, 2B Age: 22- Altuve was the lone All-Star for the Houston Astros this year. Altuve is a nice player who at 22 years old could turn into a consistent and reliable player for the Astros. Unfortunately for Altuve, the Astros have a ways to go before contending.
1- Mike Moustakas, 3B Age: 23- Moustakas is putting together a nice season at third base for the Royals. He is one of the few marquee young players just starting to emerge for the Royals.
2- Eric Hosmer, 1B Age: 22- Hosmer was great last year but he is having a sophomore slump this season. Expect Hosmer to return to form in the coming years, becoming one of the better first basemen in the game.
3- Will Myers, RF Age: 21- Myers is very close to heading to the big leagues as he is getting tremendous praise in the minors. Myers will join a potent lineup that features nearly all players under 28 years old in the coming future.
4- Salvador Perez, C Age: 22- Since returning from injury, Perez has added a much needed boost to the Royals lineup. He should continue to improve as he is already one of the best young catchers in the game.
1- Clayton Kershaw, SP Age: 24- 24 years old and one Cy Young already under his belt. That is enough said, as the Dodgers remain in contention this season with Kershaw as the teams' ace.
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1- Ike Davis, 1B Age: 25- The Mets are a middle of the pack team with not a ton of young talent, but Davis is certainly a player that has produced over the past two years who is only 25 years old.
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1- Josh Reddick, RF Age: 25- In his first year with the Athletics, Reddick is having a career year as the focal point of the A's offense. With not a lot of talent around him, Reddick's performance has been greatly appreciated in Oakland as they continue to hold on to that last wild card spot.
2- Jarrod Parker, SP Age: 23- Parker is a young gun who is in line to become the next great Oakland A's pitcher in the Billy Beane era. He has been very good this year and is one of the main reasons Oakland is in position to make the playoffs.
3- Yoennis Cespedes, CF Age: 26- Though sidelined with injuries for part of this year, Cespedes is currently batting .301 with 13 home runs. Not bad for a rookie not expected to do a whole lot this year. Cespedes is a superb talent who soon could become the face of the franchise.
4- Tommy Millone, SP Age: 25- Millone had his best start of his young career last week against the Yankees, tossing seven shutout innings in an eventual A's win. Millone should be the future along with Jarrod Parker in the Oakland rotation.
1- Vance Worley, SP Age: 24- Worley is not given much credit, but he has stayed healthy and provided the Phillies at least some modicum of stability.
1- Andrew McCutchon, CF Age: 25- There is nothing negative you can say about McCutchon. The NL MVP is his to lose and he is only 25.
2- Pedro Alvarez, 3B Age: 25- Alvarez was miserable last season where the expectations were high, but now this season, the expectancy was lower and he has produced, expecting to surpass 25 or so home runs in only his second season.
3- Sterling Marte, CF Age: 23- Marte made his much anticipated debut last night hitting a home run on the first pitch he saw in the big leagues. The future is bright all of a sudden in Pittsburgh.
1- Yonder Alonso, 1B Age: 25- People rave about Alonso, but I look at his poor slugging percentage and don't get what all the hype is about. He is only 25 though, so he has plenty of time to pick things up.
1- Madison Bumgarner, SP Age: 22- Bumgarner is now solidified as the teams second best pitcher after Matt Cain. He is only 22 years old surprisingly yet has plenty of experience in big games such as the World Series.
2- Buster Posey, C Age: 25- Posey has recovered nicely after last season's leg injury. He is one of the brightest young faces in baseball.
3- Brandon Belt, 1B Age: 24- Belt still has too much hype around him for someone who hasn't been consistent at the plate. However, I like his approach and expect him to evolve in to a productive player for the Giants.
4- Brandon Crawford, SS Age: 25- Crawford is very good defensively and although he has a ways to go at the plate, Crawford will be a solid shortstop for the Giants in the future.
1- Felix Hernandez, SP Age: 26- Like Clayton Kershaw in Los Angeles, Felix Hernandez is only 26 and with a Cy Young under his belt. I can't imagine the Mariners trading this guy in the near future.
2- Jesus Montero, DH Age: 22- I would like to think Montero would have been better if he was still in Pinstripes, but he is only 22 years old and will turn into a great hitter over time.
3- Dustin Ackley, 2B Age: 24- Ackley went from being a top prospect to a weak hitter in just over three months. That being said, I wouldn't give up on this guy quite yet.
1- Shelby Miller, SP Age: 22- Miller has yet to reach the big leagues yet, but when he does, I expect him to take over the void left by Chris Carpenter's eventual departure and become the ace of the staff.
2- Lance Lynn, SP Age: 25- Lynn is the real deal it looks like. He is one of the reasons why St. Louis continues to hang around in the NL Central race.
1- Jeremy Hellickson, SP Age: 25- Like the other Rays young "stars" featured below, Hellickson has been a disappointment this year. He still has shown that he can be a very good pitcher in the American League, so I'm going to say this is just a down year.
2- Matt Moore, SP Age: 23- The hype started when Moore shut down the Rangers in Game 1 of last year's ALDS. Unfortunately for the Rays, they haven't seen any start by Moore this year be as good as that one.
3- Desmond Jennings, LF Age: 25- Jennings has been woeful this year for Tampa, confirming notions that he may never turn into a good hitter at all.
1- Yu Darvish, SP Age: 25- Darvish has 11 wins this year for the Rangers and nabbed his first all-star selection this year. Not bad at all for the 25 year old.
2- Elvis Andrus, SS Age: 23- Andrus is an underrated player. He is excellent defensively and is a threat every time he is on the bases.
3- Jurickson Profar, SS Age: 21- Profar is the top prospect in the Rangers farm system so it will be interesting to see where he fits in with Andrus already at shortstop.
1- Brett Lawrie, 3B Age: 22- Lawrie is a solid young player for the Blue Jays, but I don't really see anything spectacular about him.
2- Travis d-Arnaud, C Age: 23- Time will tell as to whether d'Arnaud is a better option at catcher than J.P. Arencibia.
1- Stephen Strasburg, SP Age: 24- The man is deadly and if he stays healthy, there is no doubt he will win a Cy Young award or three. It will be interesting to see what the Nationals do about his inning limit.
2- Bryce Harper, RF Age: 19- I hate it when people try to compare Harper's year to Mike Trout's because Harper hasn't been nearly as good as Trout, but that doesn't mean that Harper isn't going to turn into a super star within the coming years.
Top 20 Young Players to Build Around
20 Billy Hamilton, 2B Age: 20
19 Trevor Bauer, SP Age: 21
18 Dylan Bundy, SP Age: 19
17 Anthony Rizzo, 1B Age: 22
16 Aroldis Chapman, RP Age: 24
15 Jay Bruce, RF Age: 25
14 Starlin Castro, SS Age: 22
13 Mike Moustakas, 3B Age: 23
12 Buster Posey, C Age: 25
11 Mark Trumbo, LF Age: 26
10 Madison Bumgarner, SP Age: 22
9 Chris Sale, SP Age: 23
8 Justin Upton, RF Age: 24
7 Giancarlo Stanton, RF Age: 22
6 Andrew McCutchen, CF Age: 25
5 Felix Hernandez, SP Age: 26
4 Clayton Kershaw, SP Age: 24
3 Bryce Harper, RF Age: 19
2 Stephen Strasburg, SP Age: 24
1 Mike Trout, CF Age: 20
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