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A dynamic dozen

As camps close, here are 12 new faces to remember

Every year about this time, a few players make the jump from obscurity to the big leagues with a hot spring and the promise of a huge future. As the 2001 spring training comes to a close, we take a look at some of our favorites.

Players to Watch
Christian Parker	Starting Pitcher  Bats: R   Throws: R   Height: 6-1   Weight: 200   DOB: 07/03/75
AP	The Yankees are looking to the 25-year-old Parker to make the jump into the starting rotation. Right now, he's behind Roger Clemens, Andy Pettitte, Mike Mussina and Orlando Hernandez. "He's all bulldog," manager Joe Torre said. "Every time he takes the ball, it's serious." Parker was 14-6 last season with a 3.13 ERA at Class AA Norwich.   Spring Training Stats* W  L  S  ERA  G  GS  CG  SHO  IP  H  R  ER  1  1  0  3.60  5  3  0  0  15.0  15  8  6
Jack Wilson	Shortstop  Bats: R   Throws: R   Height: 6-0   Weight: 175   DOB: 12/29/77
Scott Halleran/Allsport	He's not exactly tearing it up this spring, but the 23-year-old Wilson still is scheduled to be starting for the Pirates come Opening Day. The team expects him to play solid defense and anything over, say, a .240 average or so will be icing. "I'm going to try to save runs, try to save pitchers from throwing too many pitches," he told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.   Spring Training Stats* AVG  G  AB  R  H  TB  2B  3B  HR  RBI  .260  18  50  6  13  17  4  0  0  3
Paul LoDuca	Catcher  Bats: R   Throws: R   Height: 5-10   Weight: 193   DOB: 04/12/72
Vincent Laforet /Allsport	Catching has been a sore sport since Todd Hundley left in free agency, but the Dodgers have settled on a pair of receivers who will split time. Word is that Chad Kreuter will be behind the plate for Chan Ho Park and Darren Dreifort, while LoDuca will handle everyone else. LoDuca, 29, has fewer than 200 major-league at-bats.   Spring Training Stats* AVG  G  AB  R  H  TB  2B  3B  HR  RBI  .486  13  35  9  17  24  4  0  1  7
Alfonso Soriano	Second base  Bats: R   Throws: R   Height: 6-1   Weight: 180   DOB: 01/07/78
Ezra O. Shaw/Allsport	Chuck Knoblauch's move to left opened up second base for Soriano, who will be tough to unseat if he keeps hitting like this. The 23-year-old Dominican is a converted shortstop who has been tried at third and at one time was destined for left field. "We think he's going to be a star," Yankees GM Brian Cashman told the New York Daily News.   Spring Training Stats* AVG  G  AB  R  H  TB  2B  3B  HR  RBI  .364  23  88  15  32  57  6  2  5  13
Shea Hillenbrand	Utility Player  Bats: R   Throws: R   Height: 6-1   Weight: 200   DOB: 07/27/75
Brian Bahr/Allsport	Hillenbrand was the minor league player of the year at Class AA Trenton last season (a .323 average) and found an opportunity in spring with the injury to third baseman John Valentin. The 25-year-old is a perfect example of what a hot spring can do for a hungry player. He can catch, play first, third and the outfield.   Spring Training Stats* AVG  G  AB  R  H  TB  2B  3B  HR  RBI  .463  19  41  10  19  29  4  0  2  7
C.C. Sabathia	Starting Pitcher  Bats: L   Throws: L   Height: 6-7   Weight: 265   DOB: 07/21/80
Rick Stewart/Allsport	The team's top pitching prospect, still just 20 years old, has had a good spring, and his potential still wows the front office. At 6-foot-7, 265 pounds, Sabathia throws hard. Still, he's never pitched higher than Class A, though he now is fighting with Steve Karsay, Tim Drew and Steve Woodard for the No. 4 spot in the rotation.   Spring Training Stats* W  L  S  ERA  G  GS  CG  SHO  IP  H  R  ER  1  1  0  4.24  5  2  0  0  17.0  18  9  8
Chris Reitsma	Starting Pitcher  Bats: R   Throws: R   Height: 6-5   Weight: 214   DOB: 12/31/77
M.David Leeds/Allsport	Reitsma, 23, has found a place in the Reds rotation, thanks to a strong work ethic, a decent spring and a workmanlike style on the mound that caught the attention of new manager Bob Boone. "He gets easy outs,'' Boone said. Reitsma was part of the trade that sent Dante Bichette to Boston last August. He went 7-2 with a 2.58 ERA for Trenton (Class AA) last year.   Spring Training Stats* W  L  S  ERA  G  GS  CG  SHO  IP  H  R  ER  0  1  0  3.52  5  1  0  0  15.1  9  6  6
Tsuyoshi Shinjo	Outfielder  Bats: R   Throws: R   Height: 6-1   Weight: 185   DOB: 01/28/72
Matthew Stockman/Allsport	Shinjo, 29, figures to be the Mets' fifth outfielder after proving this spring he can handle American big-league pitching. No one expects him to be a high-average guy -- certainly not as high as it's been this spring. His career average in Japan is just .249. But he has some power, can play defense and is very coachable.   Spring Training Stats* AVG  G  AB  R  H  TB  2B  3B  HR  RBI  .373  19  51  10  19  27  5  0  1  10
Travis Wilson	Utility Player  Bats: R   Throws: R   Height: 6-2   Weight: 185   DOB: 07/10/77
AP	He's a former professional softball player who may become the first New Zealander ever to play in the majors. Wilson, 23, can play second, third, left or right and gives the Braves another right-handed bat with some power. Last season, he hit .275 with 12 homers and 63 RBIs in Class A. He had a seven-game hitting streak through Wednesday.   Spring Training Stats* AVG  G  AB  R  H  TB  2B  3B  HR  RBI  .420  20  50  9  21  37  8  1  2  8
Jay Gibbons	First base  Bats: L   Throws: L   Height: 6-0   Weight: 200   DOB: 03/02/77
Ezra Shaw/Allsport	The compact and sturdy Gibbons, plucked out of the Toronto Blue Jays' system as a Rule 5 draftee, has awed the O's with his physique and his power. Last year, the 24-year-old Gibbons led the Class AA Southern League in slugging percentage and extra-base hits and finished second in hitting with a .321 average.   Spring Training Stats* AVG  G  AB  R  H  TB  2B  3B  HR  RBI  .346  22  52  7  18  32  3  1  3  10
Jose Ortiz	Second base  Bats: R   Throws: R   Height: 5-9   Weight: 177   DOB: 06/13/77
AP	A bang-up spring has removed any doubts about the 23-year-old rookie. His five homers are as many as Jason Giambi had, he had a team-high nine doubles and his batting average for the spring was stratospheric. It's not a surprise for the Pacific Coast League's MVP last season (.351, 24 HRs, 108 RBIs, all in 131 games).   Spring Training Stats* AVG  G  AB  R  H  TB  2B  3B  HR  RBI  .364  19  66  13  24  48  9  0  5  13
Ben Petrick	Catcher  Bats: R   Throws: R   Height: 6-0   Weight: 205   DOB: 04/07/77
AP	He'll start this season and, if his past is any indication, will put up some big numbers with the aid of Coors Field. He's slamming the ball this spring, and last season in two brief callups with the Rockies hit .322 with three home runs and 20 RBIs in 52 games. Petrick, soon to be 24, was selected in the second round of the 1995 June draft.   Spring Training Stats* AVG  G  AB  R  H  TB  2B  3B  HR  RBI  .452  16  42  8  19  25  6  0  0  6
*All Stats through 3/29/2001                                               » Complete Spring Training Stats

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