The Rays' Evan Longoria seemingly has hit well enough this spring to win the starting 3B job, but has yet to be handed the keys to the position.

Chuck Solomon/SI

Opening Day -- in the States -- is less than a week away. What rookies appear as if they'll make an impression this season and which do not? Let's take a look.

1. Evan Longoria, 3B, Tampa Bay Rays

The starting third base job was considered Longoria's to lose in spring training, and he has done nothing to disappoint. As of this writing, he is hitting .282/.431/.641 with seven of his 11 hits going for extra bases. Perhaps more important in Longoria's transition is that he has shown selectivity, walking eight times while striking out on only five occasions.  With all of that said, the Rays have yet to decide whether he'll open the season as the club's starting third baseman or if they'll send him back to Triple-A. A decision should be made within the next few days.

2. Clay Buchholz, SP, Boston Red Sox

For Buchholz, this spring was an opportunity to win a spot in the rotation, and thus far he has struggled. In three appearances in big-league exhibition games, he has allowed nine runs in 8.2 innings. Bartolo Colon, the primary contender for the fifth spot, has also struggled, leaving the door open for Buchholz to stay in the competition. No announcement has been made, but the young right-hander is still the most likely to get the call for the first time the Sox need a fifth starter in April.

3. Jay Bruce, OF, Cincinnati Reds

Bruce entered the spring with high expectations, but those expectations grew dim when Corey Patterson was signed in early March, and they grew even dimmer when the rookie was sent to the minors last week after hitting a mediocre .262/.279/.286. With that said, Ryan Braun demonstrated last year that a player does not need to start the season in the majors to make a huge fantasy impact. Expect Bruce to spend most of the year in Cincinnati and do more than hold his own.

4. Kosuke Fukudome, OF, Chicago Cubs

Fukudome is hitting .224/.391/.306 this spring, which has him looking less like a Rookie of the Year candidate than fantasy owners would like. He still figures to be the Cubs' No. 5 hitter at this time, which should get him into plenty of RBI opportunities. On top of that, his previous professional experience should help him maintain consistency through the season, which is sometimes a problem for rookie hitters.

5. Daric Barton, 1B, Oakland A's

Barton is hitting only .188 this spring (and missed a week with a hand injury), but four of his six hits have gone for extra bases, including two home runs. Despite the slow start, there is no doubt that Barton can hit, and the power he's shown this spring, following up on his .639 slugging percentage for the A's last September, is a great sign. If everything goes right, he could easily end up with the best season on this list.

6. Jacoby Ellsbury, OF, Boston Red Sox

Ellsbury's .209/.271/.349 stat line this spring (not to mention hamstring problems) has not helped him win the starting center field job outright. Coco Crisp, who has yet to be traded, has played in only three games this spring due to a sore groin, but he's collected three hits in his six at-bats. Both players figure to get playing time as it stands now. Speed and average figure to be where Ellsbury contributes, but he may not get more than 400 at-bats.

7. Joey Votto, 1B, Cincinnati Reds

Known for starting slow, Votto is living up to that billing with a .200/.308/.311 start in spring training. The Reds, however, were very impressed by his .321/.360/.548 line at the end of last season and are thus far unbothered by his spring numbers. At this point, he is still slated to be the opening day starter at first base, but he could lose some playing time to Scott Hatteberg early in the season unless he gets his bat going.

8. Geovany Soto, C, Chicago Cubs

After starting strong, Soto has struggled a bit at the plate of late. Word is that he was getting too pull-conscious and is trying to make some adjustments to correct that. In addition, he is trying to learn all the pitchers so he can call a good game. Such is the difficulty for young catchers. He will not match the .389/.433/.667 line he put up in his debut last season, but he should still hit better than the average National League catcher in 2008.

9. Homer Bailey, SP, Cincinnati Reds

It's looking more and more likely that Bailey will start the season at Triple-A. He has great stuff, but he is still refining his control and command. It does not help that three of his outings have been against the Yankees and Red Sox, and he has hurt himself by walking 10 in 14.2 innings. That said, the bottom of the Reds rotation figures to be a revolving door of journeymen and youngsters, so Bailey will have his chances this season.

10. Joba Chamberlain, RP, New York Yankees

The current plan calls for Chamberlain to begin the year in the bullpen and stay there for two months. He is then expected to go to the minors for a number of outings to get stretched out as a starter and then join the big-league rotation in the second half. This is all fine and good for the Yankees, but it does not help a fantasy team. For now, his upside in '08 is limited by how many games he starts.

11. J.R. Towles, C, Houston Astros

Towles got off to a good start in spring training but has been slowed by a strained hamstring lately. At this point he still appears to be on track for opening day, but given that some of his value is in his ability to steal a few bases, the injury is somewhat worrisome. Towles should still be expected to hit for good average this season (.444 in his first 18 at-bats this spring).

12. Chase Headley, 3B, San Diego Padres

Headley has adjusted well to left field and is pounding the ball to the tune of .349/.362/.744 with four home runs so far this spring. It is still not clear whether he will make the team out of spring training (the injured calf of Jim Edmonds could open a spot temporarily), but the Padres clearly want Headley's bat in the big leagues sometime this season.

13. Colby Rasmus, OF, St. Louis Cardinals

Assigned to minor-league camp last week, Rasmus should be back in the major leagues before too long. Rasmus had a good spring, hitting .310/.463/.619 and drawing 12 walks, but for the time being, Rick Ankiel will start in center field. Expect Rasmus to be back in June, especially if he can get off to a good start.

14. Carlos Gomez, OF, Minnesota Twins

Gomez is hitting .286 with a meager .302 OBP this spring, which is encouraging considering he hit just .234/.290/.306 in 124 big league at-bats last season. His value is more likely to come from his speed than from his bat this year, and he is among the leaders in stolen bases with 10 so far in spring training. Playing time in center field is not yet guaranteed for Gomez, but by season's end he will probably have more starts in center than any of the other players battling for the position.

15. Andy LaRoche, 3B, Los Angeles Dodgers

Call it bad luck. LaRoche was once again in a position to get playing time and this time a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right thumb will keep him out for at least eight weeks. This type of injury often lingers after the player returns to action, so expectations for LaRoche should be lowered, not only as a result of lost playing time, but also due to potential lost production until he is truly 100 percent again.

16. Franklin Morales, RP, Colorado Rockies

Morales has allowed a lot of hits this spring (24), including four home runs in16.2 innings. Fortunately for him, the other candidates for the bottom of the rotation (Josh Towers, Kip Wells and Mark Redman) have also faired poorly. The Rockies could send Morales back to Triple-A or move him to the bullpen, but either way expect him to play a key role for Colorado before the season ends.

17. Cameron Maybin, OF, Florida Marlins

Maybin is competing with Alejandro De Aza for the Marlins' starting job in center field. Maybin is hitting just .216/.256/.514, while De Aza is batting .303 with as many home runs (three) as Maybin, not to mention a healthy 1.085 OPS. Going back to the minor leagues for a couple of months may be the best thing for Maybin long term, as he still has very little experience above Class A, but the long-term potential is significant.

18. Ian Kennedy, SP, New York Yankees

Kennedy has allowed four runs (three on solo home runs) over his first 13.1 innings this spring (covering four appearances) while striking out 11 and allowing three walks. With Chamberlain opening the season in the bullpen, Kennedy should be in the New York rotation as the fifth starter to begin the year and should be a good enough to fill out the bottom of the rotation for fantasy teams in AL-only leagues this season.

19. Hiroki Kuroda, SP, LA Dodgers

Kuroda hasn't been particularly sharp this spring, holding a 5.14 ERA with seven Ks and three walks in 14 innings of work. He does not have the kind of star potential that Daisuke Matsuzaka has, but he figures to settle into the bottom half of a solid Dodgers rotation in '08 and could benefit from being "new" to American hitters the first time around the National League.

20. Jayson Nix, 2B, Colorado Rockies

Nix looks like he has taken the lead in the battle for the starting job at second base. While it is very possible he could play every day, his tendency to take a while to adjust to a new level and the presence of so many alternatives (namely Clint Barmes, Ian Stewart, Jeff Baker and Omar Quintanilla) will make it difficult for him to get 500-plus ABs. However, he should produce more power than the average second baseman when he does play.

21. Steven Pearce, OF, Pittsburgh Pirates

Pearce hit .263/.317/.632 this spring and led the Pirates in home runs prior to being optioned back to Triple-A. The Pirates want him to play every day and gain more experience in right field before he comes back to the major leagues. Expect to see Pearce back in the big leagues by the All-Star break with a fair number of home runs being created by his bat whenever he does arrive.

22. Jair Jurrjens, SP, Atlanta Braves

Jurrjens, competing for the fifth rotation spot in Atlanta, owns 4.86 ERA this spring and has walked seven while striking out just eight in 16.2 innings. The Braves have four young starters in Chuck James, Jo-Jo Reyes, Jeff Bennett and Jurrjens for what may be only one spot behind John Smoltz, Tom Glavine, Tim Hudson and Mike Hampton. Still, Jurrjens figures to get 15-20 starts, especially if James and Smoltz continue to struggle with injury issues.

23. Brian Barton, OF, St. Louis Cardinals

Taken in the Rule 5 draft, Barton looks like he will stick as the fourth outfielder in St. Louis this season. He can play all three spots and features enough pop and enough speed to be valuable as a pinch hitter or runner. Barton does not figure to get everyday playing time this season, but in the 250 at-bats or so he will get, he could produce decent enough numbers to be rostered in NL-only leagues.

24. Nyjer Morgan, OF, Pittsburgh Pirates

Morgan has battled with Nate McLouth for the starting job in center field this spring, but he has hit just .212 compared to McLouth's .333/.417/.667 line. Morgan will be probably go to Triple-A to start the season, as the Pirates want him to play regularly. If he gets the playing time, though, he is likely to provide fantasy value in the form of stolen bases.

25. Kazuo Fukumori, RP, Texas Rangers

Going out on a limb, Fukumori still appears to be the best bet among rookies to find his way into save opportunities. He has yet to allow a run this spring, striking out seven and walking just one in his seven innings of work. Ninth-inning man C.J. Wilson is not yet proven as a major league closer, Eddie Guardado is not the same guy that fulfilled that role a few years ago and Joaquin Benoit seems best suited for a set-up role. Fukumori could end up with a chance to close before the season is over.

Brandon Wilson is an associate editor for Fanball.com