"Adopt" a Rookie

My friend and I, we have this tradition of adopting an up and coming player every year.

No, I don't mean guys like Madison Bumgarner and Buster Posey,

we look into the minors, pick a player who we feel has potential, and keep an eye on them.

This year's baseball rookie, is sort of, kind of a rookie. He's had his first major league hit for the Giants which was against Arizona.

His name is Conor Gillaspie.

He caught my eye for the first time in 2009, playing with the San Jose Single A minor league south of the Bay Area. He looked like a good player, fielded well, and had a strong arm. As much as I'd love to say I look just at the stats and numbers, but I got a lot by gut feeling too.

He's got the opposite of Cody Ross batting/gloving going on.

He bats left, and throws right.

It just hits me sometimes, I look at a guy, and I think, "Dude. He's gonna make it big."

I got that gut-feeling when it comes down to Conor Gillaspie.

My friend doesn't think potential is enough. She says, "potential to succeed means there's also potential to fail." But I don't even go there.

It's kind of a fun tradition. Single A to Double AA, etc, etc. Means a lot when they actually go out there and prove their potential. Then you can say to everyone, "I TOLD YOU SO!"

Plus, doesn't that smile just look charming? :]

My hockey rookie of the year is definitely fresh, but he's probably already got a fanbase going for him.

At the age of like 18 (I can't really do math in my head, so I could very likely be wrong), he hails from Canada and plays for the Boston Bruins.

His name is Tyler Seguin.

He's my favorite because he's #19.

Just kidding. But #19 is a favorite number because it means you share with Boston's Josh Beckett.

He's not a big shot yet,

but maybe he will be.

That's the fun of it,

we'll just have to wait and see.