Baseball fantasy world: Rookies that would make fine additions

Productive rookie are the gold mines to which all owners want to stake claim. The Dodgers’ Yasiel Puig, who has been all the rage since his call up last week, and St. Louis starter Shelby Miller, who may be Cy Young Award worthy, aren’t the only impressive newcomers.

Hyun-Jin Ryu

SP | Dodgers

The South Korean has teamed with Clayton Kershaw to give the Dodgers rotation two of the top left-handers in the National League. Ryu’s six wins tie him for the most among rookie pitchers and his 73 strikeouts are second. Ryu followed his May 28 shutout of the Angels by holding the Braves to one run in Friday’s victory. Still only 26, Ryu is making the Dodgers six-year, $36-million deal look like quite a bargain.

Jim Henderson

RP | Milwaukee

The 6-foot-5 Canadian wrestled the closer’s role away from countryman John Axford in April and was perfect in nine save opportunities before a hamstring injury forced him to the disabled list. Henderson, who is set to return to the Brewers this week, played 10 seasons in the minors before coming up late last year, and his 0.92 earned-run average, 23 strikeouts and 0.81 WHIP indicate his days of long bus rides appear to be over.

Jose Iglesias

SS | Boston

So much of baseball success depends on fate and a player’s ability to capitalize on an opportunity. Despite starting the season hitting only .202 in 33 triple-A games, Iglesias was summoned to Boston after injuries to Stephen Drew and Will Middlebrooks. Now they can’t bring themselves to sending down the 23-year-old Cuban, as Iglesias is hitting .435 with six doubles through 62 at-bats. The Red Sox hinted they may decide to keep Middlebrooks in the minors after his rehab assignment to work on his swing, buying Iglesias more playing time. As the Red Sox get healthier, however, he may be the odd man out.

Marcell Ozuna

OF | Miami

There’s little to smile about in South Beach when it comes to baseball, but Ozuna is doing his best to get fans to pay attention. Filling in for the team’s sole marquee player, Giancarlo Stanton, the 22-year-old Dominican had a .326 batting average and a 16-game hitting streak through Friday. Ozuna’s power is not Stanton-esque, though. He has managed one home run after averaging 23 in his last three minor league seasons.

—Tim Hubbard