Second Base

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SPOTLIGHT

Jorge Cantu

You weren't the only one who didn't see Cantu's breakout season coming. Before hitting 28 home runs and driving in a Devil Rays --record 117 runs in 2005, he was slow to develop a power stroke. In two full Double A seasons ('01 and '02) he hit seven home runs in 1,024 at bats and had only seven more the next year, including four at Triple A. Cantu has never received the attention of ballyhooed Tampa Bay prospects such as Delmon Young and B.J. Upton , and in a 50-game stint in the majors in '04 he didn't turn heads (two homers, 17 RBIs). But Cantu, 24, is the real deal, a free swinger who is lightning quick on inside pitches. Once he becomes more selective at the plate and settles at one position (he played 62 games at third in '05 but enters this year as the every-day second baseman), he should put up even bigger numbers.

DEEP SLEEPERS

ANDERSON HERNANDEZ, Mets Bret Boone retired, and Kazuo Matsui will be traded the second New York finds a taker, leaving this 23-year-old, who had 35 steals in the minors last season, with the job.

DONNIE MURPHY, Royals He came to camp looking ready to earn an every-day spot. If Mark Grudzielanek is traded, Murphy, who hit .313 with 10 homers in 214 Double A at bats last season, would get a look.

TONY WOMACK , Reds After a great 2004 in St. Louis , he fizzled with the Yankees last year. Yet this 36-year-old still has blazing speed (53 steals over the last two seasons) and could become the starter.