ESPN MLB

MIAMI -- New talents get the opportunity to showcase their abilities every baseball season. While not all of them live up to expectations, some do become stars in the major leagues.

ESPNdeportes.com has compiled a list of the hottest Latin American prospects for 2006. Some of these players with great expectations -- pitcher Felix Hernandez, third baseman Edwin Encarnacion and Cuban slugger Yuniesky Betancourt -- do not qualify as rookies (after surpassing the game quota last year), but essentially they are taking their first steps in the majors.

	Hernandez

Hernandez has overpowering stuff -- a 100 mph-plus fastball, a great curve and a decent changeup -- and is only 19 years old. Unbelievable.

After 2½ years in the minors, Hernandez reached The Show last August and did not disappoint, going 4-4 with a 2.67 ERA and 77 strikeouts in 84 innings. The native of Venezuela pitched seven or more innings in 10 of his 12 starts, and only two were not considered quality starts (six or more innings with three runs or less).

He had a 1.59 ERA after his first seven games, but allowed 11 runs in 10 innings over two consecutive outings in September.

Hernandez will make his first start of the season against Oakland tonight, on the eve of his 20th birthday.

If Hernandez reminds us of Pedro Martinez, then Liriano looks exactly like Johan Santana. The 22-year-old lefty has a powerful fastball (94-97 mph) and a great change (80-84), but it's his slider that terrifies hitters.

Liriano reached the majors in September. Even though he experienced some growing pains (1-2, 5.70), the youngster showed star potential by striking out 33 batters in 23 2/3 innings.

In his final appearance of the season (Sept. 30), Liriano pitched seven innings and allowed just two runs on eight hits against the Tigers to earn his first career victory.

Minnesota announced Liriano would start the season in the bullpen, as Santana did at the beginning of his career, but the Dominican native could join the Venezuelan star in the Twins' starting rotation by May.

	Ramirez

After a successful journey through the Red Sox farm system, Ramirez was sent to the Marlins in the Josh Beckett trade. The Dominican beat out three other players this spring to earn a spot in the starting lineup.

Ramirez, 22, is a five-tool guy who has matured enough to understand he must add dedication to his talent. He hit .302 over five seasons in the minors and was retired twice in his only two at-bats in Boston in 2005.

The Dominican was traded to Boston in a deal that sent Colombian shortstop Edgar Renteria to the Braves. The Red Sox then moved Marte to Cleveland as part of an exchange for outfielder Coco Crisp.

Marte, who has steadily improved his defense, is a natural hitter. The prospect had a .274 batting average with 82 home runs and 328 RBI in five years in the minor leagues. In 21 games with Atlanta last season, Marte hit .140 with two doubles and four RBI.

Although he impressed during spring training (.359, one home run and nine RBI), the Indians sent him to Triple-A, with Aaron Boone starting at third.

Marte, 22, has nothing left to show in the minors, and he should be back in the majors soon.

The Venezuelan native came to the Marlins from Boston in the Beckett trade and earned a spot in Florida's starting rotation.

Sanchez, 21, has impressive control of his fastball, possesses a great changeup and a decent curve. According to scouts, he could be a successful starter or closer.

The right-hander struck out 158 batters in 136 innings in the minors in 2005.

	Encarnacion

Like Hernandez, Encarnacion began his big-league adaptation process at the end of last season.

The Reds called up Encarnacion (after he excelled at Triple A), and the 23-year-old started at third base for the remainder of the campaign, hitting .232 with nine home runs and 31 RBI in 69 games.

Encarnacion is a natural hitter but still needs to improve his plate discipline (60 strikeouts in 211 at-bats). He's also working at improving his defense. After making 10 errors in 155 chances, he is starting to control his feet more now.

Cedeno made his debut in the majors last year, appearing in 41 games with 80 at-bats with the Cubs. The 23-year-old Venezuelan had a .300 average with one home run and six RBI.

Cedeno can hit (.355 average in Triple-A last year), but his glove makes him a standout on defense, like many other players from his native Venezuela -- including Chico Carrasquel, Luis Aparicio, David Concepcion, Ozzie Guillen, Omar Vizquel, Alex Gonzalez and Carlos Guillen.

Anderson hasn't been named the Mets' starting second baseman yet because of Kaz Matsui's enormous contract, which will pay him $8 million in the last year of a $20 million dollar deal he signed two years ago.

In any event, the Mets begin 2006 with Hernandez at second due to an injury to Matsui. Who finally wins the spot will depend on how Hernandez plays in the first few games of the year.

In the past 12 months, the 23-year-old Hernandez has finally been able to let his talent shine, fulfilling the promise that has been evident since he signed with Detroit in 2001. Last season, his first with the Mets organization, Hernandez hit .314 with 35 steals between Double and Triple A.

After being called up by to the big club, Hernandez went only 1-for-18, but he left a positive impression on New York manager Willie Randolph, a former second baseman.

Hernandez, who is a slick fielder and fast runner on the base paths, continued to showcase his skills in the Dominican Winter League, where he represented the Licey Tigers and was good enough to play ahead of major-league veteran D'Angelo Jimenez.

Despite having little experience in professional baseball, the 24-year-old Cuban slugger earned a spot as a regular for the Mariners last season.

Betancourt was not allowed to play for his national team because many thought he was going to defect, which he did (in 2003) when he left Cuba on a raft and established himself in Mexico.

In January 2005, he signed with the Mariners for four years and $2.8 million. After a brief stint in the minors, Betancourt was called up in June and hit .256 with 17 extra-base hits and 24 runs scored in 211 at-bats.

Some scouts say Betancourt (who also can play the outfield and second base) is such a good defensive player that he could become an improved version of Rey Ordonez at short.

Enrique Rojas is a reporter and columnist for ESPNdeportes.com and ESPN.com.