Justin Verlander, ace starting pitcher for the Detroit Tigers, was first drafted by the Tigers in 2004. The following year, he played primarily in the minor leagues, pitching in just two games for the Tigers. In 2006, his rookie year, Verlander played in 30 games and pitched 186.0 innings with an ERA of 3.63, a 17-9 record, and 124 strikeouts to 60 walks. Those numbers earned Verlander the American League Rookie of the Year award in 2006.
Mark Buehrle, starting pitcher for the Toronto Blue Jays, was first drafted in 1998 by the Chicago White Sox. He spent the 1999 season in the minor leagues. The following season he was called up to the White Sox and he pitched in 28 games for them. In 2000, Buehrle pitched in 51.1 innings and had a 4-1 record and a 4.21 ERA with 37 strikeouts to 19 walks.
R.A. Dickey, starting pitcher for the Toronto Blue Jays, was last year's NL Cy Young award winner. He has had a career in and out of the major and minor leagues since 1996 when he was drafted by the Texas Rangers. Dickey was called up to the majors by the Rangers in 2001 but he played in just four games with them that season. He spent seven years (2001-2006) with the Rangers organization and played in just 76 games with them. His only full season with the Rangers was in 2003 when he played in 38 games, with 116.2 innings pitched, a 5.09 ERA, 9-8 record, and 94 strikeouts to 38 walks.
Hiroki Kuroda, starting pitcher for the New York Yankees, started playing professional baseball in Japan. His father was also a professional player in Japan. Kuroda played in Japan from 1997 through 2007, when he was offered a contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers. During his time in Japan, Kuroda won a Gold Glove and he led his league in wins and ERA.
Andy Pettitte, starting pitcher for the New York Yankees, first signed with the Yankees in 1991. He started in their minor league teams, pitching in the minors from 1991 through 1994. In 1995, Pettitte pitched in 31 games for the Yankees. That season, he had a 12-9 record, with a 4.17 ERA and 114 strikeouts to 63 walks. He stayed with the Yankees through 2003, becoming a free agent after the 2003 season ended. While with the Yankees, Pettitte won the American League Championship series MVP award in 2001 and the Warren Spahn award in 2003.
CC Sabathia, ace starting pitcher for the New York Yankees, was an outstanding athlete in high school, playing baseball, basketball, and football. In his senior year, he had a 6-0 win-loss record with a 0.77 ERA. Although Sabathia was planning to play football for the University of Hawaii, he changed his plans when he was drafted by the Cleveland Indians in 1998. In 2001, the Indians called Sabathia up and, at age 21, he became the youngest player in the major leagues at that time.
Carlos Gonzalez, left fielder for the Colorado Rockies, was first signed by the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2002 but he never played with them. He spent seven years in the minor leagues for the Diamondbacks before they traded him in December, 2007, to the Oakland Athletics. Gonzalez was finally called up to the major leagues on May 30, 2008, playing in 85 games with the Athletics that season.
Matt Holliday, left fielder for the St. Louis Cardinals, was drafted straight out of high school by the Colorado Rockies in 1998. In 2004, he was called up as a replacement player and he ended up as the Rockies starting left fielder, playing in 121 games that season. He had a strong season, batting .290, with 116 hits, 31 doubles, and 14 home runs.
Raul Ibanez, left fielder and designated hitter for the Seattle Mariners, is playing for the Mariners for the third time in his 17-year career. The Mariners first drafted him in 1992 but they never played him in more than 104 games in any season. He spent his first eight years with the Mariners primarily in the minor leagues, playing for them in just 4 games in 1996, 11 games in 1997, and 37 games in 1998.
Vernon Wells, left fielder for the New York Yankees, has spent most of his career at center field but this year he has been asked to play left field and, on one or two occasions, first base and third base. He started on his way to a professional career in high school, playing both football and baseball. In his senior year, he batted an impressive .565.