New Studs on the Block: Young Aces Armed and Ready to Explode

New Studs takes a look at players ready to make the leap from "possibly productive fantasy player" to "must-have fantasy stud." This is not a "you've never heard of this dude, but ... " series -- these should be names you already know.

Both of these guys came into the season with gobs of upside, but tempered expectations for different reasons. With one, we were worried that he's still not ready to make "The Leap," after having been teased by his potential the past two seasons. The other? Well, his team sucks. Really, really sucks. So did you really want to waste a high draft pick on a guy that can't win more than ten games? Judging from ADP charts, the answer was a resounding "NO!"

All of a sudden they have something in common: They are simultaneously making the jump from, "dude, he's pretty damn solid, but ... " territory into the "This guy is a freaking monster!" zone. When you drop the "but," the guy is ready to make an appearance on the ever-growing "New Studs on the Block," list.

Welcome aboard, Linc and King Felix. Please bring your nasty stuff and power arms as you join us ...

Tim Lincecum, SP, San Francisco Giants

Coming into the season, the only real question mark about Linc was that his team was gawdawful horrible. With no run support and a suspect defense, how was he going to become an upper-echelon fantasy option? We knew he was viable because of the Ks, ERA, and WHIP potential, but you like to get four categories from your fantasy staff ace. Maybe we should have realized that Erik Bedard was one of fantasy's best last year, as he dealt for a quite abysmal supporting cast (and Linc doesn't even have to face the Yankees and Red Sox multiple times). In hindsight, seeing a pitcher with the caliber stuff of Lincecum sitting in the high twenties of most starting pitching rankings for a plethora of fantasy rags should have been a major precursor to a sleeper campaign (which is defined as exceeding expectations -- and while I'm here a "bust" means not meeting expectations, so please realize for future reference that "bust" doesn't mean someone blows). Well, he's in the middle of said sleeper/breakout now, sporting a sick 1.57 ERA with 27 Ks (in 23 innings) and a 3-0 record to boot. His team doesn't have to win 70 for him to succeed, they only have to win every fifth day.

He's an ace. Treat him like one.

Felix Hernandez, SP, Seattle Mariners

I don't need to tell you about the background of Felix Hernandez. He was anointed as Dwight Gooden reincarnate when he was 19. While he's only 22 now, he's got more seasoning at the big league level than most 26 year-old arms. This may cause worry in light of the innings build-up once he reaches 30, but that's a long time from now. In between he's going to pile up numbers and probably a Cy Young or two. Why not start now? He's sizzling, only allowing five runs in his first four outings (four of which were in the same game to the Angels, where he took the win anyway). The strikeouts have increased each game, and it's a good sign that he hasn't had a bad game mixed in the middle of good ones. The main problem thus far in his career has been (Joe Morgan's favorite trait) a lack of consistency. He's had enough experience to counteract that short history quite soon.

Like Lincecum, people underrated the King in preseason drafts. For Hernandez it was two main reasons:
1. Bedard got more press in Seattle
2. Felix has been a tease for the past two years

No longer a tease, he's putting out now (I'm sure there's a Brittany Spears/Lindsay Lohan/Paris Hilton joke somewhere in here). Like Linc, he's a fully-fledged card-carrying member of the fantasy ace club.

Finally, I'll reiterate they are both really young (Linc is 23, since I didn't specifically mention that earlier). In keeper leagues you should be doing what you can to acquire them for the long haul.

Photo courtesy of Getty Images.