Right-handed pitcher Braxton Ashcraft made his major league debut with the Pittsburgh Pirates in May, and he has already earned national recognition for his long-term career value.
Jim Callis of MLB.com recently ranked MLB's top 40 rookies with the best career value, and Ashcraft made the list –– albeit barely –– at No. 40. These long-term value rankings take past track record and future projection into account, along with the age at which a player initially reached the big leagues and the fragility of pitchers in general.
Despite starting 69 of 71 games in the minor leagues, Ashcraft began pitching for the Pirates out of the bullpen this year –– and it yielded great results.