AOL Fanaticos

"Pitchers and catchers report" is already a phrase that brings elation to millions of baseball fans, but after a particularly nasty winter, it's even sweeter to know that Spring --and the 2010 Major League Baseball season-- is just around the corner. With the first 2010 Major League Spring Training games only weeks away, excitement for another great season of Major League Baseball is revving up.

Of course, for Latin American fans, baseball doesn't take the winter off. The Dominican Republic just turned in a stellar performance in the Caribbean Series, winning a tournament that showcased a number of impressive young Major League prospects. It's a good bet that a few of those prospects will soon take their place among the large number of superstar Latin American Major League Baseball players.

In that spirit, here's a look at what to expect from some of the top Latin American baseball players, including perennial All-Stars, prospects on the rise, and veterans on the comeback trail, for the upcoming 2010 Major League Baseball season.

ROOKIES TO WATCH

• Aroldis Chapman, LHP Cincinnati Reds The off-season bidding war for the 21-year-old (he'll turn 22 before the season) Cuban defector and World Baseball Classic standout Aroldis Chapman ended in the southpaw fireballer signing a six-year $30.25 million deal with the Reds. He will be in the mix for the fifth spot in the Reds rotation during Spring Training, but speculation is that his live but raw arm --his fastball has been clocked at 102 MPH-- and youthful inexperience will see him begin the season at Triple-A Louisville. However, if the Reds find themselves languishing through April and May, chances are that Chapman will be an early call-up. Much of Chapman's success, and perhaps the Reds, by extension, will depend on his ability to develop his changeup and work on controlling that blistering fastball.