Two highly touted five-tool guys are struggling to make contact this spring. One is Florida rookie Cameron Maybin, who is off to a 6-for-25 start (.240) with nine strikeouts and a single extra-base hit -- a double.

The Marlins did the right thing in not rushing him a year ago, sending him to Double-A Carolina after he was acquired in the Miguel Cabrera-Dontrelle Willis blockbuster in December 2007. Maybin hit .277/.375/.456 in Double-A ball, with 15 doubles, 13 homers and 124 strikeouts in 108 games. Not exactly overwhelming numbers that suggest the 22-year-old prospect was ready to stick in the majors this spring, but he went 16-for-32 with a pair of doubles in eight September contests with the Marlins.

Twins center fielder Carlos Gomez, the key pickup in Minnesota’s Johan Santana deal with the Mets in February 2008, has just three hits in 26 at-bats (.115). He also has nine strikeouts and a single walk, en route to the seventh-lowest OPS among big league regulars (.379).

Gomez did make the Opening Day roster last spring, but he batted .258/.296/.360 with just 25 walks and 142 whiffs in 153 games. Remarkably, Twins manager Ron Gardenhire used the 23-year-old prospect at the top of the order in 90 games, during which Gomez posted a .281 OBP and struck out 97 times. In parts of three big league seasons totaling 219 games, he is batting .249/.290/.346, and this writer is beginning to wonder if this free-swinger will ever develop into a productive major leaguer.

Neither Maybin nor Gomez has logged much Triple-A time, but both would benefit from the experience. In fact, Maybin hasn’t played in a Triple-A contest, and both youngsters have a ways to go to convert their impressive tools into useful skills. Yet, it isn’t likely that either is going anywhere.