The Stew’s midseason look at MLB awards: Rookie of the Year candidates
Editor’s note: This week The Stew is examining candidates for MLB’s three major awards. We start with Rookie of the Year.
In what has become known as “the year of the prospect,” there are no shortage of standout rookies and potential Rookie of the Year winners to discuss.
At this point, the rookie talent pool is stronger at the top in the National League, where two young sluggers stand head-and-shoulders above the rest. Overall, the NL pool seems to be a little bit deeper as well, but some recent call-ups in Houston and Minnesota may help even that out.
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Today, we’ll take a closer look at the many of those top contenders and where they currently stand in the pecking order. These are not necessarily predictions or projections, though in some cases it’s easy to spot trends and possibilities. But we mainly just want to gauge how they’ve performed so far and where they would stand if the season ended today.
AMERICAN LEAGUE
The Frontrunner: Billy Burns (Oakland A’s)
This spot belongs to Burns right now, but he’ll have his work cut out for him if he hopes to stay here. The 25-year-old center fielder has been one of Oakland’s few consistent bright spots in the first half and has served as a much-needed catalyst for the offense. Burns currently ranks No. 1 among qualified AL rookies in average and on-base percentage. He’s also well ahead of the AL pack in hits and stolen bases. To call him an impact player would be overstating it, but he’s definitely carved out a niche.
In the Conversation: Carlos Correa (Houston Astros)
Correa has been the center of attention since his call-up in early June and has shown no signs of disappearing. Right now he’s playing catch up, thanks to his June 8 call-up, but he’s doing a darn good job. In 32 games, Correa is hitting a solid .276/.312/.507 across the board with seven homers and 19 RBIs. Beyond the numbers, he’s putting together consistently solid at-bats and doing his best to offset the loss of star outfielder George Springer. Figure in his game-changing defense and Correa is definitely the guy to watch.
The Question Mark: Steven Souza Jr. (Tampa Bay Rays)
Souza could very easily go 20-20 (home runs-stolen bases) or even 30-20 this season and still not earn a top-three vote. The reason is simple: He strikes out way too much (try 108 in 307 plates appearances) and doesn’t get on base enough (.301 OBP), which offsets his dynamic power-speed combo. On the plus side, he’s an impact type player because of those skills, so it’s not beyond the realm of possibility that he locks in and excels in the second half. He’s also putting together a highlight reel on defense that rates well and creates defining moments.
The Dark Horse: Lance McCullers (Houston Astros)
You may have noticed the Houston Astros are in the thick of the playoff race. That’s in large part due to their young core not only reaching the big leagues quickly, but performing well. Like Correa, the 21-year-old McCullers is certainly a part of that movement, though his impact has been somewhat limited by Houston’s recent struggles on offense. Since debuting on May 18, McCullers has made 11 starts, posting a 2.52 ERA over 64 1/3 innings. That’s outstanding production, but Houston has only managed to win four of those starts. That needs to change, but at least they can count on McCullers to give them a fighting chance.
NATIONAL LEAGUE
The Frontrunner: Joc Pederson (Los Angeles Dodgers)
Things aren’t so cut and dry in the National League, where all that really separates the top contenders is games played and perhaps their performance in the Home Run Derby. With that in mind, the slight edge goes to Joc Pederson, as he’s really been the Dodgers’ most consistent source of power and production since Game 1. The 23-year-old outfielder leads all rookies with 20 homers. He strikes out a lot too, which sort of comes with the territory, but his ability to get on base also makes him the Dodgers’ best choice to hit leadoff. He really has a dynamic skill set that is only starting to blossom. Just wait until he gets comfortable.
In the Conversation: Kris Bryant (Chicago Cubs)
If you’re siding with Bryant, we can’t say you’re wrong. Offensively, his game appears to be a little more well-rounded than Pederson’s. At this point, Bryant holds a 40-point advantage batting average-wise, which could be the best argument for him. The home runs aren’t coming at the pace we expected yet, but with the way the baseball consistently jumps off his bat there’s really no reason to worry about that. Like Pederson, he’s not only major-league ready and a Rookie of the Year contender, he’s an All-Star.
The Question Mark: Yasmany Tomas (Arizona Diamondbacks)
The NL competition is strong. Guys like Maikel Franco, Matt Duffy and Chris Heston can all make legit cases for consideration, but Tomas might just be the most interesting player among the fringe guys. In many ways, he’s having a better season that the current AL favorite Billy Burns, and despite the concerns of many, hasn’t looked overmatched. His 78 hits actually lead NL rookies despite arriving in mid-April, and there’s definitely some untapped power potential. Just keep watching.
The Dark Horse: Noah Syndergaard (New York Mets)
Syndergaard is the dark horse all right, but he’s charging hard. The 22-year-old right-hander completed the first half with a career-high 13 strikeouts against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Saturday, and he’s quickly becoming must-see television when he pitches. Not just because he pitches, either. He can swing the bat too. But it’s really fun watching him confidently challenge hitters and win. Through 66 2/3 innings, he’s posted a 3.11 ERA along with a 72/14 K/BB ratio. He’s already flashing elite stuff and an ace-like mentality.
COMING THURSDAY: The MVP Candidates
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Mark Townsend is a writer for Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Townie813
