While there are a number of deserving candidates in each league this year, a pair of players have separated themselves as true favorites for the MLB Rookie of the Year Awards.
Throughout baseball, there are tons of young stars capable of becoming MVP or Cy Young candidates in the future. However, the beauty of this award is that you only get one chance at it by being the best player in your class.
The eventual winners might not end up being the most productive players in their careers, but outstanding debuts will be enough to take home some hardware.
Here is a look at what to expect in each league for the Rookie of the Year Award.
National League
The battle for Rookie of the Year in the National League really comes down to two players: Billy Hamilton of the Cincinnati Reds and Jacob deGrom of the New York Mets.
There are certainly a number of young players who had good seasons. Hitters Ender Inciarte, David Peralta, Kolten Wong and Travis d’Arnaud put up solid numbers for stretches, although each of them struggled with consistency. Starting pitchers Kyle Hendricks and Jesse Hahn performed well, but neither topped 13 starts.
Even Mets reliever Jeurys Familia deserves to be in the conversation after posting a 2.26 ERA out of the bullpen.
However, Hamilton and deGrom were clearly a step above the rest. The question is simply which of the two deserves the award more.
Hamilton is known specifically for his speed, something that got him to the majors after making his mark on the basepaths in the minor leagues. He stole 155 bases across two levels in 2012 and then swiped 75 more in Triple-A in 2013.
This was completely on display with the Reds. Hamilton finished tied for second in the major leagues with 56 stolen bases, trailing only Dee Gordon’s 64. He also used his speed to excel in the outfield and is one of three finalists (along with Denard Span and Juan Lagares) for the Gold Glove in center field.
However, the problem with Hamilton’s season was a lack of efficiency. He had just a .292 on-base percentage and struggled mightily down the stretch with a .200 batting average after the All-Star Game. He also led the majors with 23 times caught stealing.
Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports believes this is a reason to lean toward deGrom:
The Mets pitcher might not have had a lot of hype coming into the year, but he was excellent once he got to the majors. He posted a 2.69 ERA in 140.1 innings while also adding 144 strikeouts. He also ended the year as hot as anyone in the majors, as noted by David Lennon of Newsday:
This great September included a start against the Miami Marlins where he tied a major league record by striking out the first eight batters he faced. It should not be surprising that his peers voted him as the National League Outstanding Rookie.
“It’s great to be recognized by your fellow players,” deGrom explained, via Anthony DiComo of MLB.com. “Knowing your peers think this highly of you is extremely gratifying, but Spring Training will be here before you know it, and I want to focus on next season and helping the team make the postseason.”
He was the best rookie in the National League and should take home the award.
Prediction: Jacob deGrom, SP, New York Mets
American League
This race is not really for the winner but who can put his name as a close second because Jose Abreu should take home the award with ease.
The Cuban first baseman was not only the best rookie in the American League, but he was arguably one of the best players of any age. He finished no worse than sixth in the entire MLB in batting average (.317), on-base plus slugging (.964), home runs (36) and RBI (107). He was also first in the bigs with a .581 slugging percentage.
There was certainly hype for the 27-year-old player when he was signed by the Chicago White Sox, but few thought he would turn himself into one of the league’s premier hitters in his first season.
It seems like the only way this award is not given unanimously is if some voters decides Abreu should not be a rookie after playing professionally in Cuba (similar to Ichiro Suzuki’s situation in 2001).
Of course, this does not mean the rest of the American League deserves no credit. There were actually a number of impressive seasons by young players, as Jon Morosi of Fox Sports argued:
Matt Shoemaker was one of the best pitchers in the league, posting a 16-4 record with a 3.20 ERA for a team that finished the year with the top record in baseball. He ranked second on the team in most major stats among starters and was a reason the squad was able to pull away in the AL West.
Collin McHugh and Yordano Ventura also showed what they can do as starters throughout the year, with Ventura also making a mark in the playoffs and World Series. Teammate Eric Hosmer was impressed by the 23-year-old player’s composure:
However, the No. 2 player on this list should come from a spot that often is overlooked: middle relief. Dellin Betances might not have been a closer for the New York Yankees, but he pitched 90 innings out of the bullpen, and his 1.40 ERA was the second-best in the majors with a minimum of 60 innings.
He might not have had the saves to back it up, but he was certainly in the conversation for the best in the league out of the bullpen, as noted by Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News:
Danny Santana, Nick Castellanos and George Springer each had strong seasons and could have been legitimate contenders in other years. Still, this award should be a runaway as Abreu takes home what will likely be the first of many prizes for the talented hitter.
Prediction: Jose Abreu, 1B, Chicago White Sox
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