MLB Awards Watch 2015: Top 5 NL ROY end-of-season rankings

Sep 7, 2015; Anaheim, CA, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers center fielder Joc Pederson (31) before the game against the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

I’m not sure which storyline is more intriguing: the National League Rookie of the Year race itself, or how spectacularly Joc Pederson fell out of it. For virtually the entire first half, the award seemed like it would be a two-man show between Pederson and Kris Bryant. With 20 home runs at the break, Pederson looked like an early favorite to receive the honor at season’s end.

By now, everyone knows how much the 23-year-old slugger struggled after the All-Star break. He added only six more homers to his account in the second half while batting a paltry .178. Even the most seasoned veteran can strain under the weight of high expectations, so perhaps we shouldn’t be too hard on Pederson. At his young age, the book is far from shut on him and the Dodgers will hope for a resilient bounce-back year in 2016.

The race didn’t become boring as Pederson faded, however. Many other rising stars filled the void, making this an exciting battle to watch unfold. Like its counterpart, the Senior Circuit can claim a highly promising new generation of players. Here is one final ranking of the Top 5 candidates in the NL ROY chase as part of our MLB awards watch.

Honorable mentions: Randal Grichuk (STL), Addison Russell (CHC), Chris Heston (SFG)

Next: Rookie #5