National League Rookie of the Year: Five early candidates

Is the National League Rookie of the Year award Cody Bellinger’s to lose? What rookie can challenge him for the award?

We are less than a month away from the All-Star Game (if you can believe it). Teams are jockeying for position as we get closer and closer to the trade deadline. One thing teams will evaluate is whether or not to call up a top prospect to help the team or make a move for someone outside the organization for help.

With that, the National League Rookie of the Year race could get a little more crowded, especially now that we have passed the Super Two deadline.

If you’re a fan of a team in the National League West, you are seeing a wave of young talent come up and play roles on every team so far this season.

In the Central, the Cubs have again called up a top prospect to help their offense, while the Pirates have given one of their young bats a chance to be a part of the club moving forward.

In the East, everyone thought Dansby Swanson would be the runaway winner for this award, but he has not gotten off to the best of starts so far. Nationals reliever Koda Glover has battled injuries in his rookie year out of the bullpen.

This list could change come the end of the season. Could Amed Rosario finally come up and play shortstop for the Mets? Who of the Phillies’ top prospects will get the call? Could Alex Verdugo come up and help the Dodgers?

As it stands now, here are five candidates for National League Rookie of the Year award.