MLB Awards Watch: Top 5 NL ROY candidates through May

Jun 2, 2015; San Diego, CA, USA; New York Mets starting pitcher Noah Syndergaard (34) pitches during the first inning against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

The National League Rookie of the Year race has a decidedly more offense-fueled flavor than its AL counterpart. There are no pitchers on the latest installment of these rankings. That could change very soon, however. Noah Syndergaard, the Mets’ newest pitching gem (and the ‘Thor’ to Matt Harvey‘s ‘Dark Knight’), has gotten off to a nice start in the Big Apple. If he keeps exasperating hitters to the tune of a 10 K/9 rate, he could make his way onto this list before long.

The competition has appeared to solidify at the top. The frontrunners for the award are two names all baseball fans have heard frequently of late. Both are top prospects who were anticipated to be major factors this season and are living up to those high expectations. It seems a safe bet they will continue to battle for the RoY crown as the season progresses and the award will go to one or the other.

But that’s not to say that this NL rookie class lacks depth. There are a variety of other players who are turning in fine performances in their first tastes of extended big league action. Right now, it looks like an overall stronger group than what we’ve seen from the AL. It’s shaping up to be an entertaining MLB awards race to watch, with several figures who could have persuasive cases on the final day of the 2015 season.

Honorable mentions: SP Anthony DeSclafani (CIN), OF Jorge Soler (CHC), RP Michael Blazek (MIL)

Next: Number 5