MLB Awards Watch: Top 5 NL ROY candidates through May

5. Jung Ho Kang – .281, 3 HR, 17 RBI

May 23, 2015; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop Jung Ho Kang (right) runs the bases on his way to scoring a run against the New York Mets during the fourth inning at PNC Park. The Pirates won 8-2. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

The Pirates didn’t quite know what to expect when they signed Korean star Jung Ho Kang in the offseason. He hit .356 with 40 home runs in the KBO league in 2014, but how much of that would translate to Major League Baseball? He will likely fall well short of those numbers by season’s end, but Kang has been a key contributor to the Buccos’ revival of late.

Through 37 games he has posted a solid .281/.352/.421 slash line, along with three homers and 17 RBI. After hitting .269 in April, Kang enjoyed a particularly nice May, including a three-week span (May 6-26) in which he hit .344/.412/.475. He’s quietly getting the job done in Pittsburgh right now, and if that continues he may become a more prominent name in the NL Rookie of the Year mix.

Next: Number 4