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
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
4. Yasmany Tomas – .320, 1 HR, 19 RBI
May 17, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks third baseman Yasmany Tomas (24) hits a single against the Philadelphia Phillies during the second inning at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Yasmany Tomas has certainly demonstrated his hitting prowess in his first 37 games with the Diamondbacks. The Cuban import is batting .320, a mark that would place him among the league leaders if he met the plate appearance qualification. His .400 BABIP will be difficult to maintain, but if Tomas can keep his batting average over .300 he will likely receive his share of consideration.
A serious lack of power is what sets Tomas apart from some of the other occupants of this list. The 24-year-old third baseman has managed to hit only one homer so far. If he can find a little more pop in his bat, it will definitely help his RoY case going forward. In the meantime, his 19 RBI are respectable, and batting fifth in the D-backs lineup should continue to provide him opportunities to produce runs.
Next: Number 3
3. Alex Guerrero – .296, 10 HR, 25 RBI
May 24, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers third baseman Alex Guerrero (7) runs the bases after hitting a two run home run in the seventh inning against the San Diego Padres at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Alex Guerrero won’t be the sole Dodger on this list, and he’s been somewhat overshadowed by his teammate and fellow rookie. But the outfielder and third baseman is demonstrating precisely why L.A. was so eager to unload Juan Uribe to ensure a full-time role for him. At 28, Guerrero is a bit of a late-bloomer as far as rookies go, but he’s certainly proving that good things can come to those who wait.
Through 39 games, Guerrero is slashing .296/.327/.684. He’s putting his power and run production skills on display as well, belting ten homers and picking up 25 RBI thus far. He is actually one of only two Dodgers with an OPS currently over 1.000. The other? Adrian Gonzalez.
Unfortunately for Guerrero, his Rookie of the Year chances take a hit simply because he has to deal with the two names ahead of him on this list. Crazy things happen in baseball, however, and Guerrero has definitely earned our attention for the duration of the 2015 campaign.
Next: Number 2
2. Kris Bryant – .273, 7 HR, 33 RBI
May 26, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant (17) hits a home run against the Washington Nationals during the eighth inning at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports
The subject of much debate and controversy during Spring Training, Kris Bryant is finally at the big league level, and based on his performance, he is here to stay. The Cubs phenom made his debut on April 17 but was a bit slow out of the gate, particularly in light of the massive amount of expectations pinned onto him. He didn’t hit his first home run until May 9, but they have come far more easily since then. Overall, he’s smacked seven homers, driven in 33 runs and is sporting a .273/.387/.468 slash line.
This is only the beginning for the 23-year-old third baseman who so enraptured the baseball world with his preseason heroics. Bryant has taken to his new home digs quickly, posting a 1.022 OPS at Wrigley. He’ll need to cut down on the strikeouts (30.1% K rate) and improve against lefties (.200 BA) in the future, but for now the Cubs will be very pleased with what they’re seeing from Bryant 42 games into his career.
Expect Bryant to continue to duke it out for the NL RoY crown all season long with the next player on this list.
Next: Number 1
1. Joc Pederson – .260, 16 HR, 31 RBI
Jun 1, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers center fielder Joc Pederson (31) swings in the fifth inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. The Dodgers defeated the Rockies 11-4. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
Joc Pederson‘s power stroke has been every bit as good as advertised and then some, much to the satisfaction of the Dodgers and their fans. The 23-year-old outfielder has been crushing the ball on a daily basis for the boys in blue. The rookie has smacked 16 homers and driven in 31 runs on the season, along with a .260/.383/.588 batting line. His home run total is currently third-most in all of MLB. Not bad for a guy with only 70 games under his belt.
Nine of his home runs came in the month of May, and he is in the midst of a streak of four consecutive games with a long ball. The two most recent homers came yesterday, June 2, and turned their fair share of heads in the process. In each game of a doubleheader in Colorado, Pederson delivered a gargantuan blast. The first traveled 477 feet and the second 472, making them the fifth and tenth-longest home runs hit this season.
Pederson has been strikeout-prone (29.3% K rate), but that is not uncommon in a rookie or power hitter, for that matter. If he keeps racking up round-trippers at this clip, he will remain the name to beat for NL Rookie of the Year honors.