MLB Awards Watch: Top 5 AL ROY candidates through July
Jul 5, 2015; Detroit, MI, USA; Toronto Blue Jays second baseman Devon Travis (29) makes a play on a ball hit by Detroit Tigers center fielder Anthony Gose (not pictured) in the second inning at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
July is a short month in the world of baseball, as the All-Star break eats up almost an entire week. However, a wide variety of rookies still found ample time to strengthen their cases for Rookie of the Year honors.
With only two months left to go in the 2015 campaign, each league’s rookie class has taken shape for the most part. August and September call-ups can certainly make a big impact on their clubs’ playoff pushes, but it’s hard to build a ROY-worthy resume in such a short time.
In the American League, we have a clear front-runner as well as several other strong candidates who could have their say by the end of the season. Many of the names in this top five are familiar, though some noticeable shuffling has taken place.
One player who was well on his way to surging back onto this list was Blue Jays rookie Devon Travis. The 24-year-old second baseman took the top spot back in April, but injuries and some slumping caused him to fade from the forefront. He returned with a vengeance in late June, however, slashing .357/.402/.488 over his last 26 games. Unfortunately for Travis, he just landed back on the DL with the same shoulder injury, further frustrating his rise.
Rookies now have fewer than 60 games to stake their claims. Here are the current five to watch in the AL.
Honorable mentions: Devon Travis (TOR), Steven Souza, Jr. (TB)
Next: Rookie #5
5. Delino DeShields, Jr.
Jul 5, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; Texas Rangers center fielder Delino DeShields (7) bats against the Los Angeles Angels during the game at Globe Life Park in Arlington. The Angels defeated the Rangers 12-6. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
The son of the longtime MLB veteran has been making a name for himself in his own right. Delino DeShields, Jr. has emerged as a key contributor for the Rangers in his debut season, batting out of the leadoff spot to set the table for the likes of Prince Fielder and Adrian Beltre.
He put together a strong July to boost his standing among his American League rookie peers, slashing .292/.393/.417 on the month. He had three consecutive multi-hit games on July 12, 17 and 18, and on July 21 in Colorado he collected four hits, including a double and a triple.
Overall, DeShields’ slash line stands at a respectable .273/.364/.391 for the season. Of his 60 hits, 20 have gone for extra bases. He leads AL rookies in triples (6) and is second in doubles (14). He has also scored 44 runs (third among AL rookies) and swiped 16 bags (second) over the course of 68 games. DeShields has demonstrated the ability to draw a walk as well, boasting a 12.1% BB rate on the year.
The 22-year-old outfielder should continue to be an exciting young player to watch perform and develop over the next two months, and he earns a place on the July edition of our top five list.
Next: Rookie #4
4. Nathan Karns
Jul 9, 2015; Kansas City, MO, USA; Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Nathan Karns (51) delivers a pitch in the first inning against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
Rays starter Nate Karns has been a mainstay on this list throughout the season, and he continued to quietly put up a solid showing through the month of July. The right-hander owns a 3.37 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 2.65 K/BB ratio over 115 frames on the year. The numbers are even better from April onward: a 2.91 ERA across his most recent 15 starts. Opponents are batting .231 against him, the eleventh-best mark among American League starters.
One of Karns’ most memorable performances of the season thus far came on July 21 against the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. He threw five shutout innings, allowing three hits and striking out four. His biggest contribution of the day, however, came at the plate as Karns clubbed a solo shot in the third inning. The blast would prove to be the decisive run in a 1-0 Rays victory.
With Drew Smyly and Matt Moore missing significant time due to injuries, Karns has really helped pick up the slack. Tampa Bay starters have a 3.44 ERA overall, which ranks second in the AL. It’s also a major reason why the Rays are still within three games of a Wild Card spot. Karns might not beat out some of the other contenders on this list for ROY, but he definitely deserves recognition for a very nice rookie campaign.
Next: Rookie #3
3. Lance McCullers
Jul 29, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Astros starting pitcher Lance McCullers (43) pitches during the fourth inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Astros starting pitcher Lance McCullers has made a rapid rise through the ranks to carve out a place in the AL Rookie of the Year conversation. While Dallas Keuchel puts up Cy Young quality performances and trade deadline acquisition Scott Kazmir generates buzz, the rookie right-hander has been a vital component of the Houston rotation over the course of 13 starts.
McCullers is sporting a 2.48 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 2.89 K/BB through 76.1 innings of work. He has also struck out 78 and surrendered only three homers in that span. His season highlight to date came on June 3 (his fourth big league start), when he tossed a complete game victory against Baltimore. He held the O’s lineup to just four hits and one earned run while fanning 11.
The ‘Stros have many reasons to be excited about their squad this year, and the contribution of young players like McCullers is one of them. His 2.2 WAR is tops among AL rookie hurlers, and at only 21 years of age the best is perhaps yet to come. A certain teammate may prevent McCullers from actually winning the award, but he will most likely be in the picture at season’s end.
Next: Rookie #2
2. Billy Burns
Jul 29, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Oakland Athletics center fielder Billy Burns (1) dives safely back to first against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the first inning at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports
Oakland A’s rookie center fielder Billy Burns offers a change of pace from some of the other names on this list. A faster pace, that is. Burns leads all AL rookies with 21 stolen bases, and his speed has been a valuable weapon at the top of Oakland’s lineup this year.
Burns actually experienced somewhat of a down month compared to his earlier standards; he hit .258 in July to watch his average slip to .298. Nevertheless, that mark is still good enough to make him the leader among qualified AL rookies. His 97 hits easily pace this year’s AL rookie class; the next highest total is 70 from the Twins’ Eddie Rosario.
He may not be the flashiest player on the field but Burns finds plenty of ways to be productive and exciting in his own right. Winning the ROY seems like a bit of pipe dream considering the competition, but he will definitely be one to keep monitoring through the next couple months.
Next: Rookie #1
1. Carlos Correa
Jul 21, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Astros shortstop Carlos Correa (1) drives in a run with a sacrifice fly during the first inning against the Boston Red Sox at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
The time is right to place Astros phenom Carlos Correa into the pole position for 2015 American League Rookie of the Year. Barring an unforeseen shift in the landscape over the final two months of the season, it seems a good bet he’ll stay there.
The 20-year-old continues to flourish at the big league level. Despite not making his debut until June, Correa is already among the league leaders at shortstop in a variety of offensive categories. Through 47 games he is slashing .299/.348/.567 with 12 home runs and 32 RBI. He’s shown off his speed a bit as well, swiping five bases in six attempts. His 2.8 WAR currently places him third among all MLB shortstops.
Correa is certainly living up to his number-one draft choice status, and at his very young age he is only going to keep improving. He definitely turned things up a notch in July, posting a .919 OPS on the month. Can he maintain his hot hitting in August and September? In any case, his superior performance at a premium position should net him some hardware at the close of his rookie campaign.