MLB Awards Watch: Top 5 NL ROY candidates through July
Jul 28, 2015; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop Jung Ho Kang (27) hits a single in the fourth inning against the Minnesota Twins at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
The American League rookies put on a good show in July, but their counterparts on the Senior Circuit are no slouches either. The National League certainly doesn’t lack for rookie star power in 2015.
The field is so crowded this season that there are a few players who by all means should be on the list but just miss the cut due to the strength of the competition. The Pirates had little idea what they were getting when they signed infielder Jung Ho Kang from Korea, but they could not be more pleased with his contributions in his debut season. Kang has an .821 OPS through 88 games and his 3.5 WAR is currently the highest among all MLB rookies.
One of the biggest disappointments since last month? Phillies third baseman Maikel Franco. He made a thunderous entrance onto the MLB stage, slashing .304/.349/.559 with 10 home runs and 32 RBI in his first 41 games. By the end of June, the young slugger looked determined to prove that this year’s NL ROY battle belonged to more than just two players. Franco fizzled in July, however, batting .253 and adding only one homer and six RBI to his ledger during the month. He is still certainly worth a mention, but gets edged out by some of the hotter names on this list.
The NL ROY has looked like a two-horse race for virtually the entire season, and it still might be one. However, there is a very talented secondary group of rookies who could sneak to the forefront if circumstances change significantly over the final two months.
Honorable mentions: Jung Ho Kang (PIT), Maikel Franco (PHI)
Next: Rookie #5
5. Randal Grichuk
Jul 23, 2015; St. Louis, MO, USA; St. Louis Cardinals left fielder Randal Grichuk (15) catches for an out during a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Kane-USA TODAY Sports
Randal Grichuk first landed on this list last month, and he put together a very nice July to maintain his spot. The Cardinals rookie slashed .287/.367/.529 while putting four more home runs and 15 RBI into his account.
Overall, the 23-year-old outfielder owns a .288/.338/.564 line on the season with 12 homers and 38 RBI. His .902 OPS leads all NL rookies with at least 100 at-bats. His 2.8 WAR ranks third among NL rookies (and fourth out of rookies in both leagues).
On a squad like the Cardinals with a strong veteran presence, it can be a daunting task for a young player to make his mark. Through 73 games, Grichuk has done just that, proving he belongs on the team with the best record in baseball. He has a lot to live up to, after all: Grichuk was taken by the Angels one selection ahead of Mike Trout in the 2009 draft, before being traded to St. Louis in 2013.
Next: Rookie #4
4. Noah Syndergaard
Jul 28, 2015; New York City, NY, USA; New York Mets starting pitcher Noah Syndergaard (34) pitches against the San Diego Padres at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
The New York Mets are hot right now, and rookie starting pitcher Noah Syndergaard has been right at the center of it. With a chance to draw the Mets level with the Nationals in the NL East last Sunday night, the 22-year-old right-hander answered the call. Syndergaard tossed eight stellar innings against the division foe to secure the victory, limiting the Nats to a pair of solo homers on the evening while striking out nine.
It was the latest strong performance in an increasingly stellar rookie campaign. Of Syndergaard’s last ten outings, seven have been quality starts. He currently boasts a 2.66 ERA and 1.06 WHIP on the season, along with an exceptional 5.0 K/BB ratio. His 100 strikeouts are the third-most among all rookie hurlers, though the pitchers he trails – Nate Karns (113 K) and Chris Heston (101 K) – have each made six more starts than him.
Rotation-mate Jacob deGrom captured the NL Rookie of the Year crown in 2014. Could Syndergaard become the second straight Mets pitcher to win it? It will be a tall task, but the Mets’ current playoff push will be a great proving ground for him to build his case.
Next: Rookie #3
3. Matt Duffy
Jul 17, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; San Francisco Giants third baseman Matt Duffy (5) singles in the seventh inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports
Rookie Matt Duffy continues to be a revelation at the hot corner for the San Francisco Giants. The 24-year-old has been one of the better third baseman in the league this year, not just among rookies. His 3.4 WAR ranks seventh among all MLB third baseman.
Duffy hit .316 in July to help move his slash line to a very robust .301/.340/.457 on the season. He also has nine home runs and 48 RBI through 92 games. His hit total (101) and batting average currently lead qualified rookies in both leagues. He also places near the top of numerous other rookie offensive categories.
Perhaps the greatest sign of Duffy’s success is that he is making the Giants and their fans quite content to have let Pablo Sandoval leave in free agency. Kung Fu Panda has struggled in Boston to the tune of a .683 OPS and -0.6 WAR.
Next: Rookie #2
2. Joc Pederson
Jul 20, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers center fielder Joc Pederson (31) prepares for an at bat against the Atlanta Braves in the first inning at Turner Field. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
Whether or not you rate Joc Pederson as the frontrunner for NL Rookie of the Year largely depends on how greatly you value home runs. The Dodgers rookie has been flexing his power muscles all season, and if you need a reminder, look no further than his impressive runner-up performance at the Home Run Derby a few weeks ago.
His 21 long balls still lead all rookies, but Pederson’s pace slowed to a near stand-still in July. He only added one homer to his account during the month, a surprise considering how rapidly he was belting them out earlier. Power wasn’t the only department in which Pederson struggled last month, however. He hit just .169 in July, deflating his slash line to its current .223/.345/.454 level.
Despite his bad month, the 23-year-old Pederson is still one of the most exciting young talents in the game, and his 21 home runs and 43 RBI on the year keep him a strong factor in his race. If he can find his power stroke again in August and cut down on the strikeouts (his 128 Ks lead the NL), he should stand a very good chance of coming away with the award.
Next: Rookie #1
1. Kris Bryant
Jul 8, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant against the St. Louis Cardinals at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Kris Bryant has trailed Joc Pederson in previous installments of our NL ROY rankings, and his rival’s poor July helped the Cubs youngster edge past him on the list. However, that’s not to say that Bryant did a whole lot to boost his own case over the last month either. He hit only .168 in July but did manage to smack four more homers and drive in 17 runs.
The 23-year-old’s slash line currently stands at .246/.354/.436 on the season, along with 14 home runs (third among all rookies) and 61 RBI (leads all rookies). Bryant has even shown his skills on the base paths, racking up 10 steals in 13 attempts.
July’s performances were a bit concerning from Bryant and Pederson, but these rankings take the entire season to date into account, and right now they remain the favorites for NL ROY honors. Bryant’s somewhat more well-rounded showing puts him ahead for the moment, but things can change dramatically over the final two months of the season.