MLB Awards Watch: Top 5 NL ROY candidates through July

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