MLB Awards Watch: Top 5 NL ROY candidates through August
Aug 30, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers center fielder Joc Pederson (31) strikes out in the third inning of the game against the against the Chicago Cubs at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
The National League Rookie of the Year battle has been one of the more fascinating stories to watch unfold this year in baseball. Through the All-Star break, it looked like it was going to be a two-horse race all the way. However, the last month or so has brought an unexpected shift, and now the competition seems to be heading in a very different direction.
Much of that shift has had to do with the continued fall of Joc Pederson. A mainstay in our rankings since the beginning, Pederson had a dreadful August, hitting .120 for the month (helping drop his season average to .211) and getting benched for a spell. His 24 home runs are still the most among rookies, but only four of them have come in the second half. It seems crazy that he would drop out of the top five considering his torrid start, but the other players on this list simply have more convincing resumes right now.
The Senior Circuit has a strong class of rookies this season, and it wouldn’t seem too outlandish for any of these names to make a big run at the prize in the final full month of the campaign. For now, here are the current top five NL rookies in our 2015 MLB awards watch.
Honorable mentions: Joc Pederson (LAD), Chris Heston (SFG), Odubel Herrera (PHI)
Next: Rookie #5
5. Noah Syndergaard
Aug 25, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; New York Mets starting pitcher Noah Syndergaard (34) pitches during the first inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Noah Syndergaard did not have a very good August, posting a 4.79 ERA over six starts, but there is still a whole lot to like about his rookie campaign. Overall, the tall right-hander owns a 3.31 ERA in 122.1 innings pitched. He allows fewer than a hit per inning, walks just 2.1 per nine and strikes out hitters at a shiny 9.5 K/9 rate.
The New York Mets are one of the hottest clubs in baseball right now, and with the franchise appearing very likely to clinch its first postseason berth in a good while, even more eyes will be fixed on the team’s young starters. Syndergaard’s rotation-mate Jacob deGrom took home the NL ROY hardware last season, finishing the year with a 2.69 ERA and 3.35 K/BB ratio. It should be interesting to see how Syndergaard’s numbers stack up after another month.
He will need to have an eye-popping September to bring the Mets a second straight ROY award, something that might prove difficult in light of the team’s plan to give him some extra rest down the stretch. But Syndergaard’s exploits are demonstrating precisely why fans at Citi Field are so excited about not only this year, but years to come as well.
Next: Rookie #4
4. Jung Ho Kang
Aug 9, 2015; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates third baseman Jung Ho Kang (27) rounds the bases after hitting a three run home run against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the seventh inning at PNC Park. The Pirates won 13-6. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
The Pittsburgh Pirates didn’t quite know what to expect when signing Korean infielder Jung Ho Kang in the offseason, but what they’ve been getting is an increasingly vital part of their lineup. Kang is slashing .287/.360/.461 through his first 112 games in Major League Baseball, along with 13 home runs and 49 RBI.
Kang has also aided the Pirates with some needed positional versatility. He has appeared in 65 games at third base and 56 at shortstop, allowing the Bucs to navigate injuries to infielders Jordy Mercer and Josh Harrison.
His 3.9 WAR is a close second among all rookies in both leagues, underscoring the tremendous value he has provided to Pittsburgh this season. As the Pirates look to strengthen their hold on the NL’s first Wild Card spot, expect Kang to remain a key contributor.
Next: Rookie #3
3. Randal Grichuk
Aug 7, 2015; Milwaukee, WI, USA; St. Louis Cardinals center fielder Randal Grichuk (15) hits a 3-run homer against the Milwaukee Brewers in the fifth inning at Miller Park. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
Randal Grichuk‘s August was cut short about midway through, as he landed on the disabled list with an elbow injury. The St. Louis Cardinals hope to have him back shortly, when he will try to continue building on his impressive 2015 rookie performance.
The 24-year-old outfielder sports a .284/.333/.561 slash line through 85 games. He has also socked 15 homers and driven in 44 runs, placing him among the rookie leaders in each category. His 3.2 WAR is also good for fourth among all MLB rookies.
The Cards are typically known for a mix of dependable veterans and promising young players, and Grichuk definitely helps make up the latter group for a club riding the best record in baseball. He’ll aim to finish his rookie campaign on a good note when he returns this month.
Next: Rookie #2
2. Kris Bryant
August 29, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Chicago Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant (17) comes up to bat in the sixth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Kris Bryant figured to duke it out with Joc Pederson all season for the rights to the NL Rookie of the Year crown, but as September begins he finds himself contending with a whole new set of faces. The Chicago Cubs third baseman has endured his own occasional slumping this year, but the second half has been far kinder to him than Pederson.
The 23-year-old got himself back on track with a brilliant August, slashing .330/.422/.620 on the month with seven home runs and 20 RBI. He leads the league in strikeouts, but the Cubs will be very pleased with his other contributions. Overall he is slashing .269/.369/.487 through 123 games. His 22 home runs are second among rookies to Pederson’s 24, and his 84 RBI are fifth-most in the National League.
Another strong month in September and Bryant will have a very compelling case for the award.
Next: Rookie #1
1. Matt Duffy
Aug 5, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; San Francisco Giants third baseman Matt Duffy (5) hits a single against the Atlanta Braves in the ninth inning at Turner Field. The Giants defeated the Braves 6-1. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
San Francisco Giants third baseman Matt Duffy did not enter the 2015 season with nearly as much hype as some of his rookie peers, but he has emerged as an absolute gem in his first full big league season. With Pablo Sandoval floundering in Boston, the Giants can’t help but feel a bit smug about how things have played out.
Duffy is slashing .302/.341/.441 through 120 games with 10 home runs and 61 RBI. His batting average is tops among all rookies. He sports a 4.2 WAR, also the highest rookie mark and good for second among NL third basemen.
Kris Bryant made a rousing argument to hold onto the top spot in our ranking, but for now Duffy gets the nod for his quietly consistent 2015 campaign. His batting average has not dipped below .290 since June 26. The Giants’ postseason hopes may be fading, but Duffy’s star seems certain to continue rising.