MLB Awards Watch 2015: Top 5 AL ROY rankings

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Aug 22, 2015; Seattle, WA, USA; Chicago White Sox pitcher Carlos Rodon (55) throws a pitch during the first inning against the Seattle Mariners at Safeco Field. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Buchanan-USA TODAY Sports

If the 2015 American League Rookie of the Year race reminds us of anything, it is the great potential impact of midseason call-ups. For the first couple months, the AL rookie class looked decidedly less impressive than its NL counterpart. That is, until a handful of prospects made their debuts later on in the campaign. And these talented youngsters didn’t need full seasons to really show what they could do at the big league level.

With the regular season now complete, the Junior Circuit boasts a promising crop of rookies that should continue to excite us for years to come. Several who just missed the cut of this Top 5 list also have achievements worth discussing.

Tampa Bay Rays starter Nathan Karns dealt with some forearm issues and was rather homer-prone in the second half, but he still finished the year with a 3.67 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and 2.59 K/BB ratio over 147 innings. The White Sox’s top pitching prospect Carlos Rodon was wildly inconsistent earlier in the year but settled down considerably after the All-Star break. In his last eight starts (54.2 IP) he posted a 1.81 ERA and held opponents to a .198 average.

The future looks bright for the American League and the game of baseball as a whole, so let’s continue our 2015 MLB awards watch with a final installment of our Top 5 AL ROY rankings.

Honorable mentions: Nate Karns (TB), Carlos Rodon (CHW), Eddie Rosario (MIN)

Next: Rookie #5

5. Lance McCullers

Sep 28, 2015; Seattle, WA, USA; Houston Astros pitcher Lance McCullers (43) throws against the Seattle Mariners during the first inning at Safeco Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

Dallas Keuchel may be a frontrunner for the AL Cy Young award, but the Houston Astros owe their success this season to several other starting pitchers as well. One of those is rookie right-hander Lance McCullers, who made his first big league start on May 18 and rarely looked back.

McCullers took the hill 22 times this year in the regular season, throwing 125.2 innings to the tune of a 3.22 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 3.00 K/BB ratio. He will remember a June 3 outing against Baltimore as a highlight of his rookie campaign, as he tossed a complete game against the Orioles, limiting them to one run on four hits while striking out eleven.

His debut season would have been even more impressive if not for a disastrous start on August 3 at Texas when he managed to secure only one out against the Rangers while getting tagged for six runs. McCullers also made a temporary sojourn back down to the minors that month to limit his innings.

McCullers turned 22 years old only days ago, so it’s fair to say that the best may be yet to come in the case of this young hurler. He will be a major piece of an Astros future that is very much trending upward.

Next: Rookie #4

4. Miguel Sano

Sep 16, 2015; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Twins designated hitter Miguel Sano (22) hits a double in the seventh inning against the Detroit Tigers at Target Field. The Tigers won 7-4 in twelve innings. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

Hardly anyone but the most fervent diehard fan could have predicted that the Minnesota Twins would remain in the playoff picture so late into the 2015 season. The powerful bat of rookie Miguel Sano played a vital role in their improbable run.

The 22-year-old slugger appeared in just 80 games but set a pace many a player would envy. In 335 plate appearances he belted 18 home runs, collected 52 RBI and posted a .269/.385/.530 slash line. He also demonstrated a strong ability to draw walks, as evidenced by his 15.8% BB rate.

Sano might draw some early parallels to another power-hitting DH who was also a Twin once upon a time: David Ortiz. It may be a bit soon for those kinds of comparisons, but fans in Minnesota will be eager to see what their new young star can do in a full season.

Next: Rookie #3

3. Billy Burns

Sep 28, 2015; Anaheim, CA, USA; Oakland Athletics center fielder Billy Burns (1) scores from third as Los Angeles Angels designated hitter C.J. Cron (24) drops the ball in the first inning of the game at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

Billy Burns has been a fixture on this list for most of the season, and he finishes at a very respectable #3. The speedy center fielder proved to be an unexpected sparkplug in an otherwise underachieving Oakland A’s lineup.

Burns leads all AL rookies with 153 hits, and his .294 batting average is good for third among those with at least 100 plate appearances. On the season, he owns a .294/.334/.392 slash line, five home runs, 42 RBI and 26 stolen bases in 125 games. His nine triples are also tied for seventh in MLB.

The 26-year-old’s quickness has been an asset for the A’s, whether at the top of the batting order or while roaming the expansive outfield at Oakland Coliseum. The club will look to rebound in 2016 after a disappointing campaign, and Burns figures to remain a key part of the equation.

Next: Rookie #2

2. Carlos Correa

Sep 12, 2015; Anaheim, CA, USA; Houston Astros shortstop Carlos Correa (1) runs the bases after hitting a solo home run against the Los Angeles Angels during the sixth inning at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports

A first-overall draft pick status is a difficult thing to live up to, but Houston Astros rookie Carlos Correa didn’t let those expectations slow him down at all in 2015. He took his first big league bow on June 8 and quickly became one of the major components of the Astros’ playoff-clinching season.

The young phenom finished the year with a .279/.345/.512 slash line, 22 home runs, 68 RBI and 14 stolen bases. At a position not known for power hitters, Correa’s homer total was the highest among all MLB shortstops. And he did it in only 99 games.

Correa’s 4.1 WAR is good for fourth among all shortstops and is the second highest among AL rookies. He seemed a shoe-in for AL ROY honors for a good chunk of the season, but the rapid rise of another young shortstop has complicated the matter.

Next: Rookie #1

1. Francisco Lindor

Sep 25, 2015; Kansas City, MO, USA; Cleveland Indians shortstop Francisco Lindor (12) gets set to make a throw to first against the Kansas City Royals during the sixth inning at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports

The AL Central had its share of talented rookies this season, with Cleveland Indians shortstop Francisco Lindor headlining the group. He showed precisely why the Tribe drafted him eighth overall in 2011.

Since his debut on June 14, Lindor sports a .313/.353/.482 slash line, 12 homers and 51 RBI in 99 games. He has also added 12 steals in 14 attempts. His 4.6 WAR is tops among AL rookies. Lindor has also flashed some serious leather at shortstop, showing impressive range and a strong arm at one of the most important defensive positions on the diamond.

The vote between Lindor and Correa will likely be neck-and-neck, and the latter might actually be the safer bet to win the award. Power numbers and being on a playoff team often seem to sway voters at this time of year. However, for my money, Lindor had the all-around superior first ~100 games in the majors. His lofty batting average, speed and plus defense (Lindor boasts a 9.6 UZR compared to Correa’s -5.2) make him the complete package at a premium position.

Regardless of who brings home the hardware, Major League Baseball appears to be on the verge of another shortstop renaissance the likes of which it hasn’t seen since Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez and Nomar Garciaparra were in their primes.

Next: Manfred considers MLB expansion

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