1. Kris Bryant
Sep 16, 2015; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Chicago Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant (17) hits an RBI double against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the sixth inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Kris Bryant was arguably the first rookie to make major headlines this season, as the Chicago Cubs and his agent Scott Boras sparred in the media during Spring Training over the decision to have him start the year in the minors. Doing so netted the team an extra year of control due to service time rules. Bryant was promoted on April 17 and from there he let his play do all the talking.
The 23-year-old third baseman finished the regular season with a .275/.369/.488 slash line. He swatted 26 homers (tied for most among all MLB rookies with Joc Pederson) and drove in 99 runs (also most among rookies). He is certainly not the most disciplined hitter, as evidenced by his league-leading 199 strikeouts, but considering his level of production the Cubs likely don’t mind much.
Bryant appeared to improve as the campaign progressed, a good omen as young players can often feel worn out by the grind of an 162-game season. He hit .323 from August onward, adding 12 home runs and 39 RBI in that span. He earned an All-Star nod and will make his first postseason appearance in the Cubs’ Wild Card matchup against the division rival Pirates, checking further items off his career checklist.
All things said, Bryant put up a 6.0 WAR this year, the highest among rookies by a significant margin. His contributions were a major reason why the Cubs ended the season with 97 wins, their highest total since 2008. He’s the clear choice for NL Rookie of the Year and should remain a prominent name in baseball for years to come.
Next: AL ROY end-of-season rankings
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