The National League rookie class was a crowded field in 2015, with the Chicago Cubs’ Kris Bryant ultimately rising to the top. The young third baseman lived up to the hype, slashing .275/.369/.488 with 26 home runs and 99 RBIs.
This season’s crop of talent looks very rich as well, setting the stage for another exciting NL Rookie of the Year battle. Bryant showed that it’s possible for a rookie to meet even the loftiest of expectations over the course of a 162-game MLB season, which should be good news for some of the more talked-about young players heading into 2016.
Here are five NL rookies to monitor through Spring Training and into the new season. Not all of them will start the year in the majors, but considering their development histories and considerable skill levels, it’s a fair bet they will make their marks this season on the major league stage.
Next: Steven Matz