MLB Awards Watch: Top 5 AL ROY candidates through May

Which American League rookies are rising to the top of our MLB awards watch? Here are our top 5 AL Rookie of the Year candidates through May.

Two months into the 2016 season, the American League features several impressive rookies, but it may be more appealing for fans to wonder who else could join the fray in the weeks and months ahead.

There are still a few top prospects who many pegged as leading Rookie of the Year candidates heading into the year who, for one reason or another, haven’t really latched on yet in the present campaign. Byron Buxton has played in only 21 games thus far for the Twins, slashing a disappointing .200/.234/.350. He was recently called back up after a minor league demotion, so if things finally click for the 22-year-old outfielder, he certainly has the talent to enter the conversation.

Joey Gallo recently made a one at-bat cameo for the Rangers, and it’s anyone’s guess if and when he will resurface in the majors this year. Still, his 137 career minor league home runs since 2012 have a lot of fans in Texas fantasizing what he could eventually do at the big league level.

Highly-touted hurlers like Blake Snell and Jose Berrios have had a handful of appearances, to varying results. There’s no guarantee they’ll be back up, but they’re definitely worth keeping in mind.

Other rookies have shown encouraging signs lately, but ultimately have too few plate appearances under their belts to warrant a spot on this list just yet. Orioles left fielder Hyun Soo Kim comes to mind (.391/.466/.500 in 73 PA), and he won’t be the last Korean import mentioned here.

Without further ado, here are our top 5 candidates for the AL Rookie of the Year Award through May.

All statistics updated through June 3.

Next: Number 5

4. Byung-ho Park – MIN

.223/.317/.465, 9 HR, 18 RBI, 0.8 WAR

Rookie eligibility and age debates aside (more on that in a later entry), Byung-ho Park‘s power output alone makes him worth recognizing among this season’s American League rookies. His nine home runs are tied for the most by an AL rookie, and his 18 RBI are tied for second. His .782 OPS is good for fourth among AL rookies with at least 75 at bats.

The 29-year-old former KBO star’s performance dipped noticeably in May, though. Of his nine round-trippers, just three of them came in the past month. Although he’s never hit for average thus far in his fledgling MLB career, his May slash line came in at a paltry .205/.305/.373, lowering his season line to .223/.317/.465.

Kim’s early season home run flurry is pretty much the only thing securing him a spot on this list, along with a relative shortage of other compelling candidates. If he doesn’t turn things around in June, it will be hard to justify his inclusion next month.

Next: Number 3

3. Dae-ho Lee – SEA

.310/.348/.586, 8 HR, 20 RBI, 1.0 WAR

Older rookies who come from overseas can be a point of contention among awards voters. In 2013, a 29-year-old Hideki Matsui had by most metrics the best season by an AL rookie, but misgivings about his age and experience evidently swayed some voters, and the prize went to Angel Berroa instead.

Lee will be 34 next month, ancient by rookie standards. However, he still possesses rookie status by MLB rules, and given the great challenge many players face in adapting to Major League Baseball, we won’t hold his 14 years of experience in South Korea’s KBO and Japan’s NPB leagues against him. The numbers he’s putting up makes that easier as well.

The first baseman hasn’t exactly been a fixture in the Seattle Mariners lineup, but that hasn’t stopped him from producing and coming through in some big spots for the M’s. In 92 plate appearances he’s slashing .310/.348/.586 with eight home runs and 20 RBI. His .934 OPS leads all AL rookies with at least 75 plate appearances to their name. He’s tied for third in homers and is fourth in RBI.

Without a regular spot in the lineup, it’s difficult to feel that bullish about Lee’s chances moving forward. Right now he’s platooning with Adam Lind and serving as the occasional DH or pinch hitter. Nevertheless, if he keeps swinging a hot bat he should continue getting opportunities. Seattle got both players into their lineup last night, which bodes well. It also means we might be treated to more of this magnificence in the not-so-distant future.

Next: Number 2

2. Michael Fulmer – DET

5-1, 3.24 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 3.38 K/BB, 1.1 WAR

Michael Fulmer was traded from the Mets to the Tigers in last season’s Yoenis Cespedes deal. While New York is more than satisfied with what the slugger has provided them, Detroit’s outlook on the transaction is improving with Fulmer’s recent performances on the mound.

The 23-year-old right-hander sports a 5-1 record and 3.24 ERA in seven starts for the Tigers. Over 41.2 innings, he has allowed 38 hits (8.2 H/9) and 13 walks (2.8 BB/9) while striking out 44 (9.5 K/9). He leads AL rookie hurlers in wins and strikeouts, and boasts the best ERA among those who have started at least five games.

Fulmer looks to be getting the month of June started on the right foot as well. He tossed 6.2 no-hit innings against the Angels on Wednesday night, finishing the outing with only two hits surrendered over 7.2 frames. If that’s a peek of what’s still to come, Detroit (and awards voters) have to be intrigued.

Next: Number 1

1. Nomar Mazara – TEX

.305/.355/.480, 9 HR, 25 RBI, 1.2 WAR

Texas Rangers right fielder Nomar Mazara is still at the top of 2016’s AL rookie class, and it really isn’t that close. The 21-year-old has been a reliable bat since he made his debut near the beginning of April, and his early success is a big reason why Texas is currently sitting in first place in the AL West.

After hitting .333 through his first 17 career games in April, Mazara cooled off a bit in May, though his numbers were still more than respectable for a player of his age. He slashed .283/.319/.491 but also found something of a power stroke, adding seven home runs and 17 RBI to his account during the month.

Among AL rookies with at least 75 at bats, Mazara comes in second with an .836 OPS. He leads the group with 25 RBI and is tied for the most homers with nine. With Josh Hamilton out for the year and Shin-Soo Choo limited to only six games due to injury, Mazara’s production in the outfield has been incredibly important for the Rangers.

Next: Top 5 AL MVP Candidates thru May

Sure to remain in a prominent role for the rest of the season, you would have to like Mazara’s chances to become the second player in history named Nomar to be named AL Rookie of the Year. But with four months still to go, any number of developments could change the race.