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