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.
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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.