MLB Awards Watch: Top 5 NL ROY candidates thru May

May 31, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Corey Seager (5) is greeted by catcher Yasmani Grandal (9) after scoring against the Chicago Cubs on a sacrifice fly hit by Dodgers left fielder Howie Kendrick (not pictured) in the eighth inning at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-USA TODAY Sports /

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Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports /

With May now in the books for the 2016 MLB season, it is time to look at the top contenders for the NL Rookie of the Year Award.

With two months now in the book, most “rookies” are technically no longer rookies. Major League Baseball no longer considers a player a rookie after they exceed 130 at-bats or 50 innings pitched.

However, this is still considered the rookie season for these players.

After the first month of the season, Jordan Wevers ranked the top five Rookie of the Year candidates for the month of April. With a larger sample size now in the books, we have a bit of a better idea of how the rookies in the National League have fared in 2016.

While being the leading NL ROY contender maybe a great feeling at the end of May, it does not guarantee that the same player will be the leader among the pack to end the season.

Rookies may not have the same experience as a veteran, but don’t let that fool you. The rookies that will appear on this list have had as much impact as some of the better and more well-known players in the MLB.

Honorable mentions: Aledmys Diaz (STL), Jonathan Gray (COL), Junior Guerra (MIL)

Next: Dodgers Third Rookie

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