Call to the pen
Fansided

MLB rookies are mimicking the historic class of 2015

By Brody Hilgenkamp

Aug 16, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Corey Seager (5) tags out Philadelphia Phillies second baseman Cesar Hernandez (16) who was trying to steal second base during the third inning at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 16, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Corey Seager (5) tags out Philadelphia Phillies second baseman Cesar Hernandez (16) who was trying to steal second base during the third inning at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports /

Texas Rangers outfielder Nomar Mazara made an immediate impact for the Texas Rangers. He homered in his first game and through June 11 had a .367 wOBA. Then he started to have his rookie struggles: from June 12 to the beginning of the MLB All-Star break, he slashed an anemic .196/.240/.268 with one home run.

It looked a lot like what Pederson went through in 2015. Pederson was one of the hottest sluggers over the first two months of the season, slashing .267/.393/.606 with 17 HR through June 3. What followed was a slow and painful leakage in his production: he slashed .177/.319/.303 with nine home runs the rest of the year. By the All-Star break he had been passed by Bryant in the NL ROY race.

While the two players’ struggles were similar, the reasons they happened were different. Pederson started swinging and missing more than he already was, which kept him from taking advantage of his power – it looks like he has corrected that problem. Mazara’s problems came from bad luck, as his batting average on balls in play fell to .217 during the slump. His luck has since turned as he’s slashed .284/.357/.420 since the break.

Next: Bringing the heat

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