The MLB All-Rookie Team (So far)

Catcher

C Manny Pina, Milwaukee Brewers

.290/.333/.457, 298 PA, 36 R, 9 HR, 39 RBI, 0 SB

1.9 fWAR, 2.6 bWAR

Pina is not your typical rookie. He’s 30 years old and has bounced around the minor leagues since 2005. He made his major league debut in 2011 and had major league playing time in 2011, 2012, and 2016 before this season. Despite playing in the big leagues in parts of three different years, he didn’t get enough at-bats to exhaust his rookie status.

April was big for Pina. He got off to a very hot start by hitting .375/.423/563 in his first 15 games. He’s cooled off since then, but has still hit a respectable .272/.314/.434 since the beginning of May. That’s solid production for a catcher these days. Pina has been one of the keys to the surprising season for the Milwaukee Brewers, who are just a game-and-a-half behind the Cubs in the NL Central with roughly six weeks to play in the season. The most valuable position player on the Brewers this year has been Travis Shaw. Pina is in the group of players on the next tier below Shaw that includes Ryan Braun, Domingo Santana, Eric Thames, and Orlando Arcia.

Honorable Mention

C Austin Barnes, Los Angeles Dodgers

.293/.411/.513, 180 PA, 29 R, 6 HR, 29 RBI, 4 SB

1.9 fWAR, 1.8 bWAR 

The main thing keeping Barnes behind Pina for the catcher position on the All Rookie Team is playing time. The gap between them is more than 100 playing appearances. Barnes has been much better on offense, but Pina takes the advantage with his defense and more playing time.