MLB Awards: 2017 AL Rookie of the Year Ballot
The Rookie of the Year votes may be the easiest MLB awards to predict this year. Which players deserve to be in consideration for the award this year?
Let’s face it – the two Rookie of the Year awards may be the easiest MLB awards to predict this year. We have seen performances the likes of which had not happened in baseball history, as these first year players looked like ten year veterans. And yet, for as impressive as some of these players were, there was that one player who easily outperformed the others.
In the American League, that player was Aaron Judge. His record setting performance this season put him into consideration for the AL MVP award, let alone with Rookie of the Year. With the Yankees resurgence led by a youthful core, Judge may have started his ascension to stardom in quite the explosive way.
However, Judge was not the only rookie in the American League worthy of attention. Even if the winner is predictable, there are still a couple of other rookies worthy of our attention. Let us then look at the top three potential vote getters for the AL Rookie of the Year award, as they appeared on my IBWAA ballot this year.
Let us begin with the third place vote getter.
3. Andrew Benintendi: Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox have had quite a few solid young players come up through the ranks over the past few years. Andrew Benintendi the latest, and could end up being the Red Sox brightest star.
A part of Boston’s new Killer B’s, Benintendi had a brief stint in the majors in 2016. He made his debut in August, but missed three weeks with a sprained knee. Even with that interruption in his playing time, Benintendi produced an impressive .295/.359/.476 batting line, hitting two homers and 11 doubles in his 118 plate appearances. It was a solid debut, giving the Red Sox hope that he could be a key piece of the lineup in 2017.
Considered to be the top prospect in baseball heading into the season, Benintendi did not disappoint. He had a solid .271/.352/.424 batting line, hitting 20 homers and 26 doubles. He even added another element to his game, stealing 20 bases last season. He was also excellent defensively, leading American League left fielders with 11 assists.
The Red Sox have had quite a history of excellent left fielders. Players like Ted Williams, Carl Yastrzemski, and Jim Rice manned left for Boston over the years. While it is far too early to say that Benintendi will follow their path to the Hall of Fame, his first full season in the majors gives hope that he can continue that tradition of excellence.
Andrew Benintendi is yet another bright young star for the Boston Red Sox. Given time, he could end up being the best of the Killer B’s.
2. Jacob Faria: Tampa Bay Rays
Jacob Faria was not considered to be one of the top 100 MLB prospects heading into this season. Nonetheless, he forced his way into the Tampa Bay Rays present and future.
Overshadowed by the Rays other top pitching prospects, Faria forced his way to the majors with a dominant showing in Durham. At the time of his promotion to the majors, he had a 6-1 record with a 3.07 ERA, and led the International League with 84 strikeouts in his 58.2 innings. Faria dazzled in his debut, and after an injury to Matt Andriese, stayed in Tampa Bay.
Overall, in his 16 appearances, including 14 starts, Faria had a solid debut. He had a 5-4 record, which belied his excellent 3.43 ERA and 1.117 WHiP. In his 86.2 innings, Faria struck out 84 batters while issuing 31 walks. His presence helped solidify the Rays rotation, keeping them in the Wild Card hunt into August.
Even though Faria was never considered to be a future ace, he pitched well enough to warrant consideration for such a role in the years to come. Potentially matched with Brent Honeywell and Chris Archer, the Rays could have quite the formidable trio atop the rotation.
It is safe to say that Jacob Faria is no longer overlooked. Heading into next season, he will be a key part of the Tampa Bay Rays quest to return to the postseason.
1. Aaron Judge: New York Yankees
Shocking, right? Well, the MVP candidate also had one of the greatest years of any rookie in MLB history.
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Heading into the season, there were questions as to whether or not Judge would simply be another Joey Gallo at the MLB level. He had hit four homers in his brief stint in the majors last year, but also struck out 42 times in 94 plate appearances and produced a .179/.263/.345 batting line. He did not look like a future star in that first exposure to the Bronx.
This season, everything changed. Judge started off the season hot, and despite a cold stretch in August, continued to mash the ball. He broke Mark McGwire‘s rookie record for home runs in a season, leading the American League with 52 long balls. He also had a .284/.422/.627 batting line, with a league leading 128 runs and 127 walks. On the negative side, Judge also struck out 208 times, an extreme version of the Three True Outcomes.
Although those strikeouts could become a problem in the future, there is no questioning the greatness of Judge’s season. He became an instant fan favorite in New York, with the Judge’s Chambers seating and the incredible distances he can send a baseball. His 8.1 WAR made him one of the few rookies to reach that threshold, an impressive mark for a player who had been a question mark at the start of the season.
There is no question that Aaron Judge will be the American League Rookie of the Year. Right now, the only question surrounding Judge is how high will he soar in his career.