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MLB predictions: Possible 2019 Rookie of the Year candidates

By Kristen Bentley

SURPRISE, AZ - NOVEMBER 03: AFL West All-Star, Vladimir Guerrero Jr #27 of the Toronto Blue Jays bats during the Arizona Fall League All Star Game at Surprise Stadium on November 3, 2018 in Surprise, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
SURPRISE, AZ - NOVEMBER 03: AFL West All-Star, Vladimir Guerrero Jr #27 of the Toronto Blue Jays bats during the Arizona Fall League All Star Game at Surprise Stadium on November 3, 2018 in Surprise, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /
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HOUSTON, TX – OCTOBER 17: Josh James #63 of the Houston Astros pitches in the third inning against the Boston Red Sox during Game Four of the American League Championship Series at Minute Maid Park on October 17, 2018 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TX – OCTOBER 17: Josh James #63 of the Houston Astros pitches in the third inning against the Boston Red Sox during Game Four of the American League Championship Series at Minute Maid Park on October 17, 2018 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images) /

If you watched the 2018 playoffs, then you know that Walker Buehler wasn’t the only young pitcher who impressed the crowds. Houston’s Josh James also made an impression.

Josh James pitched 23 innings in 2018 during the regular season with three starts. In those 23 innings, he struck out 29 batters and walked 7, earning an ERA of 2.35 and an ERA+ of 174. Even more impressive was his WHIP of 0.957.

While his numbers weren’t as great in the post-season, he did. He came in when needed and showed poise on the mound.

While 23 innings doesn’t give much of a snapshot, it does show us a little something. According to the MLB Pipeline, James is the fourth best prospect for the Astros, which is saying something about their minor league system. Usually, teams deplete their minor leagues in pursuit of the ring, but the Astros didn’t.

Even though James isn’t the top prospect in the system, he’s got something that the rest of the rookies in 2019 will not have: Justin Verlander and Gerrit Cole, along with the rest of the starting rotation. With mentors like that, there is no doubt that James has a chance at the Rookie of the Year award – especially if he can continue to pitch like he did in September 2018.

James has a fastball that averages 97 MPH. He also has a slider, curveball, and changeup in his repertoire. While his slider is his second-best pitch, he does have Verlander (who has one of the best sliders in the game) to help him better it.

James is expected to be in the rotation in 2019 after Dallas Keuchel and Charlie Morton were lost to free agency. He should be able to handle the regular grind well, as he did in the minor leagues after 21 starts between Double-A and Triple-A.

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