ROY Candidates
- Mack
- Feb 6, 2021
- 5 min read
With just a few games to go, I figured it would be fun to start looking at rookie of the year candidates for both the AL and NL. Each year we have some young rookies that struggle some in their first taste of RLB action (oh hey, Phil Krueger), while others stun us all (JAMIE COORS). I'm going to take a brief look at this year's rookie class and share some statistics on each.
AL Pitchers: SP Daniel Webb (MIN), SP Charles Pearson (CAL), SP Kiyoteru Ogura (TOR)
Daniel Webb leads all qualified rookies in WAR (3.6) with a 3.03 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 5.8 K/9 in 31 starts this season. He's certainly been a bright spot on a struggling Minnesota team. He's currently 1st in K/BB and 2nd in ERA and WHIP amongst AL rookies pitchers. The only major knocks on him are that he can get bit by the home run ball and has only produced 8 wins for his squad. Charles Pearson of the Angels has had a really nice season, producing a 2.70 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 3.4 K/9 over 30 starts this year. He's currently leads all rookies in wins and is 1st in ERA, FIP and WHIP, while being 3rd in WAR and K/BB. He's the type of guy that does everything pretty well, but doesn't typically go deep into games. Finally, the not so young rookie, Kiyoteru Ogura, has shocked the RLB this season with a 3.01 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and 3.3 K/9 this year. He ranks 2nd among rookie pitchers in WAR (3.5) and ERA, while being 3rd in FIP. Will any of these 3 have enough to overcome the AL rookie hitters? Probably not.
Honorable mentions: SP Frank Lennon - KC (4th in WAR, K/BB and FIP), SP Ken Wright - BOS (2nd in K/BB, 3rd in wins and tied for 4th in ERA), RP Randy Black - CLE (25 saves with a 3.10 ERA and a 2.6 WAR)
AL Hitters: CF John Bar (SEA), C Josh Theis (TOR), LF Carlos Garcia (BAL)
John "DTD" Bar leads all the AL rookies in WAR (4.9). To go along with excellent defense at a cornerstone position, Bar leads AL rookies in HR's, is 3rd in steals and 5th in hits and RBI's. This year he has put together a .319/.372/.549 slash-line along with 30 stolen bases. There is no doubting what he has done this year, but will he stay healthy moving forward? If you double his WAR, you almost get to the number of injuries he has experienced in 1979. Josh Theis was one of the many pieces that came over to Toronto in the Karr deal. Given how much of a wasteland catcher is, Theis has produced very well with a .314/.392/.526 slash-line, good defense behind the plate and is second in WAR amongst NL rookies (3.7). Carlos Garcia has hit .307/.350/.465. Although he's only accrued a 2.1 WAR, he leads AL rookies in average, hits, total bases, RBI's and stolen bases (56). However, he has been a bad defender in LF with a -7.8 ZR.
Honorable mentions:1B Danny Medina - CLE (6th in WAR, 1st in OBP and 3rd in average and SLG to go with 14 homers), DH Joseph Daigle - BOS (3rd in WAR with a line of .318/.484/.479), LF Mike Proffitt - OAK (5th in WAR, 4th in OPS and SLG, tied for 2nd in HRs, 3rd in RBIs and OBP)
NL Pitchers: SP Bobby Puentes (COL), SP Brian Helton (SD), SP Aaron Crawley (PHI)
Bobby Puentes has shown out this year by leading all rookie SP's with a 5.1 WAR. Who needs movement in Coors if you have elite stuff and command? Puentes has posted a 3.78 ERA, 1.3 WHIP and 8.1 K/9, with only one homer per 9. He leads NL rookies in K/BB and FIP, while holding 3rd in ERA and WHIP. He's second in wins with 13. Brian "workhorse" Helton finds himself 2nd in WAR, while amassing almost 40 more IP's than the next NL rookie SP. Helton registered a 3.70 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 5.9 K/9 this year. He has 13 complete games this season and find himself 5th in K/9, K/BB and WHIP. Aaron Crawley, the main piece that came over to Philly in the Ditella trade, finds himself 5th in WAR with just 187 innings under his belt. Crawley is tied for 1st in WHIP, 2nd in K/BB and 3rd in FIP. Crawley has put together a 3.22 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 6.5 K/9.
Honorable mentions: SP M. Schultz - PIT (3rd in WAR and K/BB, 4th in WHIP and FIP, 5th in ERA), SP R. Gallardo - MON (6th in WAR, 1st in WHIP, 2nd in ERA, 4th in K/BB and 5th in FIP), SP J. Green - HOU (4th in WAR with only 156 innings and a 3.45 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 6.8 K/9)
NL Hitters: RF Jared McCombs (CHC), 2B Matt Singer (ATL), RF Ricky Palacio (ATL)
Now things get fun. What if I told you that two rookies that might break all-time records were only going to be honorable mentions? Yes, the NL rookie hitting class is truly insane. Jared McCombs has done nothing but crush the ball since his call-up this season. He's put together a .335/.392/.647 slash-line with a 8.6 WAR and great right field defense. He find himself 1st in slugging %, 2nd in WAR and OPS, tied for 3rd in RBI's, 4th in home runs and second in stolen bases. He'd be a runaway rookie of the year if it weren't for Matt Singer. Singer has generated a .381/.427/.557 slash with a 9.2 WAR. He leads NL rookies in WAR, OBP, total bases and runs. He also find himself 3rd in OPS and 5th in slugging %, to go along with 41 stolen bases (80% stolen base percentage). The only knock on Singer is that he has played slightly below average defense at second base with a -2.9 ZR. The difference between McCombs and Singer for NL ROY is so close, these last three games may actually matter. Ricky Palacio is currently holding down a slash-line of .322/.408/.637 with a 6.1 WAR and 1.045 OPS. He's 1st in OPS, 2nd in SLG, OBP, homers and RBIs, and 3rd in average. The green arrow is pointed up for this Atlanta offense.
Honorable mentions: 2B Jamie "Coors" Borruso - COL (3rd in WAR and SLG, 4th in OPS and leads all rookies in home runs and might set the all-time home run record!), LF Justin Klebes - COL (5th in WAR, 2nd in total bases, 3rd in HR, 4th in SLG and average), 2B Chase Notch - PHI (SPEED. 107 SB's and is on pace to tie the all-time SB record. 1st in triples and 4th in hits)
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