Back to the Rookie of the Year races this week. For last week’s Cy Young review, click here. For the MVP review the week before, click here.
Note: This will be the last regular installment of the series. Over the next three weeks, we’ll be having a Last Word on Sports staff vote for each award, with the results reviewed here starting with the MVP award next week.
All stats are as of August 31st. The number in brackets represents a player’s ranking in the last review.
In making a serious push for the MVP award, Jose Abreu has the AL Rookie of the Year award all but in the bag. The same cannot be said of Billy Hamilton who has Jacob deGrom nipping at his heels.
AL
1. (1.) Jose Abreu, 1B, CWS: .321/.381/.605, 33 HR, 98 RBI, 71 R
Though he has only hit two home runs all month, Abreu has a .381 batting average and .469 OBP in August. Having had two 10-homer months (April and June), he has hit just 8 since the beginning of July, though with a .378/.451/.577 line he has been making a serious run at the MVP award. He may be a poor base runner and an awful first baseman, but he is clearly one of, if not the best hitter in the American League.
2. (2.) Masahiro Tanaka, SP, NYY: 12-4, 2.51 ERA, 135 K, 129.1 IP, 1.01 WHIP
The Yankees remain hopeful Tanaka will be ready sometime this September, but with the team eight games behind in the division and three and half in the wildcard race, they would be wise to let him rest up and not risk further injury. Tanaka, however, believes the issue isn’t necessarily limited to his elbow, rather he has been feeling a general soreness in his arm from shoulder to wrist. He and Yankees GM Brian Cashman believe this stems from a lack of cardiovascular fitness, and that with therapy and exercise he will be able to avoid surgery. Regardless, his 129.1 innings over the first half were good enough to keep him in a distant second.
3. (-) Collin McHugh, SP, HOU: 7-9, 2.99 ERA, 132 K, 126.1 IP, 1.12 WHIP
It is puzzling why the Rockies placed McHugh on waivers last December. Though never considered a top prospect, he posted a 3.42 ERA with 100 Ks in 113 innings last year between AA and AAA, for both the Mets and the Rockies minor league affiliates. He was even better the year before. Of course, his 8.94 ERA over 47.1 major league innings coming into the year might have something to do with it. Even so, the Astros took a gamble that clearly paid off, as McHugh’s excellent 7.3 H/9 and 9.4 K/9 show that this year is far from a fluke.
4. (4.) Jake Odorizzi, SP, TB: 10-11, 4.03 ERA, 163 K, 147.2 IP, 1.27 WHIP
After getting pounded for eight runs on 11 hits against the Orioles on Monday, Odorizzi rebounded nicely on Saturday, allowing just one hit in seven scoreless innings. He walks a few too many batters, but his 10.0 K/9 is spectacular, especially for a rookie. With Odorizzi’s development, along with last year’s Rookie of the Year Wil Myers, the James Shields trade last winter has to sting for the Royals. They may be in first place right now, but the Rays clearly got the better deal.
5. (-) Matt Shoemaker, SP, LAA: 13-4, 3.33 ERA, 108 K, 110.2 IP, 1.08 WHIP
Shoemaker has been a revelation since being put into the rotation in mid-May. Between his 8.8 K/9, his 5.14 K/BB and the fact that he has allowed more than two earned runs in just four of his 15 starts, he has made the difference for a surging Angels team that now carries a four-game lead over the Athletics in the AL West.
Off the List –
3. George Springer
5. Yordano Ventura
NL
1. (1.) Billy Hamilton, CF, CIN: .268/.303/.383, 6 HR, 46 RBI, 70 R, 50 SB
Hamilton, with his abysmal on-base percentage and mediocre 72% stolen base rate, is the leader here by default. Though his batting line has largely met everyone’s expectations, and he never was a totally polished base runner, the area in which Hamilton has incured most of his value has been in the field. His blazing speed gives him incredible range, and gives him far more time to read the ball off the bat. Considering he came up as a shortstop, having been converted to the outfield last year, the Reds have to be pleased with his progress.
2. (2.) Jacob deGrom, SP, NYM: 7-6, 2.94 ERA, 106 K, 113.1 IP, 1.20 WHIP
When deGrom landed on the DL in early August, it seemed likely his season was done. A rookie pitcher with shoulder soreness is almost never a good sign, and teams are wise to shut down such pitchers as soon as the warning lights come on. Alas, deGrom made a quick recovery and, though he got tagged for five runs in his first start back, he looked sharp against the Phillies on Friday, giving up just one un-earned run. A few more starts like that and he’ll catch Hamilton for the NL award.
3. (4.) Kolten Wong, 2B, STL: .249/.291/.384, 9 HR, 34 RBI, 41 R, 19 SB
Wong has moved up this list by default, as Chris Owings still has not returned to the field. His modest power, stellar 90% stolen base rate and good defense have made him a valuable player for the Cardinals, but his pathetic .291 OBP says a lot about their 29th-ranked offense. He has the talent and the pedigree to be an above-average major league player, but for now he is merely an adequate player facing mediocre competition.
4. (-) David Peralta, OF, ARI: .289/.323/.464, 7 HR, 32 RBI, 36 R
called up on June first to fill in the gaps in the Diamondbacks broken outfield, Peralta has been a fine placeholder. He’s 27 years old and will likely be a fourth outfielder going forward, but his modest power (he has hit 8 triples this year) and ability to play all three outfield positions effectively make him a valuable player for an injury-ravaged team like Arizona.
5. (3.) Chris Owings, SS, ARI: .277/.313/.458, 6 HR, 21 RBI, 26 R
Yesterday, Diamondbacks manager Kirk Gibson mentioned that Cody Ross, A.J. Pollock, Daniel Hudson and Owings could all be back within the week. This will give the Diamondbacks a bit of a logjam, as Owings’ replacement Didi Gregorious has been holding his own, and is considered to be a much better glove than Owings. As such, Owings has been seeing some time at second base during his minor league rehab assignment, while Aaron Hill has been given some practice at third. Even if he does return soon, and gets regular playing time through September, he has missed far too much time to regain the lead he held for most of the season’s first half.
Off the List –
5. Jesse Hahn
For more on sports injuries, check out our friends at Sports Injury Alert.
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