With August fast approaching, youngsters throughout major league baseball have established themselves as frontrunners for a coveted award.
The potential cornerstones of the next decade in major league baseball have surfaced throughout the past few years. In 2016, a distinct and unique bunch has highlighted the AL and NL, respectively.
While outstanding young talent solidifies, speculation presents itself as to who will take home the sought after award — Rookie of the Year. Not only does the award represent excellence in a season, it signifies the lofty ceilings for individuals who can continue to represent the sport in the coming years.
Last year, Carlos Correa’s magnificent 99 games earned him the honors in the American League. This year, a player of that stature has not emerged. However, there is an intriguing core of youth featured in the Rookie of the Year voting.
So, with that said, let’s rank the top five candidates who maintain the ability to take home this year’s recognition.
Coming over from Korea this year at age 34, Lee has paid immediate dividends for a Mariners team attempting to stay in the thick of the postseason race.
The raw power he showcased in Korea has effectively made him a serviceable threat in the bigs. Considering he is only on pace to log 118 games this year, if you translate his numbers over 162 games, he would bast 26 homers and drive in 82 runs.
While he is certainly not a real contender by an stretch, Lee’s name will definitely be discussed.
The 23-year-old left-hander has been nothing short of stellar for the Rays in eight starts this year. Finding a comfort zone in the Rays rotation, it appears as if Baseball Prospectus’ number 21 overall prospect is here to stay.
One of the lone bright spots on an otherwise dreadful Tampa Bay team, his status for this award will be dependent upon how he finishes out the year. Regardless, Snell may be solidifying himself as one of the premier southpaws in the game for years to come.
The 25-year-old rookie has been outstanding in the time he has been on the field for the first-place Indians this year. In fact, by translating his numbers over 162 games, you have a guy who would jack 29 homers and drive in 76 runs.
Most importantly, he hits for average. Additionally, for a first year player, his 1.024 OPS is absolutely off the charts. Currently, Naquin is the greatest dark horse in this race.
Mazara has burst upon the scene with the first-place Rangers and will edge any other position player based on sample size and sheer hype. The 21-year-old has been a pivotal piece to a Texas team desperately trying to remain relevant in the American League.
If this year serves as a stepping stone for what the right fielder eventually becomes, he will be a prominent star for a substantial period of time. Let’s just say he has drawn the attention of many throughout the game.
Acquired from the Mets in the Yoenis Cespedes deal last July, Fulmer has been exceptional. The 23-year-old is not only the American League Rookie of the Year at this rate, but he is arguably one of the top three or four candidates for AL Cy Young.
The Tigers certainly received a guy who can anchor their staff for years to come. His numbers in every area are impressive, and now it is just a matter of putting on the finishing touches. In addition, bringing him up on April 29 will prove to be valuable as he will most likely not need innings constraints.
There is little doubt the 6’3″, 210 lb right-hander will bring home the hardware.
Emmanuel Berbari covers the New York Yankees& Major League Baseball for ESNY. Interact with him and view his daily work by “liking” his facebook page. He invites you to emailyour questions, comments, or concerns as well.