NL Rookie of the Year: Chris Paddack (SDP)
Paddack has separated himself from an impressive rookie class to put himself among the best of any starters in the National League. Even though it only came in 56.1 innings, a 2.40 ERA and 3.62 xFIP for a 23-year-old rookie is extremely impressive. While he is arguably getting some help from a low .200s BABIP, a 74% first-pitch strike rate will also help. Paddack has looked like a pitcher in his prime already, and it will be interesting to follow the rest of his career.
Runners-Up: Alex Verdugo (LAD), Mike Soroka (ATL), Pete Alonso (NYM)
Soroka is the other pitcher that has just been behind Paddack the whole time, he essentially hasn’t had a bad start and his ERA is a league-leading 1.07. His 2.1 bWAR has a good argument for the award as well. Alex Verdugo’s above-average defense and 133 wRC+ (120 DRC+) make him a clear candidate as well, and he just walked-off Pete Alonso’s Mets. Alonso has 19 home runs and ranks among the best in the league in barrels, but playing 1st base and striking out a lot has limited his ceiling.
AL Rookie of the Year: Daniel Vogelbach (SEA)
The American League Rookie of the Year Award is very much still up to grabs, but Vogelbach’s hot start in April has just been too much for anybody else to catch up to at this point. Even though he fails to provide much defensive value, Vogelbach’s 160 wRC+, 15 home runs, and 1.6 fWAR still paint a positive picture for the 26-year-old rookie. He also has a 143 DRC+ and .379 xwOBA, so his performance isn’t driven by luck. He’s fallen off quite a bit in May and has struggled against lefties, so how his career will play out might not be so promising, but so far his performance is worthy of this award.
Runners-Up: Brandon Lowe (TBR), Spencer Turnbull (DET), Michael Chavis (BOS)
On the young and exciting Rays team, Brandon Lowe has still flown under the radar, but a 2.1 bWAR and 1.7 fWAR gives him an extra boost on the season as he tries to win the Rookie of the Year award. He is striking out a lot and has gotten some help from balls finding holes, however. Chavis has been better than Vogelbach and Lowe on a per-at-bat basis, but he has not been up in the MLB long enough for his 127 wRC+ to win him this award. Either way, 15 barrels already will get him in the conversation. Spencer Turnbull is the best pitching candidate thanks to his strong start with Detroit in which he has a 2.97 ERA and a 4.30 SIERA in just over 60 innings.
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
