American League Rookie of the Year: Ranking favorites and dark horses, led by Orioles’ Gunnar Henderson

Major League Baseball’s common season is true round the nook, making this the optimum time to concentrate on everybody’s favourite matter: the possible Rookie of the Year Award races in each leagues. To lend a hand scratch that specific itch, we right here at CBS Sports have determined to take a complete have a look at the box, highlighting the potential favorites and the fashionable dark horses. 

In this piece, we’re going to be focusing completely on the American League. We coated the National League a couple of days again.

Before we dive in, we must word that this workout is extra of an artwork than a science in line with the information we’ve readily available. The universe is huge and countless in its probabilities. Should a participant now not indexed beneath finally end up successful the award, take that now not as an indication of our incompetence (although that may additionally play a task), however as a testomony to the candy, sudden pleasure of existence itself. 

Let’s get to it.

The favorites

We’ll start with two Baltimore Orioles who cracked CBS Sports’ best 10 prospect checklist: infielder Gunnar Henderson and right-hander Grayson Rodriguez. Henderson ranked No. 1 general due to his above-average athleticism, uncooked energy, and disciplined eye. He’s had some problems with left-handed pitchers, however he posted a 123 OPS+ in 34 video games final season and he must get started maximum of the time at a top class line of defense, probably shortstop. Rodriguez, No. 7 on the checklist, would’ve made his big-league debut final summer time had he now not injured his lat. He may smash camp with the Orioles due to an arsenal that comes with 3 well-above-average pitches. He struck out 37 % of the minor-league batters he confronted final season. No different staff had two avid gamers in the best 10 (the Orioles had 3), and indubitably none of them had two possibilities of his high quality in a position to sign up for the big-league membership.

As with New York Mets right-hander Kodai Senga, it feels foolish and virtually insulting to incorporate Boston Red Sox outfielder Masataka Yoshida in a work about novices. Yoshida is 29 years outdated and he spent the final seven years battering Nippon Professional Baseball league pitchers to the track of a .326/.419/.538 slash line. He’s a rookie by MLB’s definition, so it might be silly of us not to point out him. The evaluators we have spoken to about Yoshida have praised his touch and on-base chops, however have doubts about how a lot of his energy will switch to the MLB setting. We’ll in finding out.

We’ll wrap up the favorites segment with a couple of shortstops hired by the New York Yankees. Oswald Peraza figures to get the first crack at the activity. He confirmed off final season, hitting for a 139 OPS+ in 18 big-league video games. Peraza would possibly not stay up that manufacturing at the plate, however he is a superb defender and his candidacy cannot be harmed by taking part in for the Yankees. At some level this season, Anthony Volpe figures to sign up for New York’s lineup. He’s a greater hitter than Peraza, despite the fact that he finally ends up transferring down the defensive spectrum. Both Volpe (No. 12) and Peraza (No. 41) made CBS Sports’ best 50 checklist.

The dark horses

Lance McCullers Jr.’s harm supposed that Houston Astros right-hander Hunter Brown will start the season in the majors as an alternative of the minors. You would possibly know him as the pitcher whose supply mimics Justin Verlander’s. He has excellent stuff — final yr he struck out greater than 30 % of the batters he confronted between the majors and minors — however his location might be higher. McCullers has just lately begun throwing once more, although he’s going to want to undergo what quantities to his personal private spring coaching earlier than he is in a position to roll. Brown can have lots of time, then, to turn out he is in a position for showtime. 

Elsewhere in the AL West, the Texas Rangers have Josh Jung slotted in at the scorching nook. He’s a former No. 8 pick out whose ascent has been slowed by harm and the pandemic. He carried out miserably in 26 video games final season, hitting for an 83 OPS+ and compiling 35 extra strikeouts than walks. This is Jung’s age-25 season, so it is time to fly or flop. The Los Angeles Angels actually have a pair of intriguing novices both arriving or coming quickly: Catcher Logan O’Hoppe was once a excellent, well-rounded get from the Philadelphia Phillies final cut-off date as section of the Brandon Marsh industry, whilst contemporary first-round pick out Zach Neto may take the six as his personal by summertime, albeit in all probability too overdue to issue into vote casting.

In some way, the Chicago White Sox’s resolution to let Jose Abreu go away in loose company helped create a gap for Oscar Colás, previously a two-way participant who was once nicknamed the Cuban Ohtani. (Abreu’s departure allowed Andrew Vaughn to slip to first.) Colás is only a hitter this present day, and he batted .314/.371/.524 with 23 house runs throughout 3 ranges in 2022. He has excellent energy, however he seldom walks and he’s going to want to stay his strikeouts in take a look at. The Cleveland Guardians, for his or her section, may name upon quite a lot of beginning pitching possibilities, be it Gavin Williams, Tanner Bibee, or Logan Allen (to not be puzzled with the former San Diego Padres and, amusingly, Guardians pitcher of the identical title).

The Tampa Bay Rays have their percentage of possible rookie participants. Infielder Curtis Mead (No. 29) and right-hander Taj Bradley (No. 32) get maximum of the print. First baseman Kyle Manzardo additionally merits a point out. He’s hit at each prevent thus far in his minor-league profession, leading to a .330/.427/.616 slash line with just about as many walks as strikeouts. He noticed most effective 30 video games in Double-A final yr, so the Rays would possibly take a extra conservative manner with him. 

Let’s stay the AL East theme going slightly longer to near out the piece. Red Sox first baseman Triston Casas has energy, persistence, and a transparent pathway to the most-days activity supplied his pinkie finger does not get in the means. Over in Baltimore, the Orioles haven’t begun some other intriguing place participant prospect in Colton Cowser. The 5th pick out in the 2021 draft hit .278/.406/.469 throughout 3 minor-league ranges final season and must debut fairly early this spring. The Toronto Blue Jays probably would possibly not push lefty Ricky Tiedemann arduous sufficient for him to issue into this yr’s race. Infielder Addison Barger generally is a sneaky candidate if he will get a better alternative than anticipated and unearths a technique to stay his strikeouts in take a look at.