2013 MLB Picks: Updated National League Rookie of the Year Favorites, Dark Horses and Sleepers

2013 MLB Picks: Updated National League Rookie of the Year Favorites, Dark Horses and Sleepers : Of all the major MLB awards, the National League Rookie of the Year race has taken by far the most unexpected turn. Preseason favorite Adam Eaton suffered an injury during spring training and has yet to see the field. Meanwhile, a shocking power surge from journeyman catcher John Buck has kept the New York Mets’ top prospect Travis d’Arnaud in the minors, and the suddenly healthy Carl Crawford and Matt Kemp have kept the Dodgers’ top outfield prospect waiting, as well. Obviously, the contenders of the 2013 NL Rookie of the Year Award have already undergone a major overhaul, and with that in mind, here is a closer look at the new candidates.

The Favorites

One of the few rookies that had big expectations heading into the season that has actually lived up to the hype has been St. Louis starter Shelby Miller. He has made up for the absence of injured starter Chris Carpenter nicely, posting a 3-2 record with a 2.05 ERA in five starts. He has also tallied 33 strikeouts in 30.2 innings pitched, and he hasn’t given up more than two runs in a game since his first start. Miller’s stuff has been dominant, and opponents are currently hitting just .189 against him. He should have a starting gig for a solid Cardinals’ team all year so Miller is in a great situation. If he continues to take care of his own business on the mound, his numbers should be Rookie of the Year quality.

When Zack Greinke went down, the Los Angeles Dodgers’ rotation was suddenly lacking depth. However, rookie starter Hyun-Jin Ryu has helped fill the void in a big way, posting a 3-1 record with a 3.35 ERA in six starts. His three wins tie him for the most among rookies, and he leads all first-year players with 37.2 innings pitched and 46 strikeouts. Ryu has been churning out quality starts, eating up innings and making batters miss on a consistent basis. If his steady prudction continues, he could end up being the National League’s top rookie when all is said and done.

The Dark Horses

An injury to ace Johnny Cueto opened the door for Cincinnati’s Tony Cingrani, and he has wowed since joining the starting rotation. He is 2-0 with a 1.50 ERA through three starts, and his stuff has been downright nasty. Cingrani has tallied an impressive 28 strikeouts in 18.0 innings compared to just four walks. While his future is somewhat unclear after Cueto returns, there is a good chance he will boot current starter Mike Leake from the rotation if he continues to excel. If Cingrani does end up being a starter for the Reds for the rest of the season, his gaudy strikeout total could help him with Rookie of the Year honors.

Closers have taken home their share of Rookie of the Year honors lately, and the cream of this year’s crop in the NL is Milwaukee’s Jim Henderson. Since taking over the brutally ineffective John Axford, Henderson is a perfect 6-for-6 in save opportunities and has a 2-0 record overall. It’s not like he has been using smoke and mirrors to get his saves either. Henderson has 15 strikeouts in 12.0 innings with a 0.75 ERA and .143 batting average against. If he continues to hold down the ninth inning for the Brewers, he could become the next closer to pick up the Rookie of the Year Award.

A slow recovery for Brian McCann has allowed Atlanta catcher Evan Gattis to get regular at bats, and he has thrived. He currently leads all rookies with six home runs and 16 RBIs, and while his .241 batting average is obviously not great, his .843 OPS and .544 slugging percentage are both stout. Gattis’ power appears to be legit, and with McCann and first baseman Freddie Freeman both dealing with injuries, he has been able to get plenty of playing time. In fact, the biggest obstacle standing between him and a run at Rookie of the Year honors could be what the Braves decide to do with him once their starters are healthy again.

Sleeper Special

The Colorado Rockies chose not to have Nolan Arenado open the season in the majors, but they sure didn’t wait long to call him up. Arenado has only played four games for the Rockies, but he has already scored three runs and belted a homer. He has also walked more times than he has struck out. Yes, the sample size is very small, but Arenado comes to the majors with excellent minor league credentials. He also lands in a great hitter’s park in Colorado and has plenty of protection around him in the Rockies’ lineup. Since there really isn’t another rookie running away things when it comes to offensive numbers, Arenado has plenty of time to establish himself as the premier rookie hitter. He is facing a bit of an uphill battle, but Arenado’s bat could carry him back into the Rookie of the Year race.

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