Top 5 American League Rookie of the Year Candidates – 2011 AL Rookie of the Year Predictions and Contenders: When most people think of the American League, they think of hitting, hitting and more hitting. If the top rookies have anything to say about it, it looks like the AL could become a little more known for its pitching in the coming years. As the 2011 season reaches its halfway point, three starting pitchers are among the top five Rookie of the Year candidates. To put that in perspective, consider that just one starter has won the award since 1990.
1. Michael Pineda, Starting Pitcher, Seattle Mariners
Pineda has only been in the majors half a season, but he already has the look of a future Cy Young winner. He has a 7-5 record with a 2.65 ERA and a 1.03 WHIP. Both numbers rank in the top 10 among American League pitchers, and his .198 opponent batting average is fourth best. Not to mention the fact that in 102 innings, Pineda has struck out 99 batters.
At his current clip, Pineda is going to work his way into the Cy Young conversation and run away with Rookie of the Year honors. If he continues to rank in the top 10 in most major categories and challenge 200 strikeouts, Pineda is going to be impossible to overlook. He has true superstar potential.
2. Jeremy Hellickson, Starting Pitcher, Tampa Bay Rays
Pitching for a Tampa Bay club that has relied heavily on its starters all year, Hellickson has been a reliable option despite facing the potent offensive lineups of the American League East. He has an 8-7 record in 2011 with a respectable 3.21 ERA and a 1.15 WHIP. Hellickson doesn’t pile up huge strikeout totals, but he is tough to hit nonetheless, and his .210 opponent batting average is sixth best in the AL.
The problem for Hellickson is that although his numbers are good, they aren’t better than the numbers being put up by Michael Pineda. His chances would be helped if the the Rays make the playoffs, and playing for a better team should help him pad his win total. That being said, a few more wins aren’t going to offset the fact that Pineda has better numbers in almost every other category.
3. Mark Trumbo, First Baseman, Los Angeles Angels
When Kendry Morales was lost for the season, the Angels were left with a huge hole at first base and in the middle of their lineup. Trumbo has more than filled the void, slugging a team-leading 13 home runs and driving in 35 runs. His .251 batting average isn’t great, but he has been a run-producing force for an Angels’ club that is challenging for the top spot in the AL West.
If there was a most valuable rookie, Trumbo would be the frontrunner. Not only has he filled in for Morales, but he carried the Angels offensively in the early months of the year when Vernon Wells was struggling. Trumbo is on pace to finish in the 25-30 home run range, and while he will likely be the top offensive rookie in 2011, his numbers won’t be enough to overtake the pitching of Michael Pineda and Jeremy Hellickson.
4. Eric Hosmer, First Baseman, Kansas City Royals
Although he didn’t start the year with the Royals, Hosmer is doing his best to make up for lost time. He has six home runs and is fifth on the team with 31 RBIs. His batting average has stabilized in the .275 range, and he has scored 22 runs as well. His numbers become even more impressive when you consider that he has more than 100 fewer at bats than players that have started since Opening Day.
Had he been in the majors from the start of the year, Hosmer would likely be the top offensive rookie in the American League. While he still has a chance to earn that status, he would need an unforgettable second half of the year to overtake Michael Pineda and Jeremy Hellickson for Rookie of the Year honors.
5. Zach Britton, Starting Pitcher, Baltimore Orioles
After discovering a devastating sinker, Britton earned himself a spot in Baltimore’s starting rotation. He has delivered to the tune of a 6-6 record with a 3.47 ERA. More importantly, his ERA has been below 3.50 since the start of the year. Britton won four of his first five starts and has been fairly consistent all season. He has hit a few rough patches, but he has given up more than four runs only three times in 17 starts.
Whether Britton moves up the list of candidates or falls off completely remains to be seen, but he has shown he has the stuff to win in the majors. That being said, batters are starting to make adjustments, and it is up to Britton to do the same. His ceiling at this point is probably 15 wins, which isn’t a bad total for a rookie in the AL East.
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