2012 National League Rookie of the Year Predictions: Bryce Harper’s Impact on the NL ROY Race

2012 MLB Predictions – Bryce Harper’s Impact on the National League Rookie of the Year Race: When discussing the National League Rookie of the Year race, all the talk before the season started centered around whether or not Washington Nationals prospect Bryce Harper would be called up to the majors. Well, the question has been answered, and Harper is now in the mix. If the Rookie of the Year Award was decided on hype alone, Harper would have already won. However, it will be decided on the field, and while it can be argued that a 19-year-old isn’t ready to star in the majors, there is no doubt Harper will be a factor.

The Favorites – 2012 National League Rookie of the Year Odds and Predictions

Sure, he is starting a month behind everyone else, but Bryce Harper is already flashing the potential that the Washington Nationals have been drooling over since taking him No. 1 overall in 2010. In eight games, Harper has hit five doubles, flashed his cannon arm in the outfield, and used his speed to steal home. Heck, he already has enough of a reputation to warrant getting drilled by Philadelphia’s Cole Hamels, who is a former World Series MVP in his own right. The bottom line is that Harper has more than enough talent and more than enough time make up for a lost month and to win National League Rookie of the Year honors.

When St. Louis ace Chris Carpenter got hurt in the preseason, Lance Lynn was supposed to get his feet wet in the majors. After his incredible start, Lynn won’t be leaving the Cardinals’ rotation any time soon. He is currently leading the National League with six victories, and he second in ERA (1.40), third in WHIP (0.85) and fourth in batting average against (.168). Lynn will likely slow down a bit as hitters adjust, but considering he is a Cy Young contender at this point, he should be in the mix for the Rookie of the Year Award all year long.

The Dark Horses – 2012 National League Rookie of the Year Odds and Predictions

He started off the year in the bullpen, but Arizona’s Wade Miley has worked his way into the starting rotation and has been blossoming. He is 3-0 on the young season, with a 2.33 ERA and a 0.96 WHIP. It is tough to project Miley’s long-term prospects, especially with his move from reliever to starter. However, he was named NL Rookie of the Month in April and has been a starter in AAA. The Diamondbacks should be a contender in the NL West all season, and with a solid team around him, Miley’s numbers should remain respectable.

After a promising start to his major league career last season, Zack Cozart’s time with the Reds was cut short by an elbow injury. The silver lining for the shortstop could be winning Rookie of the Year honors this year. In addition to playing solid defense, Cozart is hitting a respectable .271 and has scored a team-leading 18 runs. With sluggers Jay Bruce and Joey Votto batting behind him in the Cincinnati lineup, he should continue to see pitches to hit and have plenty of chances to score runs.

Sleeper Specials – 2012 National League Rookie of the Year Odds and Predictions

He was an afterthought for the New York Mets entering the year, but outfielder Kirk Nieuwenhuis has forced his way into the lineup thanks to his hot bat. He is hitting .299 on the young season and has an impressive 0.370 on-base percentage. Like many young hitters, Nieuwenhuis strikes out a bunch, but for now, the good far outweighs the bad. With the Mets struggling to score runs, he should have a starting job all year. The more at bats he has, the better chance Nieuwnhuis has to pile up the numbers to win the NL Rookie of the Year Award.

After a slow start, San Diego first baseman Yonder Alonso has been coming around. He is currently leading the Padres with a .283 batting average, and he ranks in the top five in the National League with 10 doubles. Alonso’s power numbers are down, but that will happen when you play for a bad team in a huge ballpark. Still, hitting close to .300 and having an on-base percentage above 0.350 makes Alonso worth paying attention to.

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