AWARD PREDICTION: NL Rookie of the Year Edition

The race for the NL ROY is much close than the American League contest. There are three candidates that most of the media has anointed as frontrunners, and a few more that lurk very close behind. Depending on which statistics or metrics or viewpoints you use, a whole host of players could be your favorite. Let's look into the candidates that might be getting some votes:

Todd Frazier
.273 AVG, 19 HR, 67 RBI, 26 2B, .829 OPS

One of the key frontrunners that I wouldn't be surprised if he won, Frazier was one of the key cogs that led the Reds to an NL Central championship. When Scott Rolen went down, and later Joey Voto, he stepped right in and kept the Big Red Machine truckin' on. Overall, he might have had the most quality offensive performance by a rookie, but it was a very quiet quality and awards like this are about the excitement of a player in his first year lighting it up with the best in the business, and he didn't really provide that.

Wilin Rosario
.270 AVG, 28 HR, 71 RBI, 19 2B, .843 OPS

Rosario had an even quieter campaign than Frazier, mostly because of his small-market Rockies that didn't come within shouting distance of the playoffs. At 23-years-old, he already appears to be one of the best offensive catchers in the majors, up there with the likes of Posey, Mauer, and Molina. It's too bad that there are three clear cut leaders in this race, because he does deserve a few votes.

Anthony Rizzo
.285 AVG, 15 HR, 48 RBI, 15 2B, .805 OPS

Rizzo was a steal for the Cubs, who got him for relief pitchers Andrew Cashner before the 2012 season. A highly touted prospect in the Red Sox organization, he quickly blossomed with the Cubs once he got his chance. He played less than half of the season, which will certainly hurt him a lot, but it won't hurt him down the road when future homerun leaders are up for grabs.

Wade Miley
16-11, 3.33 ERA, 144 K, 37 BB, 194.2 IP

While he didn't lead his Diamondbacks to the playoffs, that is not as important to this award as it is for the MVP and Cy Young awards. Putting up a 3.33 is impressive regardless of age, but it did take place in the NL West (possibly the weakest division in baseball). Despite his relatively easy season, I feel that this is where the writers will lean towards, as 4 of the last 6 ROY winners have been pitchers.


Bryce Harper

.270 AVG, 22 HR, 59 RBI, 26 2B, 9 3B, 18 SB, .817 OPS

This would be my vote for NL Rookie of the Year, and it wouldn't even be close. Now, a lot of people will criticizing me for being lazy, but hear me out. His stats may not jump off of the page as being above and away better than his competitor, but I ask you to use the eye test. And if you use the eye test, I don't see how you could possibly dismiss him as all hype. He plays the game in a pure, dirt-and-grime, hard-nosed way. His value in the outfield is measureless; whenever there is a ball hit to the gaps, regardless of how hard, it is never a guaranteed hit. With everything he does on the field, I want to watch it over and over and just marvel at how he plays with such passion and heart. The hype isn't undeserved either, as many people have said. There is a reason he was on the cover of Sports Illustrated at 15-years-old: he is an electrifying player that turns heads with every play he makes.

Bryce Harper for NL Rookie of the Year