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MLB Awards Predictions

By Brad Rowland

Mar 24, 2015; Surprise, AZ, USA; Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout bats against the Texas Rangers in a spring training game at Surprise Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 24, 2015; Surprise, AZ, USA; Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout bats against the Texas Rangers in a spring training game at Surprise Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /
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Chicago Cubs outfielder Kris Bryant (76) at bat during a spring training game against the Los Angeles Angels at Sloan Park. Mandatory Credit: Allan Henry-USA TODAY Sports
Chicago Cubs outfielder Kris Bryant (76) at bat during a spring training game against the Los Angeles Angels at Sloan Park. Mandatory Credit: Allan Henry-USA TODAY Sportsgm /

NL Rookie of the Year

  1. Kris Bryant, 3B Chicago Cubs – The demotion of Bryant has been a hot-button topic in the Spring, but as you can see by this selection, spending a few weeks in the minors shouldn’t submarine his entire 2015 campaign. The 23-year-old third baseman is seen by many as the number one prospect in baseball, and that comes with the territory when you blast 43 home runs in the minors as a 22-year-old and set the league on fire with 9 long balls in the Spring. Bryant is a rare commodity in that he could easily hit 30 home runs as a rookie, and even if he struggles to get on-base at a desirable rate given the jump in pitching quality, the power is undeniable. 30 home runs would make him an almost automatic winner of the award, and that the impetus for the pick.
  2. Joc Pederson, OF Los Angeles Dodgers – Pederson struggled in 38 major league PA’s in 2014, but that shouldn’t scare anyone away. The 22-year-old (he will be 23 for most of the 2015 season) outfielder has profiled as an elite prospect for some time, and with the trade of Matt Kemp to San Diego, there is finally a path to playing time with the Dodgers. Pederson posted a 30-30 season in AAA as a 22-year-old, and with the fact that he is also a high-end defensive prospect, the sky is the limit for his potential. The biggest road block could be Don Mattingly leaning heavily on Andre Ethier (yikes), but there is no question that Joc Pederson is one of the best three outfielders in blue.
  3. Jorge Soler, OF Chicago Cubs – Unlike Bryant and Pederson, Soler has actually contributed in a positive way at the MLB level. The 23-year-old outfielder blasted 5 home runs with a .573 slugging percentage in 97 PA’s last season, and he is also the player who enters 2015 with the most job security. If given a full season’s worth of at-bats, it seems safe to project Soler for 20-25 home runs, and if his plate discipline matures as the season moves along, it isn’t crazy to think he could outperform his teammate (Bryant) in terms of full-season marks. In short, the NL Rookie of the Year race is loaded.

Next: AL Rookie of the Year

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