MLB Awards Watch: The wasteland of American League rookies

Tampa Bay Rays right fielder Steven Souza Jr. (20) hits a solo home run off Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Miguel Gonzalez (50) (not pictured) during the second inning at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Tampa Bay Rays right fielder Steven Souza Jr. (20) hits a solo home run off Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Miguel Gonzalez (50) (not pictured) during the second inning at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
1 of 7
Next
Tampa Bay Rays right fielder Steven Souza Jr. (20) hits a solo home run off Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Miguel Gonzalez (50) (not pictured) during the second inning at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Tampa Bay Rays right fielder Steven Souza Jr. (20) hits a solo home run off Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Miguel Gonzalez (50) (not pictured) during the second inning at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports /

The MLB Draft is upon us, and while some of the focus may have shifted to the future as new blood arrives, there is still plenty of action taking place on the diamond on a nightly basis. It is certainly true that a few teams (cough, Milwaukee, cough) could be out of the running for the playoffs in early June, but for the most part, tensions remain high and the spotlight is bright.

That is especially true of the individual stars who make the game great, and in this space, we will take a snapshot of those impact players. Each week, we will glance at the league’s six major individual awards, and with that, we can attempt to gauge how things would shake out “if the season ended today”.

Last week’s collection can be found here, and it was highlighted by some big-time movement from a couple of third basemen in Josh Donaldson and Todd Frazier. As for this week, you’ll have to click through to find out.

Now, we can begin with the NL Rookie of the Year race, moving toward the end and the pursuit of the AL MVP award. Let’s roll.

Next: NL Rookie of the Year