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MLB Awards Watch: The wasteland of American League rookies

By Brad Rowland

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 /
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Washington Nationals right fielder Bryce Harper (34) singles against the Chicago Cubs during the first inning at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports
Washington Nationals right fielder Bryce Harper (34) singles against the Chicago Cubs during the first inning at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports /

NL MVP

  1. Bryce Harper, OF Washington Nationals – Harper doesn’t hold the outright MLB lead in home runs anymore, but that is the list of “flaws” in his MVP candidacy. Washington’s golden boy sits in a tie with Giancarlo Stanton with 19 home runs, but his overall profile is even more impressive, with a .326/.464/.706 slash line that leads to a 210 wRC+ and an MLB-leading 4.0 fWAR. Perhaps the most impressive thing for Harper has been a 20.3% walk rate, but if we’re honest, there isn’t anything on his profile that qualifies as less than impressive.
  2. Paul Goldschmidt, 1B Arizona Diamondbacks – Goldschmidt looks like an MVP in his own right, but his incredible start has been silenced by Harper’s heroics. Still, Arizona’s franchise player has 16 home runs and 9 stolen bases (from a first baseman!) in 57 games, and his .340/.466/.650 slash line is staggering. Goldschmidt trails only Harper in fWAR (3.1), wRC+ (192), and wOBA (.461), and any lingering concern about injuries in 2014 has faded away at a brisk pace.
  3. Anthony Rizzo, 1B Chicago Cubs – At the age of 25, Anthony Rizzo is virtually on pace for a 30-30 season. That is, of course, ridiculously good for any player, but when it comes from a first baseman with fantastic plate discipline, it is even more encouraging. Rizzo has 11 home runs and 10 stolen bases in 55 games, but beyond that, he has walked more times (35) than he has struck out (26), and the Cubs simply boast an embarrassment of talent with Rizzo leading the way.

Next: AL MVP

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