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MLB Awards Watch: Chris Archer makes the leap

By Brad Rowland

Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Chris Archer (22) waves off the trainer after being hit by a line drive in the first inning against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports
Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Chris Archer (22) waves off the trainer after being hit by a line drive in the first inning against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports /
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Tampa Bay Rays right fielder Steven Souza Jr. (20) hits a home run during the ninth inning against the Cleveland Indians at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
Tampa Bay Rays right fielder Steven Souza Jr. (20) hits a home run during the ninth inning against the Cleveland Indians at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports /

AL Rookie of the Year

  1. Steven Souza, OF Tampa Bay Rays – Souza grabs the top spot for the second straight week, based on some impressive raw numbers. The much-heralded prospect has accumulated 14 home runs and 9 stolen bases in 67 games, placing him firmly in the running for a 20-20 season with extended power. Souza’s strikeout rate will be an issue at 33.0% (!) for the season, but if he can somehow tighten that up, Tampa Bay has a gem.
  2. Trevor May, SP Minnesota Twins – I’m buying on Trevor May. Minnesota likely didn’t hold high expectations for May heading into the season, but his strikeout-to-walk ratio is greater than 4-to-1 at this point, and that is something that I value a great deal. May’s 4.03 ERA is nothing to get terribly excited about, but that won’t kill you in the AL, and his FIP (3.09) illustrates that he has been better than the ERA suggests.
  3. Billy Burns, OF Oakland Athletics – Speed kills. Burns brings the lion’s share of his value on the basepaths, where he has 15 stolen bases in only 210 plate appearances. To be honest, that number feels low for where he could be on a per-AB basis, but Burns has also been hitting and that is what lands him here. Oakland’s speedster currently holds a .323/.367/.421 slash line, and as long as that persists, he’ll receive consideration.

Next: NL Cy Young

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