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MLB Awards Watch: Rolling with Mike Trout

By Brad Rowland

Los Angeles Angels center fielder Mike Trout (27) runs after hitting a single in the sixth inning against the Seattle Mariners at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Los Angeles Angels center fielder Mike Trout (27) runs after hitting a single in the sixth inning against the Seattle Mariners at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /
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Tampa Bay Rays right fielder Steven Souza Jr. (20) catches a foul fly ball during the fifth inning against the Boston Red Sox at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Tampa Bay Rays right fielder Steven Souza Jr. (20) catches a foul fly ball during the fifth inning against the Boston Red Sox at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

AL Rookie of the Year

  1. Steven Souza, OF Tampa Bay Rays – Souza’s case for ROY remains quite interesting. He has 14 home runs and 10 steals by the end of June and, well, that is impressive. At the same time, though, he is striking out nearly 35% (!) of the time and Souza holds a .215 batting average in 73 games. For me, a solid walk rate that allows him to keep an OBP above .300 is enough to give him the slight nod in the American League, but opinions are wide-reaching about his impact.
  2. Billy Burns, OF Oakland Athletics – Burns is a pure speedster at this point in his career, but at 25, he has some strong numbers. Through 51 games, he holds a .318/.357/.418 slash line with 15 steals, and in a weak crop of candidates, that is enough. There is (warranted) concern about his defense, but as long as Burns is playing, the steals will come.
  3. Carlos Correa, SS Houston Astros – It is insane to rank Correa here and I am well aware of that. However, the 20-year-old shortstop already lands second among AL rookies in fWAR after just 21 games of action, and he has been a revelation with a .300 batting average and a stellar .567 slugging percentage. Correa has the tools to be an elite player at an early age, and provided he can avoid the rookie wall, it isn’t too late for the uber-prospect to take home ROY honors in the AL.

Next: NL Cy Young

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