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MLB Awards Watch: Jake Arrieta challenges LA duo for NL Cy Young

By Brad Rowland

Aug 30, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Jake Arrieta (49) reacts after thawing his final pitch of the ninth inning for a no hitter against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. Cubs won 2-0. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 30, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Jake Arrieta (49) reacts after thawing his final pitch of the ninth inning for a no hitter against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. Cubs won 2-0. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports /
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Chicago Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant (17) high-fives Chicago Cubs second baseman Javier Baez (9) after he hits a two-run homer in the fifth inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-USA TODAY Sports
Chicago Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant (17) high-fives Chicago Cubs second baseman Javier Baez (9) after he hits a two-run homer in the fifth inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-USA TODAY Sports /

NL Rookie of the Year

  1. Kris Bryant, 3B Chicago Cubs – Bryant has been obscenely good. The youngster blasted a 495-foot home run over the weekend, bringing his total to 23 on the season (in just 127 games), and with a .367 on-base percentage and a .485 slugging percentage, this frankly isn’t close. His defense has been better than advertised, he has real speed at third base and, well, his bat speaks for itself.
  2. Jung-ho Kang, IF Pittsburgh Pirates – Kang combines a strong bat (128 wRC+) with positional versatility and above-average defense. As a rookie, that is a very nice combination. Matt Duffy has received more accolades, Randal Grichuk has more upside and Joc Pederson has counting stats, but I’ll go with Kang as the full package in an important role.
  3. Noah Syndergaard, SP New York Mets – Syndergaard doesn’t lead NL rookie pitchers in fWAR (Anthony DeSclafani), but he has been the best first-year arm in the league. Since arriving mid-season, he has produced a 3.31 ERA across 20 starts, and with more than a strikeout per inning, it is very easy see Syndergaard’s upside. The Mets have earned a great deal of attention for their young arms, and Syndergaard may end up as the best of the bunch in a few years.

Next: AL Rookie of the Year

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