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MLB Awards Watch: Dexter Fowler is having himself a season

By Brad Rowland

Apr 24, 2016; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Chicago Cubs outfielder Dexter Fowler (left) acknowledges the crowd after the Cubs defeated the Cincinnati Reds 9-0 at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: David Kohl-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 24, 2016; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Chicago Cubs outfielder Dexter Fowler (left) acknowledges the crowd after the Cubs defeated the Cincinnati Reds 9-0 at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: David Kohl-USA TODAY Sports /
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May 15, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; St. Louis Cardinals shortstop Aledmys Diaz (36) hits a sacrifice fly to score St. Louis Cardinals center fielder Randal Grichuk (15) in the 8th inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports
May 15, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; St. Louis Cardinals shortstop Aledmys Diaz (36) hits a sacrifice fly to score St. Louis Cardinals center fielder Randal Grichuk (15) in the 8th inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports /

I hear you.

This is the third edition of the 2016 season when it comes to evaluating MLB awards and, trust me, I’m well aware that it is “too early” to do this. No one is saying otherwise, but in the same breath, isn’t it fun to tear into hypothetical arguments with fervor in mid-May? We think so and, hopefully, you will too.

Now, to the award races.

NL Rookie of the Year

  1. Aledmys Diaz, SS St. Louis Cardinals – If you projected Aledmys Diaz to hold a .658 slugging percentage in mid-May, you win. Nobody else saw this coming (including the Cardinals), but the talented 25-year-old shortstop continues to produce at an obscene level. To go along with that slugging percentage, Diaz is getting on base at a .405 clip with six home runs and 25 runs scored in 35 games, and with more than acceptable defense, he remains the front-runner for NL Rookie of the Year.
  2. Corey Seager, SS Los Angeles Dodgers – The former top overall prospect got off to a bit of a slow start, but that is now a thing of the past. Seager is (still) just 22 years old, but his .293/.348/.497 slash line looks pretty strong, and after a big night on Monday, he has six home runs on the season. The difference between Seager and our number three NL rookie is defense, and he is the full package.
  3. Trevor Story, SS Colorado Rockies – Since the early-season breakout, Story has been exceedingly human. However, he hasn’t been “bad” by any means, and with 11 home runs and a .620 slugging percentage after 36 games, Story remains firmly in the mix here. As referenced above, Seager is a much better defender and that will serve as a tie-breaker for me, but Story isn’t going away just yet.

Next: AL Rookie of the Year

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