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MLB Awards Watch: Mike Trout is still incredible

By Brad Rowland

June 26, 2016; Anaheim, CA, USA; Los Angeles Angels center fielder Mike Trout (27) reaches home to score the game winning run in the ninth inning against Oakland Athletics at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
June 26, 2016; Anaheim, CA, USA; Los Angeles Angels center fielder Mike Trout (27) reaches home to score the game winning run in the ninth inning against Oakland Athletics at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jun 24, 2016; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Corey Seager (5) looses his helmet on the way to score a run against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the fifth inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 24, 2016; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Corey Seager (5) looses his helmet on the way to score a run against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the fifth inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports /

The 2016 MLB season is almost 50 percent over.

It seems crazy to think that nearly half of the campaign is in the books, but as each of the league’s 30 teams nears the 80-game mark, that is the reality. With that on the table, we have plenty of data to evaluate MLB award races with some level of credibility at this point. In most cases, you will see that the cream has begun to rise to the top (cough, Mike Trout, cough) and that trend will only continue over the next 80-plus games.

Let’s break down the races, beginning with NL Rookie of the Year.

NL Rookie of the Year

1. player. 71. <p>There is a legitimate argument for Seager as an NL MVP candidate. That is how good he has been this season. The 22-year-old shortstop has the counting stats with 16 home runs and 50 runs scored this season, but his .298/.356/.528 slash line is impressive as well. Beyond that, Seager is already a top-flight defender at perhaps the most important position on the diamond, and he has been the best position player for a World Series contender. That seems like a good profile for a Rookie of the Year front-runner.</p>. SS. Los Angeles Dodgers. Corey Seager

SS. Colorado Rockies. Trevor Story. 2. player. 108. <p>After a torrid start to the year, Story hasn’t been nearly as productive, but every at-bat matters. To be fair, Story has still been pretty darn impressive, as he holds a .559 slugging percentage to pair with 19 home runs on the season. His defense grades out as below average and there are some on-base issues, but that power is pretty ridiculous, even in Coors Field. The trouble? Story still holds a 32.5% percent strikeout rate. Danger looms.</p>

SP. Los Angeles Dodgers. Kenta Maeda. 3. player. 71. <p>You would be hard pressed to find a lot of fans who would choose Maeda over Steven Matz, but that is what I’m doing here. Maeda holds the better ERA (2.91), but more than that, he has been more durable, making 15 starts and eating through 86.2 innings before the end of June. Los Angeles desperately needed his performance in support of Clayton Kershaw, and the rookie right-hander has delivered in a big way.</p>

Next: AL Rookie of the Year

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