-
ESPN
Nov 16, 2023, 06:58 PM ET
MLB Awards Week is a wrap.
As we look forward to 2024 and await a number of the offseason’s largest free agent signings (where will you go, Shohei Ohtani?), baseball celebrated one of the best gamers (and managers) within the sport throughout the 2023 common season.
The week began off with Baltimore’s Gunnar Henderson unanimously successful American League Rookie of the 12 months honors and Arizona’s Corbin Carroll changing into a unanimous choice within the Nationwide League. Subsequent up, Henderson’s skipper, Brandon Hyde, received AL Supervisor of the 12 months, with Miami’s Skip Schumaker taking residence the NL silverware.
On Wednesday, San Diego’s Blake Snell took residence his second Cy Younger Award — this time within the NL, after having beforehand received within the AL in 2018 — whereas the Yankees’ Gerrit Cole unanimously received the AL’s Cy Younger, the primary in his profession.
Lastly, on Thursday, MLB history was made as Ohtani earned his second AL MVP Award in three seasons and Atlanta’s Ronald Acuna Jr. rode an unprecedented 40/70 marketing campaign to land his first MVP trophy — each gamers successful unanimously.
This is all the things you’ll want to find out about this week’s awards, from the ultimate voting tallies to evaluation on every winner from ESPN’s Bradford Doolittle.
Leap to … :
Rookie of the 12 months: AL | NL
Supervisor of the 12 months: AL | NL
Cy Younger: AL | NL
MVP: AL | NL
American League MVP
Winner: Shohei Ohtani, Los Angeles Angels
Closing tally: Ohtani, Angels 420 (30 first-place votes); Corey Seager, Rangers 264; Marcus Semien, Rangers 216; Julio Rodriguez, Mariners 197; Kyle Tucker, Astros 178; Yandy Diaz, Rays 137; Bobby Witt Jr., Royals 83; Gunnar Henderson, Orioles 77; Adley Rutschman, Orioles 50; Jose Ramirez, Guardians 40; Gerrit Cole, Yankees 30; Luis Robert Jr., White Sox 21; Yordan Alvarez, Astros 16; Adolis Garcia, Rangers 14; Aaron Judge, Yankees 7; Bo Bichette, Blue Jays 5; J.P. Crawford, Mariners 5; Cal Raleigh, Mariners 2; Rafael Devers, Pink Sox 2; Isaac Paredes, Rays 2; Sonny Gray, Twins 2; Alex Bregman, Astros 1; Josh Naylor, Guardians 1
Consultants’ choose: Ohtani (13 votes) (unanimous selection)
Doolittle’s take: This race was ostensibly over by the center of August, with Ohtani build up such an enormous lead in his twin position that nobody else got here shut, regardless that Ohtani’s season ended almost a month early.
On Aug. 9, when Ohtani made his final full-fledged begin on the mound (he made a short four-out begin on Aug. 23), he had already piled up 9.0 bWAR, 3.1 greater than every other participant within the majors. Ronald Acuna Jr., who had an MVP marketing campaign of his personal within the NL, was at 5.9.
At that time, Ohtani’s 5.5 bWAR for his hitting alone would have given him the AL lead, earlier than we even began tacking on his efficiency on the mound. Which, by the way, was terrific — he was third within the AL behind Cy Younger winner Cole and Texas’ Nathan Eovaldi with 3.5 pitching bWAR, the identical determine posted by the NL chief, Cy Younger winner Blake Snell.
Ohtani completed with 10.0 bWAR, 1.7 greater than anybody else regardless that he made his final look on Sept. 3. He nonetheless managed to guide the AL in homers (44), on-base proportion (.412), slugging (.654), OPS (1.066) and whole bases (325). He even batted over .300 — one among simply seven MLB qualifiers to take action — for the primary time in his profession. On the mound, he went 10-5 with a 3.14 ERA over 23 begins with 167 strikeouts, whiffing 11.4 batters per 9 innings.
As has been written so many occasions, we have simply by no means seen something like this. This was peak Ohtani, a unicorn of a famous person on the absolute top of his powers. In a means, that is sort of bittersweet. With Ohtani present process Tommy John surgical procedure for a second time, we do not know what his future on the mound will appear to be. And his magical 2023 season, had it lasted somewhat longer, may have firmly established itself within the minds of many as one of the best single season a participant has ever had.
Ohtani is much from finished, and a few staff will quickly be opening up the vault for him in a serious means. However there is no such thing as a assure that Ohtani will be capable to replicate or surpass what he has finished the previous couple of years. If he does, now we have so much to sit up for, it doesn’t matter what uniform he finally ends up carrying.
Seager’s season is a little bit of what-if as nicely. His eye-popping slash line (.327/.390/.623) included an AL-high 42 doubles and 33 homers regardless that he acquired into simply 119 video games due to damage. With Ohtani’s season ending when it did, if Seager had repeated his 151 video games performed from 2022, who is aware of how this race may need shaken out. In the event you prorate his bWAR to 151 video games, it is nonetheless “solely” 8.7, so maybe nothing would have modified. It might have been good to search out out. Seager will console himself with one other World Collection MVP trophy.
This is how my AXE leaderboard had it:
1. Ohtani, Angels (159 AXE)
2. Seager, Rangers (141)
3. Semien, Rangers (137)
4. Tucker, Astros (133)
5. Rodriguez, Mariners (132)
Notice: AXE is an index that creates a consensus score from the main worth metrics (WAR, from Fangraphs and Baseball Reference) and contextual metrics (win chance added and championship chance added, each from Baseball Reference).
MVP must-reads:
Shohei Ohtani Tracker: Where will MLB’s top free agent land?
Is Corey Seager the new Mr. October?
Nationwide League MVP
Winner: Ronald Acuna Jr., Atlanta Braves
Closing tally: Acuna Jr., Braves 420 (30 first-place votes); Mookie Betts, Dodgers 270; Freddie Freeman, Dodgers 227; Matt Olson, Braves 223; Corbin Carroll, Diamondbacks 165; Juan Soto, Padres 106; Austin Riley, Braves 68; Luis Arraez, Marlins 67; Francisco Lindor, Mets 52; Cody Bellinger, Cubs 49; William Contreras, Brewers 39; Bryce Harper, Nationals 36; Blake Snell, Padres 16; Fernando Tatis Jr., Padres 5; Ha-Seong Kim, Padres 5; Ozzie Albies, Braves 4; Logan Webb, Giants 3; Pete Alonso, Mets 3; Marcell Ozuna, Braves 2; Devin Williams, Brewers 2; Dansby Swanson, Cubs 2; Kyle Schwarber, Phillies 2; Zac Gallen, Diamondbacks 1; Christian Walker, Diamondbacks 1; TJ Friedl, Reds 1; Nick Castellanos, Phillies 1
Consultants’ picks: Acuna (12 votes), Betts (1)
Doolittle’s take: In some methods, the standard of this yr’s NL MVP race is illustrated not by what the three finalists did however what the fourth-place finisher did. Poor Matt Olson banged 54 homers, drove in 139 runs, led the NL in slugging, performed in all 162 video games for Atlanta and rolled up 7.4 bWAR. And he did not even get to be on MLB Community’s MVP announcement present, which options the finalists.
Betts was kind of even steven with Acuna within the worth metrics, and a few have identified that he ought to get much more credit score as a result of his potential to flex from proper area — the place he’s a generational defender — to each center infield positions was of immeasurable worth to a Dodgers staff that wanted assist in that space. It is a legitimate level.
Nonetheless, generally we will overthink this stuff, and Acuna’s season is what an MVP season ought to appear to be. Slash line: .337/.416/.596, and who is aware of the place he pulled that batting common from after hitting .277 over his first 5 MLB seasons. He led the NL in hits (217, probably the most by any participant in 9 years) and runs (149, probably the most by any participant in 23 years). He hammered 41 homers and drove in 106 — from the leadoff spot — rolling up 383 whole bases. And, oh yeah, he stole 73 bases in baseball’s new thievery setting, changing into the primary 40/50, 40/60 and 40/70 participant.
This was Acuna’s age-25 season, and whereas it’s going to be awfully exhausting to prime what he did in 2023, that is simply the beginning of what must be the prime of his profession. If Acuna stays wholesome, he shall be placing up mind-boggling numbers over the following few years, and this is not the final time we’ll be speaking about him within the MVP race.
Nonetheless, this was not a no brainer. Betts has each declare to the title of baseball’s finest place participant and maybe finest general participant now that the pitching half of Ohtani is on the shelf. Freeman, the metronomic famous person, continues to bolster his Corridor of Fame résumé with every passing yr. The NL is so loaded, gamers like Olson may discover out within the years to return that 50-plus homers and 130-plus RBIs simply aren’t sufficient in in the present day’s senior circuit.
This is how my AXE leaderboard had it:
1. Acuna Jr., Braves (152)
2. Betts, Dodgers (151)
3. Freeman, Dodgers (144)
4. Olson, Braves (141)
5. Carroll, Diamondbacks (137)
MVP must-reads:
Inside Ronald Acuna Jr.’s return to MVP form
How Mookie Betts became a Dodgers … infielder
American League Cy Younger
Winner: Gerrit Cole, New York Yankees
Closing tally: Cole, 210 (30 first-place votes); Sonny Gray, Twins 104; Kevin Gausman, Blue Jays 82; Kyle Bradish, Orioles 39; Luis Castillo, Mariners 23; Zach Eflin, Rays 19; Pablo Lopez, Twins 11; George Kirby, Mariners 8; Framber Valdez, Astros 6; Chris Bassitt, Blue Jays 4; Felix Bautista, Orioles 3; Chris Martin, Pink Sox 1
Consultants’ picks: Cole (13 votes) (unanimous selection)
Doolittle’s take: Gerrit Cole ranked seventh amongst energetic large league pitchers with 40.7 profession bWAR following his 2023 marketing campaign. The six pitchers forward of him received a mixed 12 Cy Younger Awards. The one pitcher forward of Cole and not using a trophy was Boston’s Chris Sale, whose profession has been kind of derailed by damage for the previous half-decade. That made the argument that Cole was one of the best energetic pitcher and not using a Cy Younger a simple name. Suffice to say, Cole is completely satisfied to now not be part of that dialog.
Timing is all the things in the case of awards as a result of whether or not you win would not rely simply on what you do, however what everybody else does. Whether or not or not you see 2023 as Cole’s finest season is dependent upon what statistics and metrics you worth. To me, he has had higher seasons, if solely as a result of he is posted a lot larger strikeout charges previously. His 9.6 strikeouts per 9 innings was his lowest determine in six years. But Cole managed to guide the AL in ERA+ (165), ERA (2.63) and innings pitched (209). Regardless of permitting extra balls in play than regular, he nonetheless led the league in fewest hits allowed per 9 innings (6.8) whereas slashing 13 homers off his AL-high determine of 33 in 2022.
Now, at age 32 and 4 years into the nine-year contract he signed with the Yankees in 2020, Cole has not solely been well worth the $36 million-per-season funding to date, however his evolution this previous season confirmed that there’s loads of motive to consider he’ll proceed to justify his huge wage. Cole stays a fixture in any staff’s dream rotation, and whereas the 2023 Yankees had a whole lot of issues, he definitely wasn’t one among them. In actual fact, he’s the sixth Yankee to win a Cy Younger however the first to take action in a yr wherein the Yankees did not make the World Collection. (The others: Bob Turley, 1958; Whitey Ford, 1961; Sparky Lyle, 1977; Ron Guidry, 1978; Roger Clemens, 2001).
At this level, Cole has 145 profession wins, 40.7 bWAR, 2,152 profession strikeouts and a league-adjusted ERA+ that is 30 factors higher than common. He owns two ERA titles and has been an All-Star six occasions. And, now, he has a Cy Younger trophy to placed on his mantel. After all, it is too quickly to start out speaking Cooperstown for Cole, however it’s not exhausting to see a path for him getting there. Because the position of the beginning pitcher has morphed over time, particularly throughout Cole’s time within the majors, we’ll ultimately must take a stern take a look at what it means to be a Corridor of Fame pitcher in a twenty first century context. Cole is on his solution to establishing the paradigm for what that appears like.
This is how my AXE leaderboard had it:
1. Cole, Yankees (153 AXE)
2. Grey, Twins (143)
3. (tie) Gausman, Blue Jays (134)
Bradish, Orioles (134)
5. Kirby, Mariners (133)
Nationwide League Cy Younger
Winner: Blake Snell, San Diego Padres
Closing tally: Snell, 204 (28 first-place votes); Logan Webb, Giants 86 (1); Zac Gallen, D-backs 68 (1); Spencer Strider, Braves 64; Justin Steele, Cubs 32; Zack Wheeler, Phillies 28; Kodai Senga, Mets 15; Corbin Burnes, Brewers 13
Consultants’ picks: Snell (12 votes), Webb (1)
Doolittle’s take: There simply wasn’t a lot that separated the highest candidates within the NL this season. If something, Snell’s win is an attention-grabbing snapshot of what voters worth in modern-day Cy Younger voting. That is to not take something away from his marketing campaign, however you possibly can have made a cogent argument for any of the highest six on the AXE leaderboard and I may need been swayed.
In some methods, Snell has turn into the consummate ace, circa 2023. He prevented runs higher than every other pitcher within the NL, which is why he received the award. He led the league with a 2.25 ERA, and his ERA+ was a strong 182. He will be maddening to observe as a result of he simply would not give in to a hitter. That retains his whiff fee elite (11.7 per 9 innings) but in addition means a whole lot of walks (5.0) — although hitters wanted these walks to get on base as a result of Snell yielded an absurdly low 5.8 hits per 9 innings.
The price of the way in which Snell works, nonetheless, is that he would not typically pitch deep into video games. He led the NL with 99 pitches thrown per sport however ranked simply 18th in innings pitched per begin. Regardless of making 32 begins on the season, he ranked simply tenth in innings pitched (180). He labors to maintain runs off the board and whereas he requires extra bullpen help than your typical ace, at his finest, he’s actually exhausting to attain in opposition to.
Snell is the twenty second pitcher to win a number of Cy Younger Awards. In some methods, he is maybe probably the most unlikely hurler to take action.
Now eight years into his profession, that is simply the second time Snell compiled sufficient innings to qualify for the ERA title. However when he did, he received these ERA titles each occasions … and received a Cy Younger Award. Apart from a decrease win whole, his 2023 season for the Padres is a digital copy of his Cy Younger season for the Tampa Bay Rays in 2018. Apart from these two standout seasons, Snell has by no means reached even 130 innings pitched regardless of a profession ERA+ of 127. He is a quality-over-quantity man, a real avatar for the present description of a rotation ace.
As I discussed earlier, good arguments may have been made for the others — particularly the opposite finalists, Webb and Gallen, who each threw a minimum of 30 extra innings than Snell did. As of late, innings could be the only most telltale element of a starter’s season as a result of a excessive whole would not simply recommend sturdiness and pitch effectivity but in addition excellence in these innings — or else a lot of them would have been allotted to the bullpen. Nonetheless, if you maintain runs off the board at a top-of-the-charts fee and take all of your turns within the rotation as Snell did, it is a exhausting mixture to beat.
This is how my AXE leaderboard had it:
1. (tie) Snell, Padres (142 AXE)
Webb, Giants (142)
3. Wheeler, Phillies (139)
4. Gallen, Diamondbacks (138)
5. (tie) Steele, Cubs (134)
Strider, Braves (134)
American League Supervisor of the 12 months
Winner: Brandon Hyde, Baltimore Orioles
Closing tally: Hyde 144 (27 first-place votes); Bruce Bochy, Rangers 61 (3); Kevin Money, Rays 52; Rocco Baldelli, Twins 8; Dusty Baker, Astros 4; John Schneider, Blue Jays 1
Consultants’ picks: Hyde (9 votes), Bochy (4)
Doolittle’s take: Anybody paying consideration knew the Orioles had been a franchise poised to bust out — however few thought they’d accomplish that in a 100-plus-win trend, not to mention this yr, simply two seasons faraway from a 110-loss season. With the laid-back Hyde setting the tone, the Child Birds received extra video games than any Baltimore staff for the reason that days of Earl Weaver, Jim Palmer and Eddie Murray. The O’s added 18 wins to their 2022 win whole (83) — which was in itself a serious shock.
Whereas the supervisor awards are the toughest to contextualize with metrics on the particular person degree, Hyde stood out in all of the areas that have a tendency to draw observers to managerial excellence. Baltimore outperformed its run profile by 7.2 wins, second-largest constructive hole within the majors. The Orioles beat their preseason over-under consensus by 23.5 wins, making them simply probably the most stunning staff in baseball. They usually went 30-16 in one-run video games.
Past that, the Orioles had been simply enjoyable, as Hyde and his workers proceed to transition a number of the sport’s most promising younger gamers into the large league degree. Who will neglect the “Homer Hose,” which was completely in no way precisely like a fraternity social gathering beer bong?
Some managers are employed ostensibly to be a rebuild skipper, to carry down the fort because the losses pile up and the staff builds its roster to rivalry worthiness. Usually, these beleaguered managers are fired in favor of a big-name skipper as quickly because the staff begins contending. Something can occur, in fact, however it certain appears like Hyde and the Orioles are a match poised for a long term collectively.
Hyde turns into the fourth Oriole to win AL Supervisor of the 12 months honors, becoming a member of Frank Robinson (1989), Davey Johnson (1997) and Buck Showalter (2014). Bochy completed a distant second, so he’ll must be content material along with his fourth World Collection trophy. Likelihood is he is completely satisfied to do exactly that.
This is how my EARL leaderboard had it:
1. Hyde, Orioles (17.3)
2. A.J. Hinch, Tigers (8.9)
3. Money, Rays (4.8)
4. Bochy, Rangers (0.4)
5. Scott Servais, Mariners (minus-0.3)
Notice: EARL is a metric that appears at how a staff’s successful proportion varies from expectations generated by projections, run differential and one-run file. Whereas attributing these measures to managerial efficiency is presumptive, the metric does have a tendency to trace nicely with the annual balloting.
Supervisor of the 12 months must-reads:
How the Baltimore Orioles went from raw talent to really good
Why Bruce Bochy might be the greatest manager ever
Nationwide League Supervisor of the 12 months
Winner: Skip Schumaker, Miami Marlins
Closing tally: Schumaker, 72 (8 first-place votes); Craig Counsell, Brewers 51 (5); Brian Snitker, Braves 48 (8); Torey Lovullo, Diamondbacks 42 (4); Dave Roberts, Dodgers 41 (4); David Bell, Reds 13 (1); David Ross, Cubs 3
Consultants’ picks: Counsell (7 votes), Schumaker (6)
Doolittle’s take: First off, I’ve to level out that the voters ignored a major candidate in David Bell, who led a rookie-laden Reds staff to a 20-win enchancment. Whether or not he did a superior job to Schumacher, Counsell or Snitker is an open debate — however the latter two piloted groups that almost all observers felt would contend, and Snitker led a loaded Braves staff that you possibly can all however pencil into the playoffs. None of that is to knock the finalists, however extra to offer some props to the ignored Bell.
The Marlins employed Schumaker, a former Cardinals coach, final winter to succeed Don Mattingly. The primary-year skipper was up for the problem, main Miami to a 15-win enchancment, a successful file and a shock wild-card slot. And so he outpaced Counsell within the voting and prevents the Cubs’ new supervisor from being honored for his work in main his outdated staff previous his new staff within the NL Central race. (Baseball will get complicated at occasions.)
The Marlins outperformed their run profile by an MLB-high 9.1 wins this season on the energy of a surreal 33-14 file in one-run video games. Main a staff that lacked offensive firepower — Miami ranked 14th in park-adjusted run scoring — Schumaker guided his membership by way of a surfeit of tight, low-scoring video games, belying his lack of expertise as the highest man within the dugout. It is exhausting to argue in opposition to his place atop the balloting.
At 43, the longer term appears brilliant for Schumaker at a time when his staff is once more feeling round for the steadiness that has all the time eluded the Marlins franchise. He is the fourth Marlins pilot to win Supervisor of the 12 months honors. The earlier three — Jack McKeon (2003), Joe Girardi (2006) and Mattingly (2020) — led the Marlins for a mixed whole of 4 seasons after being honored.
Counsell, perhaps the game’s best manager, has nonetheless by no means received the award — he now has completed second within the balloting 4 occasions. Snitker fell brief in his bid to win his second; he, too, has completed fourth or higher within the voting in every of the previous six years.
This is how my EARL leaderboard had it:
1. Bell, Reds (8.5)
2. Snitker, Braves (6.6)
3. Schumacher, Marlins (6.2)
4. Dave Martinez, Nationals (5.7)
5. Lovullo, Diamondbacks (5.5)
Supervisor of the 12 months must-reads:
Why Cubs stole Craig Counsell from Brewers
How Craig Counsell reset the managerial salary landscape — maybe forever
American League Rookie of the 12 months
Winner: Gunnar Henderson, Baltimore Orioles
Closing tally: Henderson, 150 (30 first-place votes); Tanner Bibee, Guardians 67; Triston Casas, Pink Sox 25; Josh Jung, Rangers 16; Yainer Diaz, Astros 6; Masataka Yoshida, Pink Sox 3; Edouard Julien, Twins 2; Anthony Volpe, Yankees 1
Consultants’ picks: Henderson (13 votes) (unanimous selection)
Doolittle’s take: In a few years, you might be tempted to throw out the statement that the Rookie of the 12 months is not essentially one of the best prospect in a season. This time round, the argument is extra about whose long-term outlook is extra glowing — the AL’s Henderson or the NL’s Carroll. By way of preseason consensus, each entered the season as the highest prospect of their respective league, and, all these months later, they’re no-brainer picks for the Rookie of the 12 months awards. It is good when issues line up like that.
Henderson struggled on the plate early within the season. By the top of the season, he was a catalyst within the Orioles’ lineup, ending with 28 homers. And he took over as Baltimore’s on a regular basis shortstop, shifting over from the new nook in June. From there, he performed at brief extra typically however may flip again relying on the wants of the lineup. His defensive metrics had been sturdy at each spots.
Shifting ahead, there may be room for Henderson to get even higher. He hit simply .199 with a .595 OPS in opposition to lefties, carrying over the platoon break up he displayed within the minors. That is in all probability extra of a priority for future Orioles opponents than it’s for Henderson.
Henderson turns into the primary Oriole to win AL Rookie of the 12 months honors since Cal Ripken Jr. in 1982. Final season, Adley Rutschman completed second within the voting behind Julio Rodriguez. With Jackson Holliday a well-liked choose as the present prime prospect within the sport, this basis for the Orioles simply retains getting stronger and deeper.
This is how my AXE leaderboard had it:
1. Henderson, Diamondbacks (130 AXE)
2. Bibee, Guardians (118)
3. Zack Gelof, Athletics (113)
4. (tie) Royce Lewis, Twins (112)
Edouard Julien, Twins (112)
Yennier Cano, Orioles (112)
Rookie the 12 months must-reads:
How young Orioles rode their talent to the AL’s best record
Nationwide League Rookie of the 12 months
Winner: Corbin Carroll, Arizona Diamondbacks
Closing tally: Carroll, 150 (30 first-place votes); Kodai Senga, Mets 71; James Outman, Dodgers 20; Nolan Jones, Rockies 17; Matt McLain, Reds 5; Spencer Steer, Reds 4; Eury Perez, Marlins 1; Elly De La Cruz, Reds 1; Patrick Bailey, Giants 1
Consultants’ picks: Carroll (13 votes) (unanimous selection)
Doolittle’s take: The NL’s 2023 rookie class was a robust one, however after April, there was little drama within the race for this award. Carroll rolled to a .910 OPS throughout the first month, although he was a bit overshadowed by James Outman‘s highly effective first month for the Dodgers. After that, it was all Carroll, who displayed each the constant and the spectacular on his solution to a historic rookie marketing campaign.
Carroll is the whole bundle on the plate. At 22, he manifested pace (54 steals, NL-high 10 triples), energy (25 homers, .506 slugging), contact (.285 common) and self-discipline (57 walks and 13 HBPs). He hit at residence (.902 OPS) and on the highway (.843). He hit righties (.286) and lefties (.283), although he confirmed much more slug in opposition to righties. He grew to become the primary rookie to succeed in 25 homers and 50 steals in the identical season.
Carroll was a beast within the early rounds of the postseason throughout Arizona’s unlikely run to the World Collection, however he trailed off within the Nationwide League Championship Collection and the Fall Traditional. He isn’t a completed product at 22, however who’s? As with Henderson, that he nonetheless has weaknesses to iron out is a scary prospect for Arizona opponents. Carroll is the primary Diamondbacks participant to be named Rookie of the 12 months.
As talked about, this was an awfully good rookie class within the NL. The Reds had been a one-team ROY poll on their very own, with McLain, Elly de la Cruz, Christian Encarnacion-Strand, Spencer Steer and Andrew Abbott all among the many first-year standouts.
The Mets and Giants discovered their catchers of the longer term in 2023 (Francisco Alvarez and Patrick Bailey). The Brewers graduated a plethora of thrilling outfielders (Sal Frelick, Joey Weimer, Garrett Mitchell). The Rockies’ dismal season was partially redeemed by the play and promise flashed by shortstop Ezequiel Tovar. Senga was one of the best factor that occurred within the Mets’ disappointing yr.
Forward of this spectacular group was Carroll, who, together with Henderson, confirmed us that generally even probably the most hyped prospects end up to stay as much as their superior billing.
This is how my AXE leaderboard had it:
1. Carroll, Diamondbacks (137)
2. (tie) Senga, Mets (122)
Jones, Rockies (122)
4. Outman, Dodgers (120)
5. McLain, Reds (117)
Rookie of the 12 months must-reads:
