October 18th, 2023
It looks as if on an nearly annual foundation, we wind up speaking about how the present rookie crop was among the best in baseball historical past.
That is true once more in 2023. Gunnar Henderson and Corbin Carroll entered the 12 months ranked 1-2 on MLB Pipeline’s Prime 100 Prospects record and certain will finish it because the American and Nationwide League Rookies of the 12 months.
The Prime 100 was chock filled with prospects prepared for the large leagues, and few of them disenchanted. Francisco Alvarez, Jordan Walker and Anthony Volpe ranked proper behind Henderson and Carroll, and so they all made our All-Rookie First or Second Groups. The depth past them was hanging as nicely.
In accordance with FanGraphs’ calculations, 2023 rookie hitters amassed 68.6 WAR, second all-time in AL/NL historical past behind 2015 (75.1). Whereas this 12 months’s rookie pitchers’ complete of 46.3 WAR ranks simply 14th, the mixed complete of 114.9 WAR once more is available in second solely to 2015 (126.9).
FIRST TEAM
C: Yainer Diaz, Astros
Solely two rookie catchers prior to now 30 seasons had 300 plate appearances and a better OPS+ than Diaz’s 128: Buster Posey in 2010 (133) and Adley Rutschman in 2022 (131).
1B: Triston Casas, Pink Sox
Batted .317/.417/.617 after the All-Star break, the fourth-highest OPS (minimal 200 plate appearances) behind solely Shohei Ohtani, Matt Olson and Ronald Acuña Jr., and led all rookies with a .367 on-base proportion.
2B: Matt McLain, Reds
The Reds went 47-41 in McLain’s 88 begins, good for a .534 profitable proportion exceeding that of 10 of the opposite 14 NL golf equipment.
3B: Josh Jung, Rangers
Earlier than Jung, the final time the Rangers signed a participant who developed right into a homegrown All-Star was 2012, once they drafted Joey Gallo within the supplemental first spherical.
SS: Gunnar Henderson, Orioles
Baseball’s high prospect turned baseball’s high rookie by main all of them with 28 homers whereas offering high quality protection at shortstop and third base. The one rookies who performed the left facet of the infield and hit extra homers prior to now 50 years have been Ryan Braun (34 in 2007) and Nomar Garciaparra (30 in 1997).
OF: Corbin Carroll, D-backs
Essentially the most dynamic participant on this record, Carroll turned the primary rookie ever to mix 25 homers and 50 steals, sparking a D-backs turnaround from three straight dropping seasons to the NL Championship Collection.
OF: Nolan Jones, Rockies
Unable to discover a job with the Guardians, Jones lofted 20 homers with the Rockies and topped the Majors with 19 outfield assists in simply 90 video games.
OF: James Outman, Dodgers
The Dodgers had extra well-known rookies, however Outman was their finest, changing into the primary rookie in franchise historical past to mix 20 homers and 15 steals.
DH: Spencer Steer, Reds
Steer by some means flew beneath the radar a bit regardless of beginning video games at 5 totally different positions and pacing all rookies with 37 doubles and 86 RBIs.
SP: Tanner Bibee, Guardians
The most recent faculty finesse pitcher souped up by the Guardians, Bibee was certainly one of simply eight huge league pitchers to work 100 innings with a sub-3.00 ERA. One other was…
SP: Kodai Senga, Mets
Senga led rookie pitchers in nearly each class and have become simply the fifth within the growth period to succeed in 200 strikeouts with a sub-3.00 ERA, becoming a member of John Montefusco (1975), Dwight Gooden (1984), Hideo Nomo (1995) and Spencer Strider (2022).
RP: Yennier Cano, Orioles
No pitcher labored as many innings (72 2/3) with a greater ERA (2.11) than Cano, who tied for the Main League lead with 31 holds and completed second amongst rookies with eight saves.
SECOND TEAM
C: Francisco Alvarez, Mets
Alvarez turned simply the sixth rookie catcher and first because the Rockies’ Wilin Rosario in 2012 to hit 25 homers.
1B: Ryan Noda, Athletics
The lone Rule 5 choose on this record, Noda lastly bought a giant league alternative at age 27 and launched 16 homers whereas main all rookies with 77 walks.
2B: Zack Gelof, Athletics
Gelof did not debut till mid-July however ranked fifth afterward amongst main second basemen within the Majors with an .840 OPS (minimal 300 plate appearances).
3B: Royce Lewis, Twins
Earlier than he homered 4 occasions in six playoff video games, Lewis slashed .309/.372/.548 with 15 blasts in 58 regular-season contests.
SS: Anthony Volpe, Yankees
His .666 OPS does not leap off the web page, however he turned simply the third rookie 20-20 shortstop ever, following Garciaparra (1997) and Bobby Witt Jr. (2022).
OF: Jordan Walker, Cardinals
Simply two rookies in Cardinals historical past age 21 or youthful have hit 16 homers of their first full huge league seasons: Walker and Albert Pujols (2001).
OF: Matt Wallner, Twins
As soon as he turned an everyday following the All-Star Break, his barrel proportion (19.5, minimal 200 plate appearances) trailed solely Aaron Decide (24.8) and Shohei Ohtani (22.0).
OF: Masataka Yoshida, Pink Sox
The World Baseball Basic hero led the Pink Sox and all rookies in hitting at .289, the most effective mark for a Boston rookie since Dustin Pedroia’s .317 in 2007.
DH: Edouard Julien, Twins
The Arizona Fall League’s 2022 breakout participant of the 12 months, Julien confirmed that his batting eye translated to the large leagues by rating fifth in stroll proportion (minimal 400 plate appearances) at 15.7.
SP: Bobby Miller, Dodgers
Miller helped plug a gap in a depleted Dodgers rotation whereas main all rookies (minimal 100 innings) with a 1.10 WHIP.
SP: Eury Pérez, Marlins
Miami’s finest pitching prospect because the late José Fernández lived as much as the hype, logging a 1.34 ERA in his first 9 begins and a 3.15 mark general.
RP: Tyler Holton, Tigers
Claimed off waivers from the D-backs in February, he posted a 2.11 ERA and topped all pitchers (minimal 80 innings) with a 0.87 WHIP. Since 1900, the one AL/NL rookies with that many innings and a greater ERA and WHIP than Holton are Babe Adams (1909) and Dellin Betances (2014).
