Welcome to the third version of MLB Pipeline’s 2023 Rookie Power Rankings. Each month, the Pipeline employees votes on who we imagine to be the likeliest Rookie of the Year winners on the finish of the season.
That final half is important, by the way in which: “at the end of the season.” We’re not voting on who would win if the awards have been handed out right now. We after all closely think about efficiency so far, however we steadiness it with our expectations for the remainder of the 12 months. As the 12 months goes on, current-season stats will weigh extra closely, and people projections will wash out of the rankings.
Though now we have a repeat No. 1, the rankings past the highest spot have shaken up fairly a bit over the previous month. Here’s how the votes got here out:
1. Corbin Carroll, OF, D-backs (earlier rank: 1)
What’s to not love in regards to the man who began the season as Pipeline’s No. 2 total prospect? Carroll has completed slightly little bit of the whole lot for the shocking D-backs, with a .282/.369/.503 line, a strong command of the strike zone, and 14 steals in 16 tries. He’s placing up counting stats in addition to price stats, and we anticipate him to stick with it. Frankly, a reasonably straightforward selection at No. 1.
2. Francisco Alvarez, C, Mets (beforehand unranked)
Alvarez scuffled a bit upon being promoted, however he has discovered the software that has been his calling card all through his profession: energy. Alvarez is simply mashing over the previous few weeks, with seven homers in 15 video games. That provides him eight on the season and a sturdy .558 slugging proportion. That’s fairly good for anyone, by no means thoughts a 21-year-old catcher.
3. Josh Jung, 3B, Rangers (earlier rank: 5)
Steadily, steadily, Jung retains hitting and retains climbing the rankings. He’s now our chief amongst American League rookies because of his .283/.332/.505 line for a contending Rangers group. He’s already amassed 11 homers and 35 RBIs whereas additionally holding it down as an efficient defensive third baseman. He doesn’t have the wow issue of a few of the names on this listing, however in the event you hit, you keep on the listing.
4. Hunter Brown, RHP, Astros (earlier rank: 3)
Though he began May with a few iffy outings, Brown has steadied the ship with 27 K’s towards three walks over his final three begins. He’s racking up innings, wins and strikeouts for one of many league’s finest groups, he has the prospect pedigree, and we anticipate him to maintain performing. He was very shut behind Jung within the vote.
5. Masataka Yoshida, OF, Red Sox (earlier rank: 6)
Another regular, efficient producer, Yoshida is hitting for common, hitting for average energy and completely controlling the strike zone. He could also be dinged a bit for taking part in a superb quantity of DH and never being the slickest fielder when he does play the outfield, however so long as he retains hitting, he has an opportunity at some {hardware} on the finish of the 12 months.
6. Taj Bradley, RHP, Rays (beforehand unranked)
If there’s one theme for this month’s rankings, it’s extremely rated rookie pitchers incomes beginning rotation spots. Three of the following 4 names match that description. Bradley’s path was barely completely different from the following two, since he got here up, went again to the Minors briefly, and got here again up once more. But he’s been constantly wonderful for Tampa Bay, with 42 strikeouts towards simply 5 walks in six begins. As Pipeline’s No. 16 total prospect, we anticipate him to stick with it.
7. Bryce Miller, RHP, Mariners (beforehand unranked)
Miller’s numbers look rather a lot like Bradley’s, and we like him nearly as a lot. Like Bradley, he’s throwing strikes – three walks in 36 innings. He’s not fairly racking up the K’s like Bradley, however he’s pitching deeper into video games, with a really strong 6.0 innings per begin. He’s our No. 58 total prospect, and there’s no motive to suppose he received’t proceed to provide.
8 (tie). Kodai Senga, RHP, Mets (earlier rank: 7)
Senga, who after all broke camp within the Mets’ rotation, continues to be a bit up and down, however efficient total. He was good in putting out 12 Rays on May 17, however that was sandwiched by a pair of a lot shakier begins. Unlike Bradley or Miller, his stroll price stays distressingly excessive, however like them he has a safe rotation spot on a postseason contender.
8 (tie). Eury Pérez, RHP, Marlins (beforehand unranked)
And right here’s our final new entrant, and perhaps essentially the most thrilling. Pérez is baseball’s high rated pitching prospect, at No. 6 in the newest Pipeline Top 100 refresh. His ceiling is astronomical. He’s additionally barely 20 years previous, and undoubtedly rather less of a certain factor within the quick time period than Bradley or Miller. Still, he’s been efficient if inefficient to date, permitting two or fewer runs in three of his 4 begins. We’d prefer to see him throw extra strikes and pitch deeper into video games, however his finest is astonishing.
10. Gunnar Henderson, 3B, Orioles (earlier rank: 2)
We haven’t given up on Henderson, who regardless of his .199 batting common is doing not less than a number of issues proper. He has 13 extra-base hits and 28 walks in 48 video games, and that’s not nothing. Still, it could be good to start out seeing him rap out a number of extra base hits and strike out rather less. We imagine he’ll, however based mostly on the numbers to date, he’s a bottom-half-of-the-top-10 man moderately than high half.
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