Top Rookies Battling for Individual Honors, Playoff Position

Paul Skenes of the Pittsburgh Pirates throws against the Milwaukee Brewers in Milwaukee on July 11, 2024. Kayla Wolf/AP Photo

Every year, young players make the jump to the major leagues and make an impact on their teams. In baseball, the maturation process isn’t as immediate as in football or basketball, but every once in a while, a player arrives in the big leagues quickly and provides hope to his team’s fans.

For others, though, the timeline to the majors can take longer. Situations change, as can positions, and trades can afford players a better opportunity to show their abilities than they had with their previous employers.

All of those factors are influencing the Rookie of the Year races in the National and American Leagues this year. Players are also making significant impacts on playoff races in both leagues, perhaps no more dramatically than the American League East. That is the tightest race in Major League Baseball, and rookies in both Baltimore and New York could influence the voters if they can help their teams win that division.

Let’s take a look at which young players might hear their names called when this year’s Rookie of the Year awards are handed out.

National League Favorites

The clear leader for the National League Rookie of the Year Award is Pittsburgh Pirates ace Paul Skenes. He exploded onto the scene after starting the season in the minors and has been dominant despite his team not competing for a playoff berth. He was only the fifth rookie to start the All-Star Game for the National League in July.

However, there has been some conversation recently about the Pirates limiting his use down the stretch because of his limited pro experience. That could open the door for others to jump into the conversation.

In San Diego, Jackson Merrill has been a revelation. A shortstop by trade, he’s primarily played the outfield since being promoted to the big leagues. He’s been one of the more clutch players in the entire National League this season and is putting up silly numbers offensively. He’s already accumulated 3.4 wins above replacement (WAR) and has 17 home runs and 66 RBI to go with 13 stolen bases and a 124 on-base plus slugging (OPS+)—per Baseball Reference.

Jake Cronenworth, #9 of the San Diego Padres, and Jackson Merrill, #3, celebrate a 2–1 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates at Petco Park in San Diego on Aug 12, 2024. Denis Poroy/Getty Images

Two Chicago Cubs have a good case for votes as well. First baseman Michael Busch was the top prospect in the Dodgers’ system for a while before he was traded to Chicago during the offseason. He’s quieted the concerns about his perceived defensive limitations and become a strong first baseman (he was a third baseman in Los Angeles) and has produced well offensively. He’s a 2.9 WAR player with 16 home runs and a 122 OPS+ in 118 games entering Monday.

The other Cubs candidate is starter Shota Imanaga, who has been better than advertised after leaving Japan for the big leagues this past winter. Like Merrill and Skenes, Imanaga was an all-star in his rookie season. He’s 9-3 with 137 strikeouts in 133.1 innings pitched and a 3.11 ERA.

In Milwaukee, young outfielder Jackson Chourio has been a terrific player at the plate and in the field for the division-leading Brewers. As a 20-year-old, he’s a 2.9 WAR player with 15 home runs and 53 RBI and a 108 OPS+ for the favorites to win the National League Central.

American League Favorites

There’s a lot of talk about which young players will step forward in the final weeks of the regular season to claim the award for the American League. This isn’t nearly as clear-cut as the case for Skenes in the National League.

Colton Cowser appears to be the front-runner at this point. The Orioles’ 24-year-old outfielder has 18 home runs and 56 RBI with a 120 OPS+ and 2.1 WAR. As Baltimore chases a playoff berth, he’s emerging as an important part of the team’s lineup on a daily basis.

Colton Cowser, #17 of the Baltimore Orioles, celebrates with teammates in the dugout after scoring in the first inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida, on Aug. 10, 2024. Julio Aguilar/Getty Images

He’ll be challenged for the Rookie of the Year Award as much as his team will be challenged for playoff position by the Boston Red Sox and their rookie phenom, Ceddanne Rafaela. Playing multiple positions well has helped his case; he’s a 2.2 WAR player with 13 home runs, 59 RBI, and 17 stolen bases for the Red Sox.

In Texas, Wyatt Langford has a strong case as well. He was drafted three spots after Skenes in the 2023 MLB Draft and sprinted to the majors as well. He’s been a 1.0 WAR player with seven home runs and 49 RBI in 99 games entering Monday.

Finally, two Yankees could make a good case if they can contribute to a division-winning stretch run. Starter Luis Gil and catcher Austin Wells are both playing key parts on a team for which they were supposed to be playing supporting roles when the season began.

Gil got off to a great start to the season but cooled off. He’s 12-6 with 141 strikeouts in 121.2 innings pitched. Unfortunately for the Yankees, he’s issued a major league-leading 60 free passes. Wells, meanwhile, has 2.4 WAR with nine home runs and a 112 OPS+ while handling the catching duties most days in the Bronx.