In the modern MLB, rookies are essential to have in order to be successful. Injuries can strike at any time, and teams are always looking to make deals between rookies that could make or break a roster for years to come.
This season, there is certainly no shortage of rookies in the majors who are looking to make a name for themselves.
They have come from all over the field, and have been difference-makers for their respective teams. While it’s only a few weeks into the season, these six rookies are primed to be starts in the future.
6. Nolan Arenado - 3B, Colorado Rockies
While Arenado has only appeared in four games this season, he has used those four games to show the Rockies he is worthy of getting more plate appearances in the future. In 17 at-bats, Arenado has four hits, two runs batted in and a home run. This certainly isn’t a large pool of data to be able to tell how well he is going to do in the majors, but those stats on top of his minor league numbers make a compelling argument for Arenado to receive more playing time.
In 18 games with AAA Colorado Springs, Arenado has 21 RBI and three homers. At 22, Arenado is looking to become an everyday starter in the league, and his current numbers make a serious case for that.
5. A.J. Pollock - OF, Arizona Diamondbacks
The 2013 season isn’t Pollock’s first go-around in the MLB, after playing in 31 games last year for Arizona, but it certainly looks to be his best. In 24 games, Pollock has already surpassed his numbers from last year in runs, RBI, stolen bases and homers. His average isn’t all that impressive at .264, but his nine doubles are tied for the team lead. He is an older rookie at 25, but Pollock is off to a hot start this year.
4. Matt Adams - 1B, St. Louis Cardinals
After only playing in eight games, Adams was placed on the 15-day disabled list with an oblique injury, but those eight games were certainly impressive. Before going down with injury, Adams was hitting .542, recording 13 hits in 24 at-bats. That average also came with five runs and three homers, which is still tied for second-best on the team. After seeing what he can do when he’s healthy, fans are anxiously awaiting Adams’s return to the lineup.
3. Jose Fernandez - SP, Miami Marlins
The Miami Marlins haven’t had much to be excited about in 2013 with their 8-22 start, but Jose Fernandez have at least given fans something to be encouraged about. Fernandez’s 4.50 earned run average isn’t great, but he does have 23 strikeouts in his five games. Fernandez is still without a win, but that’s mainly due to poor offense on Miami’s part.
In his first two starts, Fernandez was sporting a 1.31 ERA. In his second start of the year against the Philadelphia Phillies, Fernandez threw six innings and struck out five batters, only allowing two hits. He struggled in his next three starts, but if Fernandez can return to the form he had early on in the year he could turn out to be a solid rookie.
2. Shelby Miller - SP, St. Louis Cardinals
The Cardinals have gotten off to a hot start, going 17-11 in the first part of the season, with three of those wins coming from 22-year-old Shelby Miller. In five starts, Miller has 36 strikeouts and has a 2.05 ERA. After only starting one game last year, Miller is only giving up six hits per nine innings en route to a 1.011 WHIP. Miller has been undoubtedly the best rookie pitcher so far this year.
1. Evan Gattis - C, Atlanta Braves
At 26, Evan Gattis is certainly one of the older rookies in the majors this year. However, he has gotten a chance to shine once starting catcher Brian McCann went down with injury. McCann is still not back, and Gattis has shined in his place. Most recently, the catcher was named rookie of the month for April in the American League, and rightfully so.
Gattis is hitting .253, but more impressively is slugging .542 en route to six homeruns and 16 RBI. He also strikes out fairly rarely, only going down on strikes 19 times in 83 at-bats this season. It’s tough to say how much playing time Gattis will get once McCann returns to the lineup, but for now he’s certainly been the best rookie this year.