Saturday, August 8, 2015

2015 Rookies Could Be Best Ever

The 2015 Major League Baseball rookie class will be one for the record books.


How to begin this piece is very difficult. Do you focus on the present and the guys in the big leagues now that have a very good shot at not just the Rookie of the Year award, but stardom all together?

Do you focus on the past? Like the 2001 class with guys like Ichiro or Albert Pujols and CC Sabbathia?

I think to focus on how good the rookies of 2015 are, we should talk about some pretty darn good rookies of before.

I preface this all by saying I'm going off Rookie of the Year voting because I want to focus on the first year players that performed at a high level initially, rather than rose to the top as they matured in the big leagues.

Make sense?

So to me, there are two classes that stick out the most since the mid-70s, and that's 2001 and 1984.
Voting Results Batting Stats Pitching Stats
Rank Name Tm Vote Pts 1st Place Share WAR G AB R H HR RBI SB BB BA OBP SLG OPS W L ERA WHIP G GS SV IP H HR BB SO
1 Alvin Davis SEA 134.0 25.0 96% 5.9 152 567 80 161 27 116 5 97 .284 .391 .497 .888
2 Mark Langston SEA 82.0 3.0 59% 4.6 35 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 17 10 3.40 1.360 35 33 0 225.0 188 16 118 204
3 Kirby Puckett MIN 23.0 0.0 16% 3.3 128 557 63 165 0 31 14 16 .296 .320 .336 .655
4 Tim Teufel MIN 5.0 0.0 4% 3.8 157 568 76 149 14 61 1 76 .262 .349 .400 .749
5 Mike Young BAL 3.0 0.0 2% 2.0 123 401 59 101 17 52 6 58 .252 .355 .431 .786
6 Roger Clemens BOS 2.0 0.0 1% 1.9 21 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 9 4 4.32 1.313 21 20 0 133.1 146 13 29 126
7 Mark Gubicza KCR 1.0 0.0 1% 1.7 29 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 10 14 4.05 1.307 29 29 0 189.0 172 13 75 111
7 Al Nipper BOS 1.0 0.0 1% 2.9 29 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 11 6 3.89 1.286 29 24 0 182.2 183 18 52 84
7 Ron Romanick CAL 1.0 0.0 1% 3.1 33 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 12 12 3.76 1.311 33 33 0 229.2 240 23 61 87
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 8/8/2015.

Voting Results Batting Stats Pitching Stats
Rank Name Tm Vote Pts 1st Place Share WAR G AB R H HR RBI SB BB BA OBP SLG OPS W L ERA WHIP G GS SV IP H HR BB SO
1 Dwight Gooden NYM 118.0 23.0 98% 5.7 31 70 5 14 0 3 0 1 .200 .205 .200 .405 17 9 2.60 1.073 31 31 0 218.0 161 7 73 276
2 Juan Samuel PHI 67.0 1.0 56% 2.9 160 701 105 191 15 69 72 28 .272 .307 .442 .749
3 Orel Hershiser LAD 15.0 0.0 12% 4.6 45 50 4 10 0 2 0 3 .200 .259 .200 .459 11 8 2.66 1.107 45 20 2 189.2 160 9 50 150
4 Dan Gladden SFG 9.0 0.0 8% 3.2 86 342 71 120 4 31 31 33 .351 .410 .447 .857
5 Ron Darling NYM 3.0 0.0 2% 1.8 39 67 7 10 0 3 0 1 .149 .159 .164 .324 12 9 3.81 1.376 33 33 0 205.2 179 17 104 136
6 Carmelo Martinez SDP 2.0 0.0 2% 4.1 149 488 64 122 13 66 1 68 .250 .340 .395 .736
7 Terry Pendleton STL 1.0 0.0 1% 2.0 67 262 37 85 1 33 20 16 .324 .357 .420 .777
7 Jeff Stone PHI 1.0 0.0 1% 1.7 51 185 27 67 1 15 27 9 .362 .394 .465 .859
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 8/8/2015.

Voting Results Batting Stats Pitching Stats
Rank Name Tm Vote Pts 1st Place Share WAR G AB R H HR RBI SB BB BA OBP SLG OPS W L ERA WHIP G GS SV IP H HR BB SO
1 Ichiro Suzuki SEA 138.0 27.0 99% 7.7 157 692 127 242 8 69 56 30 .350 .381 .457 .838
2 CC Sabathia CLE 73.0 1.0 52% 2.8 33 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 .000 .000 .000 17 5 4.39 1.353 33 33 0 180.1 149 19 95 171
3 Alfonso Soriano NYY 35.0 0.0 25% -0.0 158 574 77 154 18 73 43 29 .268 .304 .432 .736
4 David Eckstein ANA 6.0 0.0 4% 4.2 153 582 82 166 4 41 29 43 .285 .355 .357 .712
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 8/8/2015.
Voting Results Batting Stats Pitching Stats
Rank Name Tm Vote Pts 1st Place Share WAR G AB R H HR RBI SB BB BA OBP SLG OPS W L ERA WHIP G GS SV IP H HR BB SO
1 Albert Pujols STL 160.0 32.0 100% 6.6 161 590 112 194 37 130 1 69 .329 .403 .610 1.013
2 Roy Oswalt HOU 82.0 0.0 51% 4.8 28 47 3 9 0 3 0 1 .191 .208 .213 .421 14 3 2.73 1.059 28 20 0 141.2 126 13 24 144
3 Jimmy Rollins PHI 44.0 0.0 28% 2.4 158 656 97 180 14 54 46 48 .274 .323 .419 .743
4 Adam Dunn CIN 1.0 0.0 1% 2.1 66 244 54 64 19 43 4 38 .262 .371 .578 .948
4 Bud Smith STL 1.0 0.0 1% 0.7 16 25 0 4 0 1 0 1 .160 .192 .160 .352 6 3 3.83 1.217 16 14 0 84.2 79 12 24 59
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 8/8/2015.
There are some pretty heavy names in both groups. There's a lot of accolades and success within both groups. Which one is better? I'm not going to decide that.


Then I go a little more recent and think, man, the 2006 and 1997 groups are quite good as well.
Voting Results Batting Stats Pitching Stats
Rank Name Tm Vote Pts 1st Place Share WAR G AB R H HR RBI SB BB BA OBP SLG OPS W L ERA WHIP G GS SV IP H HR BB SO
1 Justin Verlander DET 133.0 26.0 95% 4.1 30 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 .000 .000 .000 17 9 3.63 1.328 30 30 0 186.0 187 21 60 124
2 Jonathan Papelbon BOS 63.0 0.0 45% 5.0 59 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 2 0.92 0.776 59 0 35 68.1 40 3 13 75
3 Francisco Liriano MIN 30.0 1.0 21% 4.6 28 5 0 1 0 1 0 1 .200 .333 .200 .533 12 3 2.16 1.000 28 16 1 121.0 89 9 32 144
4 Kenji Johjima SEA 10.0 0.0 7% 2.6 144 506 61 147 18 76 3 20 .291 .332 .451 .783
5 Jered Weaver LAA 8.0 0.0 6% 4.8 19 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 11 2 2.56 1.033 19 19 0 123.0 94 15 33 105
6 Nick Markakis BAL 7.0 1.0 5% 2.5 147 491 72 143 16 62 2 43 .291 .351 .448 .799
7 Ian Kinsler TEX 1.0 0.0 1% 1.9 120 423 65 121 14 55 11 40 .286 .347 .454 .801
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 8/8/2015.
Voting Results Batting Stats Pitching Stats
Rank Name Tm Vote Pts 1st Place Share WAR G AB R H HR RBI SB BB BA OBP SLG OPS W L ERA WHIP G GS SV IP H HR BB SO
1 Hanley Ramirez FLA 105.0 14.0 66% 4.9 158 633 119 185 17 59 51 56 .292 .353 .480 .833
2 Ryan Zimmerman WSN 101.0 10.0 63% 2.9 157 614 84 176 20 110 11 61 .287 .351 .471 .822
3 Dan Uggla FLA 55.0 6.0 34% 3.0 154 611 105 172 27 90 6 48 .282 .339 .480 .818
4 Josh Johnson FLA 11.0 2.0 7% 3.6 31 42 1 4 0 3 0 1 .095 .116 .143 .259 12 7 3.10 1.299 31 24 0 157.0 136 14 68 133
5 Matt Cain SFG 4.0 0.0 2% 2.3 32 57 1 8 0 1 0 1 .140 .155 .175 .331 13 12 4.15 1.280 32 31 0 190.2 157 18 87 179
5 Andre Ethier LAD 4.0 0.0 2% 2.4 126 396 50 122 11 55 5 34 .308 .365 .477 .842
7 Prince Fielder MIL 2.0 0.0 1% -0.7 157 569 82 154 28 81 7 59 .271 .347 .483 .831
7 Takashi Saito LAD 2.0 0.0 1% 3.3 72 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 2 2.07 0.906 72 0 24 78.1 48 3 23 107
9 Russell Martin LAD 1.0 0.0 1% 2.1 121 415 65 117 10 65 10 45 .282 .355 .436 .792
9 Scott Olsen FLA 1.0 0.0 1% 2.5 32 58 3 11 0 8 0 0 .190 .190 .224 .414 12 10 4.04 1.301 31 31 0 180.2 160 23 75 166
9 Anibal Sanchez FLA 1.0 0.0 1% 3.4 18 35 1 4 0 2 0 0 .114 .114 .114 .229 10 3 2.83 1.190 18 17 0 114.1 90 9 46 72
9 Josh Willingham FLA 1.0 0.0 1% 2.2 142 502 62 139 26 74 2 54 .277 .356 .496 .852
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 8/8/2015.
Voting Results Batting Stats Pitching Stats
Rank Name Tm Vote Pts 1st Place Share WAR G AB R H HR RBI SB BB BA OBP SLG OPS W L ERA WHIP G GS SV IP H HR BB SO
1 Nomar Garciaparra BOS 140.0 28.0 100% 6.6 153 684 122 209 30 98 22 35 .306 .342 .534 .875
2 Jose Cruz TOT 61.0 0.0 44% 2.1 104 395 59 98 26 68 7 41 .248 .315 .499 .814
3 Jason Dickson ANA 27.0 0.0 19% 2.3 33 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 .000 .000 .000 13 9 4.29 1.434 33 32 0 203.2 236 32 56 115
4 Deivi Cruz DET 12.0 0.0 9% -0.5 147 436 35 105 2 40 3 14 .241 .263 .314 .577
5 Jaret Wright CLE 7.0 0.0 5% 1.4 16 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 .000 .000 .000 8 3 4.38 1.284 16 16 0 90.1 81 9 35 63
6 Mike Cameron CHW 5.0 0.0 4% 4.4 116 379 63 98 14 55 23 55 .259 .356 .433 .789
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 8/8/2015.
Voting Results Batting Stats Pitching Stats
Rank Name Tm Vote Pts 1st Place Share WAR G AB R H HR RBI SB BB BA OBP SLG OPS W L ERA WHIP G GS SV IP H HR BB SO
1 Scott Rolen PHI 140.0 28.0 100% 4.5 156 561 93 159 21 92 16 76 .283 .377 .469 .846
2 Livan Hernandez FLA 25.0 0.0 18% 1.8 17 29 2 5 0 2 0 1 .172 .200 .241 .441 9 3 3.18 1.235 17 17 0 96.1 81 5 38 72
2 Matt Morris STL 25.0 0.0 18% 4.2 34 73 4 15 0 6 0 5 .205 .256 .233 .489 12 9 3.19 1.276 33 33 0 217.0 208 12 69 149
4 Rich Loiselle PIT 22.0 0.0 16% 2.1 72 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 .000 .000 .000 1 5 3.10 1.376 72 0 29 72.2 76 7 24 66
5 Andruw Jones ATL 15.0 0.0 11% 3.3 153 399 60 92 18 70 20 56 .231 .329 .416 .745
6 Vladimir Guerrero MON 9.0 0.0 6% 1.7 90 325 44 98 11 40 3 19 .302 .350 .483 .833
7 Jose Guillen PIT 4.0 0.0 3% -3.3 143 498 58 133 14 70 1 17 .267 .300 .412 .712
7 Brett Tomko CIN 4.0 0.0 3% 2.9 24 36 2 5 0 3 0 1 .139 .162 .167 .329 11 7 3.43 1.214 22 19 0 126.0 106 14 47 95
9 Geremi Gonzalez CHC 3.0 0.0 2% 1.1 23 40 1 4 0 1 0 3 .100 .163 .100 .263 11 9 4.25 1.354 23 23 0 144.0 126 16 69 93
9 Tony Womack PIT 3.0 0.0 2% -0.9 155 641 85 178 6 50 60 43 .278 .326 .374 .700
11 Kevin Orie CHC 1.0 0.0 1% 2.4 114 364 40 100 8 44 2 39 .275 .350 .431 .781
11 Neifi Perez COL 1.0 0.0 1% 1.0 83 313 46 91 5 31 4 21 .291 .333 .444 .777
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 8/8/2015.
Perhaps not as much success as the first two groups but there's some solid baseball players that have done great things there.

Other notable classes to me were 1990, 1986 and 1982. 
Voting Results Batting Stats Pitching Stats
Rank Name Tm Vote Pts 1st Place Share WAR G AB R H HR RBI SB BB BA OBP SLG OPS W L ERA WHIP G GS SV IP H HR BB SO
1 Sandy Alomar CLE 140.0 28.0 100% 2.3 132 445 60 129 9 66 4 25 .290 .326 .418 .744
2 Kevin Maas NYY 47.0 0.0 34% 1.2 79 254 42 64 21 41 1 43 .252 .367 .535 .902
3 Kevin Appier KCR 31.0 0.0 22% 5.3 32 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 12 8 2.76 1.255 32 24 0 185.2 179 13 54 127
4 John Olerud TOR 13.0 0.0 9% 1.7 111 358 43 95 14 48 0 57 .265 .364 .430 .794
5 Kevin Tapani MIN 9.0 0.0 6% 2.6 28 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 12 8 4.07 1.211 28 28 0 159.1 164 12 29 101
6 Travis Fryman DET 5.0 0.0 4% 2.1 66 232 32 69 9 27 3 17 .297 .348 .470 .818
7 Robin Ventura CHW 3.0 0.0 2% 2.3 150 493 48 123 5 54 1 55 .249 .324 .318 .643
8 Ben McDonald BAL 2.0 0.0 1% 3.3 21 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 8 5 2.43 1.037 21 15 0 118.2 88 9 35 65
9 Alex Cole CLE 1.0 0.0 1% 1.9 63 227 43 68 0 13 40 28 .300 .379 .357 .736
9 Scott Radinsky CHW 1.0 0.0 1% -0.3 62 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 1 4.82 1.586 62 0 4 52.1 47 1 36 46
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 8/8/2015.
Voting Results Batting Stats Pitching Stats
Rank Name Tm Vote Pts 1st Place Share WAR G AB R H HR RBI SB BB BA OBP SLG OPS W L ERA WHIP G GS SV IP H HR BB SO
1 David Justice ATL 118.0 23.0 98% 2.9 127 439 76 124 28 78 11 64 .282 .373 .535 .908
2 Delino DeShields MON 60.0 1.0 50% 1.3 129 499 69 144 4 45 42 66 .289 .375 .393 .768
3 Hal Morris CIN 13.0 0.0 11% 1.8 107 309 50 105 7 36 9 21 .340 .381 .498 .880
4 John Burkett SFG 12.0 0.0 10% 1.7 33 63 1 3 0 3 0 5 .048 .118 .048 .165 14 7 3.79 1.284 33 32 1 204.0 201 18 61 118
5 Mike Harkey CHC 7.0 0.0 6% 5.2 27 56 4 14 0 4 0 1 .250 .276 .321 .597 12 6 3.26 1.221 27 27 0 173.2 153 14 59 94
6 Todd Zeile STL 4.0 0.0 3% 2.0 144 495 62 121 15 57 2 67 .244 .333 .398 .731
7 Marquis Grissom MON 1.0 0.0 1% 1.3 98 288 42 74 3 29 22 27 .257 .320 .351 .670
7 Larry Walker MON 1.0 0.0 1% 3.4 133 419 59 101 19 51 21 49 .241 .326 .434 .761
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 8/8/2015.
Voting Results Batting Stats Pitching Stats
Rank Name Tm Vote Pts 1st Place Share WAR G AB R H HR RBI SB BB BA OBP SLG OPS W L ERA WHIP G GS SV IP H HR BB SO
1 Jose Canseco OAK 110.0 16.0 79% 3.0 157 600 85 144 33 117 15 65 .240 .318 .457 .775
2 Wally Joyner CAL 98.0 12.0 70% 3.2 154 593 82 172 22 100 5 57 .290 .348 .457 .805
3 Mark Eichhorn TOR 23.0 0.0 16% 7.4 69 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 14 6 1.72 0.955 69 0 10 157.0 105 8 45 166
4 Cory Snyder CLE 16.0 0.0 11% 1.1 103 416 58 113 24 69 2 16 .272 .299 .500 .799
5 Danny Tartabull SEA 4.0 0.0 3% 1.1 137 511 76 138 25 96 4 61 .270 .347 .489 .836
6 Ruben Sierra TEX 1.0 0.0 1% 1.4 113 382 50 101 16 55 7 22 .264 .302 .476 .779
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 8/8/2015.
Voting Results Batting Stats Pitching Stats
Rank Name Tm Vote Pts 1st Place Share WAR G AB R H HR RBI SB BB BA OBP SLG OPS W L ERA WHIP G GS SV IP H HR BB SO
1 Todd Worrell STL 118.0 23.0 98% 2.6 74 7 0 1 0 0 0 0 .143 .143 .429 .571 9 10 2.08 1.225 74 0 36 103.2 86 9 41 73
2 Robby Thompson SFG 46.0 0.0 38% 3.4 149 549 73 149 7 47 12 42 .271 .328 .370 .698
3 Kevin Mitchell NYM 22.0 1.0 18% 2.5 108 328 51 91 12 43 3 33 .277 .344 .466 .811
4 Charlie Kerfeld HOU 17.0 0.0 14% 1.4 61 9 0 1 0 1 0 1 .111 .200 .111 .311 11 2 2.59 1.206 61 0 7 93.2 71 5 42 77
5 Will Clark SFG 5.0 0.0 4% 2.2 111 408 66 117 11 41 4 34 .287 .343 .444 .787
6 Barry Bonds PIT 4.0 0.0 3% 3.5 113 413 72 92 16 48 36 65 .223 .330 .416 .746
7 Jim Deshaies HOU 1.0 0.0 1% 1.5 26 43 3 2 0 1 0 6 .047 .163 .047 .210 12 5 3.25 1.271 26 26 0 144.0 124 16 59 128
7 John Kruk SDP 1.0 0.0 1% 1.7 122 278 33 86 4 38 2 45 .309 .403 .424 .828
7 Barry Larkin CIN 1.0 0.0 1% 1.5 41 159 27 45 3 19 8 9 .283 .320 .403 .722
7 Bruce Ruffin PHI 1.0 0.0 1% 3.2 21 55 2 4 0 2 0 0 .073 .073 .091 .164 9 4 2.46 1.244 21 21 0 146.1 138 6 44 70
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 8/8/2015.
Voting Results Batting Stats Pitching Stats
Rank Name Tm Vote Pts 1st Place Share WAR G AB R H HR RBI SB BB BA OBP SLG OPS W L ERA WHIP G GS SV IP H HR BB SO
1 Steve Sax LAD 63.0 9.0 52% 3.3 150 638 88 180 4 47 49 49 .282 .335 .359 .694
2 Johnny Ray PIT 57.0 6.0 48% 3.8 162 647 79 182 7 63 16 36 .281 .318 .382 .700
3 Willie McGee STL 39.0 5.0 32% 1.1 123 422 43 125 4 56 24 12 .296 .318 .391 .709
4 Chili Davis SFG 32.0 3.0 27% 1.9 154 641 86 167 19 76 24 45 .261 .308 .410 .719
5 Luis DeLeon SDP 10.0 0.0 8% 2.7 61 11 0 1 0 0 0 1 .091 .167 .182 .348 9 5 2.03 0.912 61 0 15 102.0 77 10 16 60
6 Ryne Sandberg CHC 9.0 1.0 8% 3.1 156 635 103 172 7 54 32 36 .271 .312 .372 .683
7 Steve Bedrosian ATL 4.0 0.0 3% 4.0 64 26 0 1 0 0 0 1 .038 .074 .038 .113 8 6 2.42 1.155 64 3 11 137.2 102 7 57 123
8 Dave LaPoint STL 1.0 0.0 1% 0.9 42 38 2 2 0 1 0 1 .053 .077 .053 .130 9 3 3.42 1.454 42 21 0 152.2 170 8 52 81
8 Eric Show SDP 1.0 0.0 1% 2.1 47 41 2 6 0 0 0 0 .146 .146 .146 .293 10 6 2.64 1.100 47 14 3 150.0 117 10 48 88
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 8/8/2015.
Voting Results Batting Stats Pitching Stats
Rank Name Tm Vote Pts 1st Place Share WAR G AB R H HR RBI SB BB BA OBP SLG OPS W L ERA WHIP G GS SV IP H HR BB SO
1 Cal Ripken BAL 132.0 24.0 94% 4.7 160 598 90 158 28 93 3 46 .264 .317 .475 .792
2 Kent Hrbek MIN 90.0 4.0 64% 3.6 140 532 82 160 23 92 3 54 .301 .363 .485 .848
3 Wade Boggs BOS 10.0 0.0 7% 3.9 104 338 51 118 5 44 1 35 .349 .406 .441 .847
4 Ed Vande Berg SEA 9.0 0.0 6% 3.4 78 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 9 4 2.37 1.132 78 0 5 76.0 54 5 32 60
5 Gary Gaetti MIN 4.0 0.0 3% 1.6 145 508 59 117 25 84 0 37 .230 .280 .443 .723
6 Dave Hostetler TEX 3.0 0.0 2% -0.2 113 418 53 97 22 67 2 42 .232 .300 .433 .733
7 Von Hayes CLE 2.0 0.0 1% 2.9 150 527 65 132 14 82 32 42 .250 .310 .389 .699
8 Jesse Barfield TOR 1.0 0.0 1% 1.1 139 394 54 97 18 58 1 42 .246 .323 .426 .749
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 8/8/2015.

 Clearly the 80s produced some fine ballplayers.  
And as great as some of those groups are, I think come the end of some of the careers of rookies in 2015, the names will blow away any group up to this point.


So many top prospects have come up in 2015, and while that in and of itself isn't anything new to this year, so many are producing at a high level.


Thanks to a massive overhaul and rebuild on the north side of Chicago, the Cubs are where the list of rookie phenoms starts.


Kris Bryant, Kyle Schwarber and Addison Russell headline a group of rookies to make their big league debuts early on in the season but since that time, at least a dozen more have broke on the scene.


From fireball right hander Noah Syndergaard of the resurgent New York Mets to the surprise of the class, Randal Grichuk of the never-rebuilding-only-reloading St. Louis Cardinals, this year's rookie class, in time, should go down as one of the best in decades, if not history.


Factors that play into this are a transition of rebuilding teams. You're starting to see a shift in the landscape of baseball. Teams like Kansas City, Pittsburgh and Washington are now annual playoff teams versus the last decade when those teams couldn't sniff the postseason.


Philadelphia, New York, Minnesota, and the Cubs are among a handful of franchises with some of the most exciting young crop of players in the league, and thanks to that collection, we are seeing stars rise to the occasion of opportunity. After several years of rebuilding, these teams are giving their fans a look at what the future looks like.


Additionally, young players are controllable and just cheaper. Teams like Arizona, Minnesota, and Pittsburg are just a few that can't take on the likes of a Jon Lester or Max Scherzer $100-million contact every offseason. So relying on strong scouting and excellent player development to grow guys like Andrew McCutchen or Paul Goldschmidt and Byron Buxton.


So why is 2015 so special?

Many years,  there would be one or two guys that became superstars, the collective group wasn't nearly impressive. I think the amount of talent each individual has makes this group as a whole very special. 
As of this Saturday, August 8, if I were to vote on top rookies at this point, my votes would go as follows for each league:
National League
1. Kris Bryant CHI
2. Randal Grichuk STL
3. Kyle Schwarber CHI (though if he plays the rest of the year in the big leagues, he should move up and may steal the seats altogether)
4. Joc Pederson LAD
5. Noah Syndergaard NYM
6. Jung Ho Kang PIT
7. Matt Duffy SF
8. Maikel Franco PHI
9. Chris Heston SF
10. Yasmany Tomas ARI
Honorable mentions: Jorge Soler CHI, Taylor Jungmann MIL, Jake Lamb ARI, Ben Paulsen COL, Michael Taylor WAS, Aaron Nola PHI
American League


1. Carlos Correa HOU
2. Nate Karns TB
3. Steven Souza TB
4. Miguel Sano MIN
5. Devon Travis TOR
6.  Delino DeShields Jr TEXAS
7. Billy Burns OAK
8. Eddie Rosario MIN
9. Andrew Heaney LAA
10. Lance McCullers HOU
Honorable Mention: Carlos Rodon CHI, Mike Montgomery SEA, Eduardo Rodriguez BOS, Blake Swihart BOS, Francisco Lindor CLE, Preston Tucker HOU, Trevor May MIN, Roberto Osuna TOR
Whether you agree with my rankings or not (which the rankings aren't the point at this moment), one thing you cannot argue with is the amount of potential on those lists.


The numbers these guys are putting up so far this year are insane.
Syndergaard has a sub-3 ERA with 100 Ks in just under 95-innings.


While he's cooled down significantly since the All Star break, Pederson has 21 home runs with a plus-800 OPS.


Grichuk is slugging over .900 with 41 XBHs and is among only a handful of players in all of baseball with a .900 OPS.
Don't sleep on guys like Soler or Swihart who have been sidelined with injuries for a portion of the season. They'll garner some votes this fall and should have excellent careers.


And while this whole proposition is fun to think about, these guys have many, many years to build up their resumes as Hall of Fame worthy talents. Are they all going to get there? Certainly not, but goodness, the potential is there for this group to be something special that we all look back on and potentially label as one of the best rookie groups ever.


The scary part to think about is the rookies of years and decades past have seen their share of one-hit wonders and exorbitantly talented players never live up to potential.
It's certainly no one's ideal conversation, but you know guys aren't going to make it, and others are. Personally, it pains me to think about, but it's just reality.

Watching this crop of talent mature and find success, struggle and failure is going to be a treat to watch as the faces of baseball continue to evolve. 
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