This year’s National League Rookie of the Year voting will be a particularly fun one because the two front-runners happen to be teammates. Braves right-hander Spencer Strider and center fielder Michael Harris II both burst onto the scene in 2022 and both cemented themselves as building blocks in Atlanta. Wins above replacement is far, far from the be-all and end-all in ascertaining player value, but it’s still telling that Strider and Harris are both north of four WAR on the season (per both Baseball-Reference and FanGraphs), while no other NL rookie has even three wins above replacement per either version of the metric.
Harris and Strider have both played at an All-Star level this season, though neither actually made the All-Star team this summer. That’s due largely to the fact that Strider began the season in the bullpen and Harris didn’t make his debut until late May. Given their play in 2022, that could change as early as next summer.
There’s still a bit of time for the bottom line to change, although with Strider on the 15-day injured list due to an oblique strain, his regular season is likely over. Harris will have another nine games to build his case, pending any off-days or an untimely injury of his own. Let’s take a quick look at each player’s candidacy.
A Quick Case for Strider
Dominant this season as both a reliever (2.22 ERA in 24 1/3 innings) and a starter (2.77 ERA, 107 1/3 innings), Strider leads all National League rookies with 131 2/3 innings pitched. Cincinnati’s Hunter Greene, a popular ROY pick prior to the season, is a distant second place at 113 2/3 innings. Strider’s gaudy 38.3% strikeout rate isn’t just the best among rookie pitchers in 2022 — it’s the best among all Major League pitchers who have thrown at least 100 innings. Shane McClanahan is the only pitcher in Major League Baseball (again, min. 100 innings pitched) who has induced swinging strikes at a higher clip than Strider’s 15.5%.
Strider’s overall numbers — 131 2/3 innings, 2.67 ERA, 38.3% strikeout rate, 8.5% walk rate — are so dominant that if he had a few more innings on his resume, he’d be in the mix for some down-ballot Cy Young votes. (He may still get a handful, but he’s not going to stack up alongside the current leaders.)
A common argument against Strider is that he shouldn’t be favored because he plays less often than an everyday player (e.g. Harris). Firstly, unlike most of even the fringe ROY candidates, Strider broke camp with the Braves this year. He’s been on the roster since Opening Day, which Harris and others can’t claim.
Secondly, Strider has faced 528 batters this season and, were it not for the oblique injury, would’ve pushed that number close to 600. Even that 528 mark is greater than the total number of plate appearances for any National League rookie hitter. Strider (and pitchers in general) may appear in a fewer number of their team’s overall games, but as a pitcher, he has more direct influence on the outcome of every single plate appearance than any of the defenders behind him. On average, he faced 21.7 hitters per start. That’s nearly a week’s worth of plate appearances for a position player.
Put more succinctly, the counter-argument to that common knock on Strider is that hitters play a smaller role in determining the outcome of a large number of their team’s games; pitchers play a larger role in determining the outcome of a small number of their team’s games.
A Quick Case for Harris
In terms of wins above replacement, Harris trails only Julio Rodriguez for the rookie lead, per FanGraphs (4.8), and only Rodriguez and Cleveland’ Steven Kwan, per Baseball-Reference (5.1). He’s a dynamic player in all facets of the game, hitting .305/.346/.535 with 19 home runs and 19 steals apiece. Harris doesn’t walk much (4.7%) and strikes out a bit more than average (23.8%), but that hasn’t stopped him from being 43% better than the average hitter, by measure of wRC+ (or 42%, per OPS+).
Defensively, Harris looks like a future Gold Glover. He might not win one this season, as his cumulative defensive contributions are impacted by the fact that he spent nearly two months in the minors, but every publicly available metric is in agreement that he’s a plus, if not elite defender. In 949 innings of center field work, Harris has received standout marks from Defensive Runs Saved (7), Ultimate Zone Rating (3.9) and Statcast (6 Outs Above Average, 5 Runs Above Average), to name a few. Harris ranks in the 92nd percentile of Statcast’s Outs Above Average, the 87th percentile for his jumps on balls hit to the outfield, and in 94th percentile for pure sprint speed.
It’s true that Strider has more batters faced than Harris has plate appearances, but Harris has fielded far more balls in play in center field than Strider has on the mound. His value as a defensive player is far superior, particularly given his elite results in 2022. Harris also provides baserunning value that Strider doesn’t have the ability (or even the opportunity) to match. Despite appearing in just 106 games so far, Harris ranks 17th among all big leaguers in baserunning runs above average, per FanGraphs’ — a cumulative stat that incorporates more than just his impressive 19-for-21 showing in stolen bases.
—
There’s really no wrong answer; both players have had sensational starts to their career and both have been absolutely vital pieces of a Braves team that trails the Mets by 1.5 games for the National League East lead. Still, only one of the two is going to take home Rookie of the Year honors in November. Who should it be?
ohyeadam
Voted for Strider. Gotta reward the guy who’s been doing it all year
mj-2
Not only should Strider be ROY he should be Cy Young
Cosmo2
Cy Young? That’s taking it quite a bit too far.
Drew Waters Bat
A reliever can win a Cy Young trophy. Why not a reliever/starter?
Cosmo2
Is he anywhere near the best pitcher in the league right now? Or, having the best season?
Drew Waters Bat
The best season? Absolutely, maybe you didn’t hear but he broke Randy Johnson’s record of the fastest to 200 strikeouts by almost a full inning. That’s modern day ALL Pitchers. 130 innings to get 200 k’s, yeah, kind of a big deal bud.
Cosmo2
Looks to me that both Alcantara and Fried are having superior seasons. I still say no way on Cy Young for the kid. Big deal or not, he’s not having the best season for an NL pitcher.
jdgoat
Alcantara is having the best season. Strikeout rates shouldn’t be what wins Cy Young awards. It is mighty impressive but give me the pitcher who has given up runs at a lower rate for almost 100 more innings.
Drew Waters Bat
Not the best your right, record breaking is more like it. So if he pitched a full season f starts he’d be closer to 300 k’s you still wouldn’t give him his credit.
Cosmo2
He gets all the credit in the world, he’s just not a great old choice for the Cy Young award that’s all.
mj-2
@jdgoat I hear ya. But strikeouts have always been factored in as a premium and for good reason. ERA is in part of function of the defense as well, so it’s not all pitcher. A strikeout removes defense from the equation. It’s fair to give the strikeouts a premium when considering Cy Young.
That said, there’s a big discrepancy between Alcantara and Strider in ERA, not to mention innings. I don’t expect Strider to win. I mostly post it because I think he’s closer than most people want to recognize. I really don’t think it’s that far fetched. Probably not quite there to surpass Alcantara’s year but he’s done enough to be in the discussion.
Drew Waters Bat
What do you mean great old choice? They have to be old to you?
raisinsss
I think your being argumentative over something so trivial is a cry for help.
Drew Waters Bat
Says the person who felt their opinion was so important you needed to inject yourself with nothing about baseball and address me. I didn’t even know you existed and all I know about you is your crying to me about my points. Got it. Your really smart huh? I bet you have a college degree for nothingness because that’s all you’ve added.
Cosmo2
The word “old” was some spell check nonsense. He’s not a great choice. That’s what I meant. He’s not because there are at least 2 pitchers clearly having better seasons. Great season, just not a reasonable award winner over Alcantara. I’m not trying to be argumentative here, I’m just trying to state a fairly obvious opinion.
Drew Waters Bat
Doing the same. I’m good so far.
RobM
There’s seemingly new K records, by both pitchers and hitters, every year. It’s the approach of hitters. It’s the nature of the game today. The Big Unit’s career began in 1988. He’d probably average 16/9 today. This is not a knock on Strider, who is excellent and would be a fine choice for RoY. Just noting that stat is not the reason he should win it. Context.
Drew Waters Bat
Alone and unloved? Tell me your a piece of trash without telling me your absolute trash. Just kidding. I don’t need to hear anything from such a miserable person. Must have nailed that freeloading bit about you huh? What a pathetic life to lead.
Backup Catcher to the Backup Catcher
By a “whole inning”! Man, that’s a deep dive.
Drew Waters Bat
Maybe you just can’t read. I said almost a full inning. Trolls keep trying. Must be terrible in your heads.
bhambrave
Randy’s record has held up until this year. If records are so easy to break, why did it take this long?
mlb1225
If Strider pitched 180+ IP, then he could totally win the CYA, but he has less than 150. If he were to win it, it would be the lowest by any primary starter in a non-strike or pandemic shortened season by 35.2 innings.
DakotaJoe
Alcantara has a lower ERA and is pitching for a dreadful team.
RunDMC
Love both, but Strider didn’t start games until just after Harris II was called up at the end of May. So, the difference is Strider as a long RP for about April-May. He was very good, but if he wins the award, it’ll be because of his starts and not long RP.
Harris has a higher WAR and is very good-possibly elite in several categories, making an impact mostly at the bottom of the line-up and from one of the hardest def positions (CF), while rarely getting caught on the basepaths.
Smacky
If you watch the games it’s clearly Harris II. He’s been absolutely clutch. He’s hitting something like .350 in and after the 7th inning. Driving in runs like crazy with 2 outs. He’s also playing a Gold Glove CF
DakotaJoe
I’m a jealous Phillies fan and I say you can flip a coin. In some ways Strider’s stats as a rookie are beyond amazing, but Harris does it all and he plays great defense and has been consistent on offense all year.
phnxdark23
As a Braves fan, this is a delightful argument to have. Both extremely deserving, but I give the edge to the excellent defensive CF who’s likely to go 20/20 with a .300 batting average. Our momentum also changed palpably when he was called up, as he immediately solidified an OF that was in shambles to start the season. Won’t be mad if it’s Strider, he’s earned it too, but Harris gets my vote.
Jonny5
They really should have separate categories for pitchers and hitters for the ROY award. They both deserve to win imo.
RunDMC
It’ll be easier for a RoY to get Cy votes than a rookie to get MVP votes. Why not co-RoY…it’s been done before (once in each league: NL 1976; AL 1979)?
RobM
Why not? It could happen, but it’s not like it can be planned. It’s a fluke of voting.
Braves Butt-Head
Then you add Vaughn Grissom and you can see why the future is bright for the defending world champions.
brandons-3
It’s ridiculous that the defending World Champs, already with multiple young stars under control for multiple years, added three rookies, two of which already look like future All-Stars with the third (Grissom) at least looking like an everyday player up the middle.
Getting talents like Strider, Harris, and Grissom are what teams pray they can center years of rebuilding around. The Braves added them to an already championship-caliber roster. Insane.
Backup Catcher to the Backup Catcher
They ought to give out an MVP Award for best scouting. Whoever does that for the Braves would be a slam dunk winner Freeman, Albies, Riley, Harris, Acuna, Grissom, Fried, Wright, Strider and Contreras. All home grown talent. And too be generous, add in Swanson. Great acquistion from the D-backs and developed into a start under the Braves banner. Probably the trade that got Dave Stewart fired as GM. Shelby Miller!
Be hard pressed to find a another MLB team that can match that booty.
alowishus1
I agree, Braves scouting department has been on point for several years. Found plenty of value in the draft, even with the handcuffs.
Fried isn’t home grown. Braves got him from SD as part of the Upton trade, if I Remler correctly.
NashvilleJeff
You’re right about Fried coming over from the Padres. He started in low A Rome for the Braves, so while he’s not home grown, he was Braves developed.
TheREALMetsFan22
Strider is a stud. But I’m not big on Harris. He will always be kind of good bc of his defense but he isn’t this hitter you’re seeing now. He has no plate discipline. That will catch up to him. Out of all the rookies playing idk if he will be a top 5 hitter in the future in this rookie class.
RunDMC
The same Michael Harris II that had a 30-game OB streak this year, before being promoted from AA? You’re right…the guy you’re seeing striking out at a career-high clip being the youngest MLB player for most of the season. He has much better plate discipline throughout his career than this year, and it should only improve as he gets more experience.
TheREALMetsFan22
I watch his at bats. He has amed rosario plate discipline. Unless he fixes that the league will figure him out quick.
Joeyg39
This is a fast learning league. They haven’t figured him out. Hes got a 5.1 war. Meaning this kid is a stud…much to your chagrin. He is on pace over 162 game season for 29/95…at age 21. How’s that? Get used to seeing this kid destroy your team for the next 12 years. The fact that the Braves just keep pumpin out talent like this year after year must irk the living sh#t out of you. Get used to it.
RunDMC
You’re only by what you presently see and not what he’s been up until this year. There’s always a chance where he becomes Albies tossing to the side OB skills for a free swinging approach that amounts to 25 HR per but quite a bit more strikeouts, but there’s little in his background to indicate him doing it.
So the MLB pitchers will make an adjustment, but Harris won’t? Guy can be good and lucky. I expect him to level out and be a mostly .275=.285 hitter, but a legitimate 20/20 threat every year with a 30/30 during his prime. Would love to have a full OF of 30/30 guys (healthy Ronald, Harris, etc.).
TheREALMetsFan22
How is going to destroy us in 2nd place or below?
phnxdark23
I wouldn’t expect a Mets fan to understand this, but there’s a thing called the playoffs. What happens in the first 162 games is nice, but it doesn’t put banners up.
Joeyg39
Harris has Amed Rosario plate discipline? Rosario has a career obp of .308 and ops+ of 98. Harris has obp of .345 with ops+ of 141. Dude what are you talkng about? Plus Harris is only 21 while Rosario is 5 years older. Harris strikes out slightly higher. But so what he hits for power. Rosario isn’t in the same universe as Harris.
TheMichigan
His ceiling from his professional career seems to be around a 8-9% walk clip if he repeats his 2021 A+ performance. He can learn to tune his eye, but honestly he’s never going to be that kind of guy.
He’s going to have to rely on his high end ExitVelos, HardHit% and barrels. Main thing he should be looking out for, is that while he has solid run values against offspeed pitches.
He’s a .393/.506/.766 on 4 seamers (wOBA btw) while being a .250/.330/.447 against sliders, .241/.280/.3.62 against curves and .262/.265/.311 against changes.
He will probably have a down year once guys stop tossing him fastballs where he is hitting nearly 400 against, and more off speed. He’s got a high chase rate and strikes out a lot. That’s a recipe for disaster if he can’t make consistent contact against off speed pitches.
TheREALMetsFan22
Thank you. I sounds like I’m hating but it’s just what i see. They are also in for a disappointment if they think Vaughn is going to be this stud/allstar.
Sid Bream Speed Demon
You mean how you guys think that every prospect or over the hill free agent is going to be great? I guess they can’t all be studs like Dominic Smith…..
ChipperChop
Ummm….he’s 21 and has played a little over 1/2 season in the bigs. Y’all are hilarious acting as if a 21 y/o kid is a finished product and that the league will adjust…..but he can’t.
TheREALMetsFan22
Baty will be a better hitter than Vaughn and Harris
DarkSide830
Nope
TheREALMetsFan22
Yes.
admiral hopppaaa
You both make compelling arguments.
RunDMC
Baty looks nice, but the jury is still out on both, def Baty. That .378 (2021) & .397 (2022) BABIP def is going to come down on Baty. He’ll need a lot of luck as a Met though.
chound
Who?
Point is, not damn likely.
Joeyg39
Lemme get this right…Harris is a legitimate 5 tool player who is putting up 30/100 numbers with Gold Glove fielding. He’s doing it now. In the major leagues. Baty hasn’t done squat. And you wanna throw shade on Harris? Please tell me you’re trolling because you possibly can’t be as dumb as you sound.
Drew Waters Bat
Just a typical NY troll.
Cosmo2
There’s really nothing typically NY about that troll or parody thereof; I can’t figure out which.
Drew Waters Bat
I like how you word things haha.
Backup Catcher to the Backup Catcher
Trying to keep his mind off the Mets blowing the NL East title!
Cosmo2
I went with Harris due to the rarity in today’s game of what he brings to the table.
Phi149
Why not have dual ROYs? Especially since they’re on the same team
FredMcGriff for the HOF
Strider for me. Harris is darn good though too for a rookie.
Moonlight Graham
I lean toward Strider. His stat line is very Kershaw-esque, but with a lot more K’s.
If Harris had maybe 100 more plate appearances at this level of production, it would be a more difficult decision.
John Kappel
For those people here in the comments talking about voting for Harris based upon how he solidified the outfield once he arrived; that is an argument for MVP hours value to the Braves. It is not an argument for ROY. Strider is ever so slightly better, imo, & has been there the whole season. As a Braves fan I’m happy with either but it should be Strider based upon the whole body of work.
TradeAcuna
Strider
Without Harris and Strider, the Braves would not touch 90 wins this season.
chound
That hurt a little.
moose13
Strider’s been awesome but I feel like Harris is getting heavily overlooked. Basically doing everything that Julio is doing but better in every facet, only in less ABs, yet Julio gets all the attention – though, granted, Julio’s future prospects are probably better.
greyishwhitesox
I think we’re totally missing out on Joey Bart and CJ Abrams as fringe contenders.
Backup Catcher to the Backup Catcher
Bart? Abrams? Serious comments only, please!
Joeyg39
Joey Bust, oh excuse me, Bart, so far seems to be the biggest bust in recent years. Abrams? Meh…
Old York
Very simplistic argument but Strider’s ERA+ of 155 vs. Harris’ OPS+ of 142. I voted Strider.
Paleobros
They could both share the trophy like the Stanley Cup.
fre5hwind
I voted somebody else (Julio Rodriguez) mainly he hitting consistently hasn’t been hurt most of the season has good speed and defense but I also think Strider is a good pick to.
Cooperdooper7
Key words NATIONAL LEAGUE… lol
fre5hwind
Ok ok sheesh no need to scream then Strider is my pick.
Rowsdower
Lodolo
ray1
Seiya, it ain’t Suzuki!
theicemancometh
Someone needs to check the poll. You can refresh the page and vote as many times as you like. *wink*
mrmackey
Strider has the more eye-popping, dominating numbers.
And he guided Hobbits to safety too.
rally squirrel
Maybe he won’t win but Brendan Donovan deserves consideration
bravesfan
It’s either Harris or strider … so not even a debate for anyone else. Also, they should both get mvp/ cy young consideration, definitely a reasonable argument that strider should win the cy young award. I’m ok with either winning roy…. But I’m giving the edge to Harris … he hits, he fields, and he does it everyday …. For that, I give him my vote…
spudchukar
No. Brendan Donovan should be in the conversation! Not saying he should be the favorite, but it is criminal that he doesn’t get a fair recognition of his contributions in 2022. He doesn’t have the pop of Harris, and maybe his upside isn’t as great but this is about 2022 only. Donavan has played 6 different positions, five a significant amount. His OPS is 45 points higher than Harris. He carries a 3.7 WAR compared to Harris’ 5.1. But Donovan gets hurt by WAR defensively cause it is tough to judge when someone plays so many positions, and power isn’t his game. My primary arguement isn’t so much that he should win but that the poll should be between Strider, Harris and Donovan.
DarkSide830
Conversation for 3rd place maybe, but he’s had nowhere hear the year that Strider or Harris have had.
bhambrave
I don’t know where you got your stats. Donovan’s OPS and OPS+ are significantly lower than Harris’, and his oWAR is almost two points lower.
Oddvark
I’m not sure it’s a fair criterion, but it’s so much more rare for a rookie pitcher to come up and consistently dominate for a full season than it is for a position player to come out strong out of the gate. Because of this, and since they are arguably equally deserving based on performance alone, I’d give my vote to Strider.
Joeyg39
Absolutely love ’em both. But Strider is in the record books. And he’s in the record books above Randy Johnson and Gerritt Cole. That my friends is special.
hiflew
Michael Harris is also above Randy Johnson and Gerrit Cole in both OBP and SLG. Maybe not that special.
frontdeskmike
As a Cardinal fan, I am excited for Brendan Donovan to finish top 5 in ROY.
Dennis Boyd
I voted for Harris because I think he is much more of a rookie and has a better WAR. Strider even pitched last year in the MLB, so only ‘qualifies’ as a rookie rather than truly being a rookie.
However, if they base the vote on best p@rn ‘stache, Strider has it locked up
atlbraves2010
strider was called up for the last 2 games of 2021
Dennis Boyd
So you agree Strider is only ‘qualified’ as a rookie, cool. This is not his first year, 2021 was.
utah cornelius
@PhDPad: that is a weak point.
Dennis Boyd
@utah, ok, fair enough. Let’s go with strider for his facial hair, lol. Actually we know the voters will go with the pitcher and rob the position player, just like they did in 2020, when Williams won and it should have been Cronenworth.
utah cornelius
I see your point but I pick Strider as well not only bacause he plaed all season but because he played exceptionally well all season.
Backup Catcher to the Backup Catcher
Alec Bohm should have won in 2020. Having an excellent 2022 and will be playing long after the other two are collecting retirement money.
Joeyg39
Bohm is having a decent year. Can’t catch a cold over at third tho as evidenced by -1.5 dwar…
HEHEHATE
I think you almost have to give it to Harris here. He’s done all his damage Basically from June 1st compared to Strider getting the nod from the get go. Prorated to a full season if he played the way he did and broke camp he’d arguably already be eclipsing 30-30 numbers already hovering around or above .300 with an obp matching starling Marte and a slg identical to Riley and Betts. Striders been great in his own right, but his numbers don’t even scratch the surface of what Harris has done already with a month less than him.
utah cornelius
I’m not arguing your choice but Harris does not get ANY consideration for a) months he did not play, b) HR’s he did not hit, and c) bases he did not swipe, Could just as easily argue that with two extra months there would have been some regression to the mean.
HEHEHATE
No he shouldn’t you are absolutely right, but it’s numbers on the table at the end of the day, but that does work both ways for and against. I just think Harris is a star whereas I just view Strider as a Stud. Strider is 16th in Wins 32nd in QS, and 4th in k’s. His walk totals aren’t elite, but they are very good and he’s got elite era and whip numbers albeit in a smaller sample, but weighing him on his elite rp numbers.
I had to do a double take on his good old team mate who I felt made an even more compelling argument for ROY/CY Young in his season in Soroka. If you take the numbers as is with Strider vs soroka I think i give the edge to soroka because of the qs and wins he put up . Striders more or less heavily relies on his k numbers and i think that without them it’s not even close.
I still got to go with Harris here.
bhambrave
QS is kind of an odd stat to pick, but ok. You probably shouldn’t count Strider’s first few starts, because they were trying to stretch him back out from a reliever to a starter in the middle of the season. In his last 15 starts, he had 10 QS. That’s pretty darn good.
Backup Catcher to the Backup Catcher
QS is so much better a barometer for judging SP than Wins. I’m surprised it doesn’t get more fanfare from the media. To wit, Alcantara had a losing record last year, something like 9-15 in his 33 starts. Yet he produced 23 QS. Also prefer WHIP as an IP quality indicator over ERA.
bhambrave
Saying QS is better than Wins doesn’t say much. That’s a really low bar.
SliderWithCheese
It certainly isn’t the untouchable, great white hype Nolan Gorman.
RobM
Harris.
There’s no link to the poll on desktop.
GarryHarris
Was the preseason favorite STL Juan Yepez
fisher40
My vote is for strider the fact that he’s dominating as a 2 pitch pitcher is impressive. As for Harris a very nice year for a 21 yr old but only 19 walks in 380 at bats is not very good it’s going to be interesting to see in the next few years weather he can have good plate discipline and still hit for a high average. My bet is he goes into a massive sophomore slump in ‘23
GabrielJames
There are so few quality center fielders, and it’s such a premium position, that I think the nod slightly goes to Harris. No wrong answers, though. Both have been unbelievable.
Jackalopal
Strider got to 200 ks faster than Randy Johnson ever did. Love harris but Spencer is superhuman. Harris is knocking on 20/20 which could make it even closer though
hiflew
In his defense, if Randy Johnson started his career this year he would have struck out many more hitters. Batters do not care as much about striking out now. In the late 80s, batters would shorten their swings to put the ball in play with 2 strikes. Now they keep swinging for the fences regardless of the count.
bravegator
As a Braves fan I hope they split it honestly. Both are deserving and Braves wouldn’t be in position they are without either. If I had to vote it would be for Harris. Playing everyday plus it helps acuna not having to be center or cover as much ground
MarkieFresh
Cards Brendon Donovan should be not far behind Strider and Harris. Solid rookie year playing a super utility role well along with contact hitting for a good OBP. His ‘super nice’ stat is 1.013 OPS in 145 AB with runners in scoring position.
GabrielJames
He’s pretty far behind, haha. But solid rookie who would be a lot closer to the top of the list most years. Shows how rare and exception the rookie seasons JRod, Strider, and Harris are having.
bhambrave
Harris has a 1.052 OPS in 90 plate appearances with RISP. According to BB-Ref, Donovan has only had 92 PA’s with RISP.
Backup Catcher to the Backup Catcher
You can’t be serious about Donovan. He’s way behind Harris and Strider. Probably a few others, as well. Nice player, and I’ll give him kudos for his versatility. But no pop or speed. Utility player, albeit one who will most likely enjoy MLB meal money for a decade or more.
stanthefan
Apologies for not going through all comments & joined late. My argument is for Harris due to playing such a premium position. Up the middle defender, putting up those #’s.
Mets fan (living in GA) here, but dang Braves fans have #1stWorldProblems debating which of the 2 BRAVOS should win ROY.
Extremely jealous of how they produce ‘em.
Harris kinda reminds me of a Kelly Lofton, Deion Sanders, Michael Bourn mix. Not quite Kenny’s eye, maybe not Bourn’s stealing ability yet, but Deion’s ability to have little MLB experience & produce.
Heck if he has any of those careers, Braves struck gold.
bhambrave
Strider filled a gaping hole in the rotation. Harris filled a gaping hole in the outfield defense and in the lineup. It’s a shame they won’t share the award, because they’re both deserving.
Rsox
I wish we could have a “Rookie Position Player of the Year” and a “Rookie Pitcher of the year”. I’m particularly biased to Position players in these cases because they play (mostly) everyday rather than every five days. I chose Harris but really there is no wrong choice
RobM
They had a Rookie Pitcher of the Year Award until the early 2000’s. Not sure why they discontinued it.
hiflew
That was never an official award. It was awarded by the Sporting News. Sporting News is well respected for sure, but not an official MLB award. I have no idea why they combined the two awards. Growing up, that was really the only reason to pay attention to the TSN awards was because they had separate awards for both.
Daryl Pauley
how about some ranked voting to consider some other players to see where they fit in. I would like to see a top 20 roy.
Rsox
I don’t necessarily think there are 20 rookies worthy of the award but for the sake of argument here we go:
In no particular order
Michael Harris II
Spencer Strider
Oneil Cruz
Hunter Greene
Brendan Donovan
Luis Gonzalez
Jack Suwinski
Roansy Contreras
Christopher Morel
Joey Meneses
Nick Lodolo
Juan Yepez
Alek Thomas
Bryson Stott
Jake McCarthy
Edwar Cabrera
Robert Suarez
Alexis Diaz
Grahme Ashcroft
Gerardo Perdomo
Joey Gallo
Joe Menses is my favorite
hiflew
How depressing is it that in a 15 team league, the Rockies don’t even have a top 20 rookie.
Rsox
Ezequiel Tovar or Michael Toglia could make the list next year
Backup Catcher to the Backup Catcher
Nick Lodolo (Reds) has to be in that Top 20 list. Probably Top 5 IMHO.
Going forward, he might end up being the best among this year’s rookie starting pitchers. Too bad he’s gonna pitch half his games in a bandbox of a park that gives up cheap home runs way to frequently.
Rsox
I listed him. I didn’t put the list in any particular order but those are the rookies that have bern around and contributed the most this season
66TheNumberOfTheBest
The award should be given out based on height. Just makes the voting easier.
Oneil Cruz, unanimous winner.
Joey Gallo
I wish they could both win. They’re so evenly worthy.
Rsox
I mean, if they split the vote they could be “co-Rookies of the Year” but that has never happened in MLB
Joey Gallo
My grandmother died in the hospital.
tcostant
Joey Meneses
chrise-2
I am going with Nick Plummer on my New York Mets or Seiya Suzuki on the Chicago Cubs.