The 2016 MLB All-Rookie Team at the Quarter-Season Mark
While some of baseball's most highly touted prospects, such as the Atlanta Braves' Dansby Swanson and Washington Nationals' Lucas Giolito, have yet to make their regular-season debuts, a slew of rookies have taken the field in 2016—to mixed results.
Some, like the Los Angeles Dodgers' Corey Seager, have been up to the challenge, while others, like the Minnesota Twins' Byron Buxton, have not. The wide range of outcomes is nothing new, as it sometimes takes time for players to figure out how to succeed at the game's highest level.
As we approach the quarter-season mark, let's take stock of the youngsters we've seen thus far by naming the All-Rookie team. To qualify, a player must have come into the season as rookie-eligible, which means no more than 130 career at-bats, 50 innings pitched or 45 days on a team's active roster.
A player's individual performance was the key factor in deciding who got a starting spot and who wound up as an honorable mention.
You'll notice two things as we get into our squad: Some positions have far more young talent than others, and it pays for a youngster to be as versatile as possible.
Who made the cut? Let's take a look.
Catcher: Tony Wolters, Colorado Rockies
1 of 11
2016 Stats: 22 G, .194 BA, .564 OPS, 4 XBH (0 HR), 8 RBI, 10 BB, 12 K, 3-for-3 SB
Of the nine rookie catchers to suit up behind the plate this season, only one—the Colorado Rockies' Tony Wolters—is seeing semi-regular playing time, serving as the left-handed part of a platoon with Dustin Garneau while Colorado's regular catcher, Nick Hundley, is on the disabled list with a strained oblique.
That, along with Wolters' superior defensive skills when compared to the rest of the field, gives him the starting nod on our All-Rookie team over the San Francisco Giants' Trevor Brown and Texas Rangers' Brett Nicholas, the latter of whom is back in Triple-A.
Wolters' 33 percent caught-stealing percentage is just a tick above league average and superior to the 25 percent of baserunners Brown and Nicholas have each nailed. He's also been credited with five defensive runs saved, which is second in the majors to only the Kansas City Royals' Salvador Perez.
Honorable Mentions
Trevor Brown (SF)
Brett Nicholas (TEX)
First Base: Dae-Ho Lee, Seattle Mariners
2 of 11
2016 Stats: 22 G, .265 BA, .892 OPS, 5 XBH (5 HR), 9 RBI, 3 BB, 10 K
You're not alone if you think a 33-year-old with more than a decade of experience playing professionally overseas—11 years in Korea and four in Japan—doesn't fit the spirit of the word "rookie."
The Seattle Mariners' Dae-Ho Lee agrees with you.
"As I look at myself, yes, I'm a rookie, my status is a rookie, but I am a veteran baseball player," he told 710 ESPN Seattle's Shannon Drayer through an interpreter. "I have had this situation 2,000 times. When I am coming to bat, I know what to do. This is my job, this is what I have learned. I am a baseball player."
While he hasn't been in the lineup as often as his primary competition at first base, the Houston Astros' Tyler White, he's been more productive in terms of adjusted offense. As for the Minnesota Twins' Byung Ho Park, another Korean import in his rookie MLB season, he gets the nod at another position on our All-Rookie squad.
Honorable Mentions
Byung Ho Park (MIN)
Tyler White (HOU)
Second Base: Daniel Castro, Atlanta Braves
3 of 11
2016 Stats: 25 G, .195 BA, .442 OPS, 1 XBH (0 HR), 4 RBI, 4 BB, 14 K, 1-for-2 SB
It doesn't take more than a cursory glance at Daniel Castro's numbers to realize that, when it comes to rookies, second base is a barren wasteland. That's not meant as disrespect to Castro, the best among the trio of light-hitting utility infielders we have to choose from.
While he's spent more time at second base than anywhere else, Castro, 23, has bounced around the field for Atlanta Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez, spending time at third base and shortstop as well. What he lacks offensively, he makes up for with his glove, providing solid defense at all three positions.
Honorable Mentions
Cristhian Adames (COL)
Yadiel Rivera (MIL)
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Shortstop: Aledmys Diaz, St. Louis Cardinals
4 of 11
2016 Stats: 34 G, .377 BA, 1.077 OPS, 20 XBH (6 HR), 19 RBI, 7 BB, 12 K, 1-for-2 SB
Finally, we arrive at a position with legitimate competition, and there's a three-way race between the St. Louis Cardinals' Aledmys Diaz, Los Angeles Dodgers' Corey Seager and Colorado Rockies' Trevor Story for the starting spot at shortstop on our All-Rookie team.
All three make a strong case for the gig, with Seager the superior defender and Story boasting the most power—his 11 home runs are only two behind Rockies teammate Nolan Arenado for the MLB lead.
While Diaz's MLB-leading nine errors are troublesome, especially at a premium position, his scorching start at the plate goes a long way toward atoning for his defensive miscues. Consider where he sits on the MLB leaderboards:
- Third in batting average (.377)
- Second in slugging percentage (.667)
- Fourth in OPS (1.077)
- Tied for fourth in adjusted offense (182)
That's not too shabby for a perennial All-Star, much less a 25-year-old who began the season at Triple-A.
Honorable Mentions
Corey Seager (LAD)
Trevor Story (COL)
Third Base: Brandon Drury, Arizona Diamondbacks
5 of 11
2016 Stats: 33 G, .298 BA, .855 OPS, 16 XBH (6 HR), 13 RBI, 4 BB, 24 K, 0-for-1 SB
He's not quite Kris Bryant (though he entered play Sunday with as many home runs and a higher OPS than the reigning National League Rookie of the Year), but the Arizona Diamondbacks' Brandon Drury has been one of the most impressive rookies thus far in 2016.
Part of the package Arizona received from Atlanta in the 2013 Justin Upton trade, the 23-year-old has made himself invaluable to Diamondbacks manager Chip Hale by filling in wherever he's needed. Aside from third base, Drury has spent time in both outfield corners and at second base.
The Milwaukee Brewers' Colin Walsh might be a more sure-handed fielder at the hot corner, but Drury's offensive production more than makes up for whatever defensive shortcomings he might have.
Honorable Mentions
Daniel Castro (ATL)
Ronald Torreyes (NYY)
Colin Walsh (MIL)
Left Field: Jeremy Hazelbaker, St. Louis Cardinals
6 of 11
2016 Stats: 35 G, .282 BA, .953 OPS, 13 XBH (7 HR), 18 RBI, 7 BB, 29 K, 3-for-5 SB
Jeremy Hazelbaker is living proof that sometimes talent alone isn't enough to make dreams come true. Sometimes you have to kick the door down to make someone stand up and take notice.
"One of those great stories," St. Louis Cardinals manager Mike Matheny told Bleacher Report's Scott Miller about the 28-year-old earlier this month. "He's a talented player, and he forced our hand this spring. Which, really, is what we ask all of our players.
"The way he takes his at-bats reminds me a lot of what we saw from Carp [Matt Carpenter] early in his career. Fight, fight, fight the pitcher, and stick with your game plan."
While he's not getting regular playing time, Hazelbaker has made the most of his opportunity when he is in the lineup, posting a slugging percentage (.624) that trails only teammate Aledmys Diaz among rookies and an OPS that sits third behind those posted by Diaz and the Colorado Rockies' Trevor Story.
"He knows what he does well," Cardinals hitting coach John Mabry told Miller. "He has quality at-bats. We've told him: 'Don't do anything different. Keep doing what you're doing.'"
So long as Hazelbaker continues to play his game, we could see him in this spot when we put together our All-Rookie team at the season's halfway mark.
Honorable Mentions
Tyler Holt (CIN)
Rafael Ortega (LAA)
Joey Rickard (BAL)
Center Field: Trayce Thompson, Los Angeles Dodgers
7 of 11
2016 Stats: 29 G, .275 BA, .837 OPS, 9 XBH (4 HR), 14 RBI, 4 BB, 20 K, 0-for-1 SB
Before you start the whole "Trayce Thompson isn't as good at baseball as his brother [Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson] is at basketball" shtick, consider the tidbit that ESPN.com's Doug Padilla dropped Wednesday:
"Since April 25, Thompson has led the Los Angeles Dodgers in runs scored, home runs and RBI. And those numbers have come without an everyday role in the lineup. He started at all three outfield spots on the recent road trip, and on Tuesday, he had to bide his time waiting from the bench for a spot to help."
That help came in the form of a 413-foot game-winning blast off New York Mets reliever Hansel Robles.
It's that power that gives Thompson the edge over the Cleveland Indians' Tyler Naquin, who has hit for a higher average (.333) and is nearly even with Thompson in adjusted offense, for the starting spot in center field.
Honorable Mentions
Tyler Naquin (CLE)
Mallex Smith (ATL)
Right Field: Nomar Mazara, Texas Rangers
8 of 11
2016 Stats: 30 G, .307 BA, .800 OPS, 7 XBH (4 HR), 12 RBI, 11 BB, 23 K
It didn't take long for Nomar Mazara to make his presence felt in Texas. He reached base safely in his first three MLB plate appearances, which culminated with his first big league home run, a 432-foot shot to right-center field off Los Angeles Angels starter Jered Weaver.
While the 21-year-old's production has dropped in May, Mazara remains the best rookie right fielder in baseball. Even if he didn't have the numbers to back up that statement, he's the only rookie outfielder who hasn't bounced around the outfield, spending every one of his games in right.
But he does have the numbers, as he's hit for average, flashed some power and shown he's not averse to drawing a walk, all while playing above-average defense. The undisputed leader in the Rangers clubhouse, Adrian Beltre, was quick to take note of what Mazara has to offer.
"He is unbelievably talented," Beltre told Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News. "He has his head straight. All he's done is put together good, patient at-bats and drive guys in."
You can't ask for more from a guy who, less than a month ago, couldn't legally walk into a bar and order a drink.
Honorable Mentions
Tyler Holt (CIN)
Joey Rickard (BAL)
Designated Hitter: Byung Ho Park, Minnesota Twins
9 of 11
2016 Stats: 30 G, .248 BA, .910 OPS, 14 XBH (9 HR), 15 RBI, 11 BB, 35 K, 1-for-1 SB
Not much has gone right for the Minnesota Twins this season, but one of the few bright spots is the play of 29-year-old rookie slugger Byung Ho Park.
After signing a four-year, $12 million deal in December, Park has been the Twins' most dangerous and productive hitter, leading the team in home runs, slugging percentage (.574), OPS and total bases (58) while tying Miguel Sano for the squad lead in RBI.
That he's the only rookie to log regular at-bats as a designated hitter makes his selection an easy one.
Honorable Mentions
None
Starting Pitcher: Kenta Maeda, Los Angeles Dodgers
10 of 11
2016 Stats: 7 GS, 3-2, 2.30 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, 43 IP, 32 H, 12 BB, 38 K
After allowing just one earned run over his first four MLB starts, which spanned 25.1 innings, Kenta Maeda has begun to scuffle, giving up 10 earned runs over his last three starts, which covered 17.2 innings. But that doesn't take away from what has been about as good a start to his big league career as could be expected.
Maeda leads all rookie starters (minimum three starts) in ERA, innings pitched and strikeouts, and he is nearly even with the Milwaukee Brewers' Junior Guerra for the lead in WHIP.
The 28-year-old's performance has been crucial for a Los Angeles Dodgers rotation that is without the services of Brett Anderson, Mike Bolsinger, Brandon McCarthy and Hyun-Jin Ryu, all of whom are on the disabled list with a variety of maladies.
Honorable Mentions
Jon Gray (COL)
Steven Matz (NYM)
Ross Stripling (LAD)
Cesar Vargas (SD)
Relief Pitcher: Seung Hwan Oh, St. Louis Cardinals
11 of 11
2016 Stats: 18 G, 1-0, 1.37 ERA, 0.86 WHIP, 19.2 IP, 10 H, 7 BB, 24 K
Few gave the January announcement that the St. Louis Cardinals had signed 33-year-old reliever Seung Hwan Oh to a one-year, $5 million deal much thought, but the veteran hurler has made the baseball world take notice of his performance.
He's been effective against batters from both sides of the plate, limiting the opposition to a .418 OPS, third-lowest among rookie relievers. Oh has allowed only three extra-base hits—all doubles—and boasts a solid 3.43 strikeout-to-walk ratio, nearly a full strikeout higher than the league average for relievers.
While others might have a lower ERA or a higher strikeout total, Oh has been the most complete rookie reliever to break onto the scene so far.
Honorable Mention
Kyle Barraclough (MIA)
Ryan Buchter (SD)
Chris Devenski (HOU)
Tony Zych (SEA)
Unless otherwise noted, statistics courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com and FanGraphs and accurate through games of May 14. All contract information courtesy of Cot's Contracts (via Baseball Prospectus).
Hit me up on Twitter to talk all things baseball: @RickWeinerBR.
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