MLB: Ranking the Top 5 AL Rookie of the Year Candidates at the Midway Point

Every year in the American League, it seems as if the race for the Rookie of the Year Award comes down to the final few weeks of the season. 

That looks to be the case this year as well.

The AL is loaded with young talent, ranging from great hitters to starting pitchers and even great relievers. 

Although there are many deserving candidates, here's a look at the top five.

5. Zach Britton, SP, Orioles

Before the season started, Baltimore fans thought that Brian Matusz was going to be the top young pitcher to emerge for the Orioles. However, Matusz has dealt with injuries, hasn't been effective, and was recently sent to the minors.

Zach Britton, on the other hand, has been absolutely great as a rookie. 

He has been in the rotation the entire year, and with Jeremy Guthrie not pitching as well lately, you could debate that Britton has been the Orioles' best starter.

He has already pitched over 100 innings and currently has an impressive 3.47 ERA. 

If Matusz can eventually live up to expectations, he and Britton could provide Baltimore with a solid one-two punch for years to come.

4. Jeremy Hellickson, SP, Rays

When the Rays called up Jeremy Hellickson at the end of last year, you could tell immediately that he was going to be great—he went 4-0 with a 3.47 ERA and had a very impressive 33:8 strikeout-to-walk ratio.

Now that he's in his first full season in the majors, he hasn't disappointed. If not for the amazing year that James Shields is having, this kid would be getting a lot more attention. 

The Rays are currently nine games over .500 and certainly in the wild-card hunt, but this hasn't phased Hellickson as he has continually pitched well in the toughest division in baseball.

He currently has a very impressive 3.21 ERA, and you could easily make the case that he—not David Price—has been Tampa Bay's second-best starter this year, behind Shields. Rays fans knew that Hellickson would be good, but for him to pitch better than David Price this year was not expected.

If Hellickson continues to shut down those great offenses in the AL East, he will certainly stay in the rookie-of-the-year conversation and could end up winning the award.

3. Eric Hosmer, 1B, Royals

When Kila Ka'aihue struggled early in the year at first base, the Royals knew they had to make a move.  They sent Ka'aihue to the minors and called up one of (if not) their biggest prospects, Eric Hosmer. 

So far, Hosmer has not disappointed.

He has only played in 54 games, but he already has eight homers and 33 RBI to go along with a somewhat-impressive .277 batting average. Hosmer has been a force in the heart of Kansas City's lineup, and looks like he will continue to be so for years to come.

If he keeps producing, the middle of Kansas City's lineup could actually be very good for years, with the young trio of Hosmer, Alex Gordon, and Billy Butler. Another name that could be added to that list is Mike Moustakas, the young rookie third baseman that was recently called up, for whom the Royals have high hopes.

The reason Hosmer isn't higher on this list is because the other rookies have played so many more games than he has.  If he keeps producing at the rate he is, though, it would not be a shock to see him claim the AL Rookie of the Year Award.

2. Mark Trumbo, 1B, Angels

Angels fans may have panicked somewhat when it was announced that Kendrys Morales would be out for the year.  With Morales out, the Angels were losing a guy who could hit for power, average, and be a huge threat in the middle of their lineup.

However, what Mark Trumbo has done in his absence has been nothing short of amazing.  Other than the batting average, he has been putting up Kendrys Morales-type numbers, with 14 home runs and 37 RBI.  These numbers are impressive for anyone, let alone a rookie.

What's even more impressive is that he leads the team in home runs. In fact, he has hit more homers than Torii Hunter and Bobby Abreu combined.

As far as hitters go, it looks as though Eric Hosmer will be Trumbo's main competition for the Rookie of the Year Award in the American League.

It will be an exciting second half for the Angels, as not only Trumbo, but Jordan Walden as well, will be in contention for the AL ROY Award.

1. Michael Pineda, SP, Mariners

Honestly, if the voting ended today, I think Michael Pineda should win the award in a landslide. 

That's how good he has been this year.

Only 22 years old, Pineda has been very solid at the top of the Seattle rotation the entire year. 

The Mariners easily have one of the best rotations in the game, and believe it or not, Felix Hernandez currently has the second-worst ERA of anyone on the staff. Nobody is ready to take the "ace" status away from King Felix yet, though, but Pineda is certainly doing his best to accomplish that—Pineda's ERA currently sits at an amazingly low 2.58.

Pineda does have one thing on the mound that a lot of pitchers don't have: size. Standing 6'7" and weighing 260 pounds, Pineda is extremely intimidating to opposing hitters. 

Not only does he have size, but he also has an electric arm, as do most pitchers who hail from the Dominican Republic.

Pineda has been so good this year that not only does he deserve to be in the rookie-of-the-year discussion, but he deserves to be in the Cy Young discussion as well. 

Once the season comes to an end, don't be surprised to see him finish near the top of the voting for both awards.