Ranking the Top 25 MLB Rookies of the 2022 Season
Every year brings at least a handful of exciting new stars in the big leagues, but the 2022 MLB rookie class is as deep and talented as any in recent memory.
Seattle Mariners center fielder Julio Rodríguez, Baltimore Orioles catcher Adley Rutschman and Atlanta Braves teammates Michael Harris II and Spencer Strider have been the cream of the crop, but they are by no means the only rookies who made a major impact right out of the gates.
Here, we've counted down the top 25 rookies of the 2022 season based solely on their production this season. Future expectations and long-term upside did not factor in. The focus was simply on who performed best this year.
Let's start with a long list of honorable mentions.
Honorable Mentions
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Starting Pitchers: Graham Ashcraft (CIN), Javier Assad (CHC), Brayan Bello (BOS), Kyle Bradish (BAL), Edward Cabrera (MIA), Roansy Contreras (PIT), Bryce Elder (ATL), Braxton Garrett (MIA), MacKenzie Gore (SD/WAS), Hunter Greene (CIN), Connor Overton (CIN), JP Sears (NYY/OAK), Hayden Wesneski (CHC)
Relief Pitchers: Domingo Acevedo (OAK), Bryan Baker (BAL), Andrew Bellatti (PHI), Matt Brash (SEA), Dylan Coleman (KC), José Cuas (KC), Jason Foley (DET), Brandon Hughes (CHC), Zach Jackson (OAK), Dany Jiménez (OAK), Dylan Lee (ATL), Ron Marinaccio (NYY), Seth Martinez (HOU), Sam Moll (OAK), Jovani Moran (MIN), Penn Murfee (SEA), Andre Pallante (STL), A.J. Puk (OAK), Clarke Schmidt (NYY), Robert Suárez (SD), Zack Thompson (STL), Steven Wilson (SD)
Catchers: Joey Bart (SF), Nick Fortes (MIA), MJ Melendez (KC)
Infielders: Rodolfo Castro (PIT), Nolan Gorman (STL), Vaughn Grissom (ATL), Darick Hall (PHI), Gunnar Henderson (BAL), Emmanuel Rivera (KC/ARI), Bryson Stott (PHI), David Villar (SF)
Outfielders: José Azócar (SD), Oswaldo Cabrera (NYY), Kerry Carpenter (DET), Corbin Carroll (ARI), TJ Friedl (CIN), Luis González (SF), Riley Greene (DET), José Siri (HOU/TB), Jack Suwinski (PIT), Alek Thomas (ARI), Juan Yepez (STL)
Nos. 25-21
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25. IF/OF Christopher Morel, Chicago Cubs
A versatile power-speed threat who made an immediate impact upon moving into the Cubs' starting lineup in mid-May, Morel posted a 107 OPS+ with 19 doubles, 16 home runs and 10 steals in 113 games. The 23-year-old made double-digit starts at center field (50), second base (28), third base (16) and shortstop (10) while turning in a 1.4-WAR season.
24. RHP Scott Effross, Chicago Cubs/New York Yankees
With a deceptive sidearm delivery and a solid sinker/slider pairing, Effross was an early bright spot for the Cubs, posting a 2.66 ERA and 10.2 strikeouts per nine innings in 47 appearances before he was traded to the Yankees at the deadline in exchange for prospect Hayden Wesneski. He went on to tally three saves and three holds with a 2.13 ERA in 13 appearances with the Yankees, and he's controllable through the 2027 campaign.
23. OF Seiya Suzuki, Chicago Cubs
The Cubs gave Suzuki a five-year, $85 million deal during the offseason, and he hit .333/.458/.632 with five doubles, four home runs and 14 RBI in his first 18 games. His production leveled off from there, but he still finished with a 116 OPS+ and 38 extra-base hits in 111 games, providing some hope that he can be a key piece of the future on the North Side.
22. RHP Alexis Díaz, Cincinnati Reds
Armed with a mid-90s fastball and a plus slider that generated a 45.0 percent whiff rate, Díaz emerged from his older brother's shadow this season to establish himself as a young reliever on the rise. The 26-year-old had a 1.84 ERA, 0.96 WHIP and 11.7 K/9 with 10 saves and 13 holds in 59 appearances, and he limited opposing hitters to a .131 batting average while also recording a team-high seven wins.
21. 1B Vinnie Pasquantino, Kansas City Royals
Pasquantino posted a .957 OPS with 37 doubles, 24 home runs and 84 RBI in 116 games between High-A and Double-A in 2021 to announce himself as a prospect on the rise. After a hot start at Triple-A this season, he made his MLB debut on June 28. The 25-year-old had a 135 OPS+ with 10 doubles, 10 home runs and 26 RBI in 298 plate appearances. He should be a middle-of-the-order presence in Kansas City for the foreseeable future.
Nos. 20-16
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20. LHP Nick Lodolo, Cincinnati Reds
The first pitcher taken in the 2019 draft at No. 7 overall, Lodolo outperformed the more highly-touted Hunter Greene as both players made their debuts in the Cincinnati rotation. The 6'6" southpaw made 19 starts, finishing with a 3.66 ERA and 131 strikeouts in 103.1 innings. He had a 2.48 ERA with 49 punchouts in 36.1 innings over his final six starts. He'll be a breakout candidate to watch in 2023.
19. LHP Brock Burke, Texas Rangers
After making his MLB debut in 2019, Burke struggled to carve out a big league role, and he struggled to a 5.68 ERA as a starter at Triple-A in 2021. The 26-year-old moved to the bullpen this year and pitched his way into a key multi-inning role, posting a 1.97 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, 9.8 K/9 and 2.1 WAR while leading the majors with 82.1 relief innings.
18. 1B/OF Joey Meneses, Washington Nationals
Meneses made his MLB debut shortly after his 30th birthday following the blockbuster deal that sent Juan Soto and Josh Bell to the San Diego Padres. He hit .324/.367/.523 with 14 doubles, 13 home runs and 34 RBI in 240 plate appearances. While his .371 BABIP is a sign of some regression to come, his batted-ball metrics are strong enough to believe he can be an everyday player in 2023.
17. LHP Reid Detmers, Los Angeles Angels
Detmers provided one of the highlights of the 2022 season when he tossed a no-hitter against the Tampa Bay Rays on May 10. He looks like a keeper as the Angels continue to shuffle their starting rotation pieces. The No. 10 overall pick in the 2020 draft finished with a 3.77 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 122 strikeouts in 129 innings. His 2.4 WAR was tied for the fifth-highest total on the Angels roster.
16. SS Oneil Cruz, Pittsburgh Pirates
Cruz hit a baseball 122.4 mph this season, the hardest hit of the entire 2022 season. A 6'7" shortstop with a rocket arm and light-tower power, he has a chance to be a bona fide superstar in the years to come. His .294 on-base percentage and 34.9 percent strikeout rate suggest he still has work to do refining his approach, but he still finished with a 107 OPS+ and 34 extra-base hits in 361 plate appearances while tallying 2.3 WAR.
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Nos. 15-11
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15. OF Jake McCarthy, Arizona Diamondbacks
McCarthy saw 24 games of MLB action in 2021, but he maintained his rookie eligibility, and he made the Opening Day roster out of spring training. He was used sparingly in the first half but eventually played his way into an everyday role, hitting .290/.353/.420 in 223 plate appearances after Aug. 1. The 25-year-old finished with a 118 OPS+, 27 extra-base hits, 23 steals and 2.4 WAR in 99 games.
14. RHP Jhoan Durán, Minnesota Twins
Armed with a fastball that averaged 100.8 mph and a hammer curveball, Durán was one of baseball's most overpowering relievers. The 24-year-old pitched to a 1.86 ERA and 0.98 WHIP with eight saves and 18 holds in 57 appearances. He also held opposing hitters to a .207 average and logged an 89-to-16 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 67.2 innings.
13. 1B/3B José Miranda, Minnesota Twins
Miranda announced himself as a prospect to watch in 2021 when he hit .344/.401/.572 with 32 doubles, 30 home runs and 94 RBI in 127 games in the upper levels of the minors. With Miguel Sanó sidelined for most of the season with a knee injury, Miranda made his MLB debut on May 2 and wound up being one of Minnesota's primary run producers. The 24-year-old posted a 116 OPS+ with 25 doubles, 15 home runs and 66 RBI in 483 plate appearances.
12. RHP Félix Bautista, Baltimore Orioles
Bautista spent four years in the Dominican Summer League at the onset of his career, as it took him some time to harness his electric stuff. But he turned a corner in 2021 when he posted a 1.54 ERA with 77 strikeouts in 46.2 innings over three minor league levels. The 27-year-old broke through in the majors this year and eventually made All-Star closer Jorge López dispensable. He finished his rookie campaign with a 2.19 ERA, 0.93 WHIP and 12.1 K/9 with 15 saves and 13 holds in 65 games for a surprise contender in Baltimore.
11. OF Oscar González, Cleveland Guardians
The Guardians were 59-32 when González was in the lineup this season and 33-38 without him. There were certainly other factors at play, but his call-up on May 26 helped shore up the outfield and solidify the offense. The 24-year-old hit .296/.327/.461 for a 125 OPS+ with 27 doubles, 11 home runs and 43 RBI in 382 plate appearances.
10. RHP Joe Ryan, Minnesota Twins
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Stats: 27 GS, 13-8, 3.55 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, 47 BB, 151 K, 147.0 IP
The Minnesota Twins acquired Joe Ryan from the Tampa Bay Rays at the 2021 trade deadline in exchange for veteran slugger Nelson Cruz.
The 26-year-old was playing for Team USA in the Olympics at the time of the deal, but he returned to make his MLB debut late in the 2021 season, posting a 4.05 ERA with 30 strikeouts in 26.2 innings over five late-season starts.
That strong performance propelled him to a spot in the 2022 rotation to begin the year. In a season where 14 different pitchers started at least one game for the Twins, he was the best of the bunch.
9. SS/3B Bobby Witt Jr., Kansas City Royals
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Stats: 150 G, 102 OPS+, .254/.294/.428, 57 XBH (20 HR), 80 RBI, 82 R, 30 SB
The No. 1 overall prospect on Bleacher Report's first Top 100 prospect list of the 2022 season, Bobby Witt Jr. made his MLB debut on Opening Day at the age of 21.
He still has work to do refining his approach at the plate, as evidenced by his middling 4.7 percent walk rate and .294 on-base percentage. But it's tough to argue with a 20-homer, 30-steal season from a player his age in his first taste of the majors.
Brutal defensive metrics at shortstop (-19 DRS, -8.4 UZR/150) undercut Witt's overall value, and he could settle in at third base on an everyday basis going forward. But his dynamic mix of power and speed give him the upside to be the future face of the Royals franchise.
8. IF/OF Brendan Donovan, St. Louis Cardinals
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Stats: 126 G, 126 OPS+, .281/.394/.379, 27 XBH (5 HR), 45 RBI, 64 R, 2 SB
Almost every season, an under-the-radar prospect seemingly comes out of nowhere to emerge as a key contributor for the St. Louis Cardinals. This year, it was Brendan Donovan.
A seventh-round pick in 2018 and the team's No. 13-ranked prospect entering the season, Donovan made his MLB debut on April 25. After a slow start, he hit .302 with a .443 on-base percentage in May to claim a regular role as a super-utility player.
On the strength of a 12.8 percent walk rate, a .394 on-base percentage and rock-solid defense at all four infield spots and both outfield corners, he was a 4.1-WAR player in 126 games.
7. RHP George Kirby, Seattle Mariners
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Stats: 25 GS, 8-5, 3.39 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, 22 BB, 133 K, 130.0 IP
Right-hander George Kirby has a terrific fastball that sits in the mid-90s and four unique off-speed pitches that help keep opposing hitters off-balance. But his pinpoint command is what stood out most in his rookie campaign.
The 24-year-old walked more than one batter in only two of his 25 starts, and his 4.1 percent walk rate ranked sixth among all pitchers with at least 100 innings of work.
A product of Elon University, Kirby impressed every step of the way in the minors after going No. 20 overall in 2019. His first big league season was more of the same as he gives Seattle a long-term building block in its impressive rotation.
6. SS Jeremy Peña, Houston Astros
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Stats: 136 G, 101 OPS+, .253/.289/.426, 44 XBH (22 HR), 63 RBI, 72 R, 11 SB
The Houston Astros opted against pursuing any outside additions after Carlos Correa signed with the Minnesota Twins in free agency. Instead, they entrusted unproven prospect Jeremy Peña to be their everyday shortstop.
The 25-year-old had an .820 OPS with eight home runs and 23 RBI in 168 plate appearances over the first two months of the season. While he slumped a bit at the plate in the ensuing months, he finished strong down the stretch as the team's No. 2 hitter.
Regardless of whether he was swinging it well at the plate, he was a terrific defensive presence up the middle all year. He finished tied for the MLB lead among shortstops with 15 DRS en route to a 4.8-WAR debut.
5. LF Steven Kwan, Cleveland Guardians
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Stats: 147 G, 124 OPS+, .298/.373/.400, 38 XBH (6 HR), 52 RBI, 89 R, 19 SB
Unlike some of the other top rookies featured here, Steven Kwan was nowhere near leaguewide Top 100 lists when the season began. He checked in at No. 27 among Cleveland Guardians prospects.
Kwan hit .328/.407/.527 in 77 games in the upper levels of the minors in 2021, but he won the Opening Day left field job with a strong spring. The 25-year-old batted .354/.459/.500 in April and turned in a five-hit performance in his third big league game. His production was one of the biggest early storylines of the season.
In 638 plate appearances, Kwan finished with more walks (62) than strikeouts (60). He also posted elite defensive metrics (21 DRS, 8.4 UZR/150) in left field to further boost his value in a 5.5-WAR rookie season.
4. RHP Spencer Strider, Atlanta Braves
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Stats: 31 G, 20 GS, 11-5, 2.67 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, 45 BB, 202 K, 131.2 IP
Flame-throwing Spencer Strider began the season in the Atlanta bullpen, striking out five in two perfect innings on Opening Day. He made 11 total relief appearances before moving into the starting rotation at the end of May.
With a fastball that averaged 98.2 mph and a wipeout slider, he reached 200 strikeouts in fewer innings than any pitcher in MLB history. His 16-strikeout game on Sept. 1 against the Colorado Rockies also set a single-game franchise record.
The Braves saw enough in his rookie season to sign him to a six-year, $70 million extension that also includes a $22 million club option for the 2029 season. Yet another piece of the core locked up for the foreseeable future.
3. CF Michael Harris II, Atlanta Braves
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Stats: 114 G, 135 OPS+, .297/.339/.514, 49 XBH (19 HR), 64 RBI, 75 R, 20 SB
With Adam Duvall struggling and eventually sidelined with a wrist injury, the Atlanta Braves turned to top prospect Michael Harris II to fill the void in center field.
The 21-year-old was promoted straight from Double-A to the majors on May 28. Despite playing only 43 games above the High-A level, he proved more than ready for the leap in competition.
On top of his power, speed and stellar defense in center field, he also proved incredibly clutch for a player his age, hitting .383/.420/.606 in 101 plate appearances with runners in scoring position. It's no coincidence that the Braves went 79-35 when he was in the lineup and 22-26 without him, as he was a 5.3-WAR player.
Harris signed an eight-year, $72 million extension in August that could be worth up to $102 million over 10 years if a pair of club options are exercised.
2. C Adley Rutschman, Baltimore Orioles
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Stats: 113 G, 128 OPS+, .254/.362/.445, 49 XBH (13 HR), 42 RBI, 70 R, 4 SB
The arrival of Adley Rutschman signaled the beginning of a new era for the Baltimore Orioles. His immediate impact is a big reason why they were able to hang around in the wild-card race only one year after losing 110 games.
The 24-year-old didn't make his MLB debut until May 21, yet he still piled up 5.2 WAR in 113 games. That made him only the fifth rookie catcher in MLB history to put together a 5-WAR season along with Carlton Fisk (7.3, 1973), Mike Piazza (7.0, 1993), Thurman Munson (5.5, 1970) and Johnny Bench (5.0, 1968).
Rutschman showed extra-base pop with 35 doubles and 13 home runs, displayed an advanced approach with a 13.8 percent walk rate, threw out 31 percent of potential base-stealers and ranked seventh among all catchers in overall defensive value.
The O's have found their face of the franchise.
1. CF Julio Rodríguez, Seattle Mariners
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Stats: 132 G, 147 OPS+, .284/.345/.509, 56 XBH (28 HR), 75 RBI, 84 R, 25 SB
In a season loaded with highly productive rookies, none had a bigger impact on the success of his team than Seattle Mariners center fielder Julio Rodríguez.
His arrival injected some much-needed excitement into a franchise that had not made the playoffs since 2001. He backed up the hype by posting a 20/20 season offensively while patrolling center field and piling up 6.0 WAR to lead all rookies.
The 21-year-old hit .394/.456/.747 with seven home runs in 79 plate appearances over the final month of the regular season, while a number of other rookies started to fade over the course of the year.
Rodríguez has the tools to be a franchise cornerstone for years to come. Seattle's front office wisely locked him up with a uniquely structured deal that includes a seven-year, $119.3 million base guarantee, but it could be worth up to $209.3 million over 12 years.
All stats courtesy of Baseball Reference.
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