NL Rookie of the Year Rankings: Bryce Harper Moves Up as Yonder Alonso Slumps

Last week: No. 3

Is Bryce Harper winning the NL Rookie of the Year award an inevitability? It very well could be. That's certainly what was expected of him before the season, even with the knowledge that he might not make the team out of spring training.

If Harper keeps hitting like he has in recent weeks, postseason honors surely await him. Washington Nationals manager Davey Johnson found the sweet spot by moving Harper into the No. 2 hole of the lineup. His aggressiveness at the top of the order has invigorated the Nats' previously middling offense.

As the No. 2 hitter, Harper is batting .306/.390/.569 with three homers, nine RBI and 10 walks. In the opener of a three-game series with the New York Mets, Harper got the first walk-off hit of his young career, knocking an RBI single that gave the Nats a 7-6 win in 12 innings.

However, Harper does occasionally let his impulsiveness get the best of him. In last weekend's series against the Braves, he was thrown out twice trying to take an extra base, killing potential run-scoring opportunities for the Nats. Johnson has talked to him about making better decisions and being aware of the situation at hand, but he surely doesn't want to curb his rookie's aggressiveness.

5. Wade Miley, Arizona Diamondbacks

Last week: No. 5.

Wade Miley's start against the San Diego Padres last week might have been enough to knock him out of our rankings. Giving up four runs and six hits to one of the worst lineups in baseball does not equate to an impressive performance.

However, Miley made two starts last week and followed his start against San Diego with an excellent outing against a strong Colorado Rockies offense. He allowed only one run and three hits over eight innings to a lineup that had been destroying starting pitchers in recent games.

Perhaps most impressive is that Miley didn't walk any batters during those two starts. Opposing batters may hit him since he pounds the strike zone and doesn't blow hitters away with his stuff, but he doesn't beat himself with mistakes or wildness.

Miley leads the D-Backs in wins and ERA, providing Arizona with much more than it likely hoped for at the back end of its starting rotation.

4. Zack Cozart, Cincinnati Reds

Last week: No. 4.

Holding steady in the fourth spot this week is Zack Cozart—and steady is just what he's been at shortstop for the Cincinnati Reds.

Over the past week, Cozart batted .333 (7-for-21) with a home run and two RBI. It's surely no coincidence that the Reds offense has put big numbers on the scoreboard as Cozart drives in some runs and gets on base at the top of the order.

It's been a nice turnaround, as Cozart had been slumping the previous week and probably should have been moved down to the lower third of the lineup. Fortunately for him, Dusty Baker really doesn't have any viable alternatives to bat leadoff, unless he wants to try something wacky. And that's not Baker's style.

Cozart is also playing solid defense at shortstop. According to FanGraphs, he ranks third among NL shortstops in Defensive Runs Saved and seventh in Ultimate Zone Rating. While that may look like middle of the pack, Cozart provides more offense for his team than the better glove men at his position.

3. Yonder Alonso, San Diego Padres

Last week: No. 1.

Here is our big tumble of the week. At one point, Yonder Alonso looked like the front-runner for NL Rookie of the Year, hitting balls into the gap and moving his batting average higher and higher. However, he's slumped badly in recent weeks.

As mentioned in the introduction, Alonso didn't hit very well going into our previous rankings, dropping his OPS below .800. He's slid even further since then. Alonso's slash average of .267/.345/.364 is the lowest it's been since early May, when he was still trying to find his footing at the plate.

Over the past week, Alonso batted 2-for-20 (.100), driving in only one run. He was the San Diego Padres' leading hitter, but his slump has allowed Will Venable and Chase Headley to overtake him in the major offensive categories.

Alonso has also shown some potential as a prankster, as seen in this practical joke he helped pull on teammate Cameron Maybin. Bold move for a rookie.

2. Bryce Harper, Washington Nationals

Last week: No. 3

Is Bryce Harper winning the NL Rookie of the Year award an inevitability? It very well could be. That's certainly what was expected of him before the season, even with the knowledge that he might not make the team out of spring training.

If Harper keeps hitting like he has in recent weeks, postseason honors surely await him. Washington Nationals manager Davey Johnson found the sweet spot by moving Harper into the No. 2 hole of the lineup. His aggressiveness at the top of the order has invigorated the Nats' previously middling offense.

As the No. 2 hitter, Harper is batting .306/.390/.569 with three homers, nine RBI and 10 walks. In the opener of a three-game series with the New York Mets, Harper got the first walk-off hit of his young career, knocking an RBI single that gave the Nats a 7-6 win in 12 innings.

However, Harper does occasionally let his impulsiveness get the best of him. In last weekend's series against the Braves, he was thrown out twice trying to take an extra base, killing potential run-scoring opportunities for the Nats. Johnson has talked to him about making better decisions and being aware of the situation at hand, but he surely doesn't want to curb his rookie's aggressiveness.

1. Kirk Nieuwenhuis, New York Mets

Last week: No. 2.

After holding the second spot in our NL Rookie of the Year rankings for weeks, New York Mets outfielder Kirk Nieuwenhuis finally climbs to the top.

Why Nieuwenhuis over Harper?

Nieuwenhuis entered the majors about a month before Harper and has been a significant contributor since being called up from Class AAA on the second day of the season.

Since last week's rankings, Nieuwenhuis is 8-for-24 (.333) at the plate with one homer and five RBI. Though the Mets have lost their past three games, Nieuwenhuis continues to be a reliable outfield option for manager Terry Collins.

With Jason Bay set to return from a rib injury this week, Collins has been mulling over who to squeeze out of the starting outfield to make room. Meanwhile, Nieuwenhuis has played so well and so consistently that benching him in favor of veterans like Bay and Andres Torres hasn't even been considered.

Nieuwenhuis' ability to play all three outfield positions helps his manager's decision-making process as well. No matter what move Collins decides to make, he knows he can keep Nieuwenhuis in the lineup.

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