2013 MLB Rookie of the Year Stock Watch, Week 20

As the 2013 Major League Baseball season heads down the stretch, the superlative players of the summer have clearly emerged.

For those stars that double as first-year players, expectations will soon become outrageous for the remainder of their respective careers.

Rookie of the Year is an award that can be a precursor to major achievement in the future, or just a quick, fleeting moment of success in otherwise innocuous careers.

In the 2013 rookie class, potential long-term, franchise-changing stars have emerged. Some are igniting postseason hopes for October, while others are changing the conversation about the best future assets in the entire sport.

Without further ado, an update Rookie of the Year stock watch for the 20th week of the 2013 season.

Stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com. WAR provided by FanGraphs.

American League: 1. Wil Myers, OF, Tampa Bay Rays

Stats: 46 G, .316/.369/.508, 9 HR, 33 RBI, 27 R, 144 OPS-plus, 2.0 WAR

Stock: Up

Myers has helped ignite the Tampa Bay offense since arriving as a June call-up. His right-handed power bat has fit into the middle of the order and become the start of a what the Rays hope is a long-term power combination with third baseman Evan Longoria.

After a long tenure in the minor leagues, it's clear that Longoria was more than ready to compete and thrive in the ultra-competitive American League East.

Although he doesn't have enough plate appearances to qualify for the league leader boards, Myers' slugging percentage is better than all but 16 hitters in the sport, including well-known stars like Joey Votto, Jose Bautista and Robinson Cano.

If Tampa qualifies for October baseball, Myers' emergence and ability to hit at a Rookie of the Year level will be a major reason why.

National League: 1. Jose Fernandez, RHP, Miami Marlins

Stats: 23 GS, 139.2 IP, 149 K, 48 BB, 2.45 ERA, 2.77 FIP, 3.2 WAR

Stock: Up

What Fernandez has accomplished in his 20-year-old season will one day be the stuff of legend. Before an impending innings limit shutdown curtails the talk around this Marlins phenom, consider this nugget: Using ERA-plus, Fernandez is putting up the second best season a pitcher his age ever has, trailing only Doc Gooden's 1984.

The names behind him on that list: Bob Feller, Don Drysdale and Smoky Joe Wood.

If the phenom was allowed to complete a full season, expounding on his 1.65 ERA since the end of May, he could wind up atop the NL Cy Young race.

For now, he'll have to take the Rookie of the Year award. In the future, Cy Young's will be there for the taking.

American League: 2. Jose Iglesias, SS, Detroit Tigers

Stats: 75 G, .316/.361/.395, 2 HR, 22 RBI, 29 R, 106 OPS-plus, 1.2 WAR

Stock: Up

Upon the trade that sent Iglesias from the Boston Red Sox to the Detroit Tigers, the 23-year-old defensive wizard found a long-term home at shortstop, replacing the currently suspended and impeding free agent Jhonny Peralta.

Although the Cuban defector has slumped at the plate (.210 average since July 4), his bat will never profile as his biggest attribute.

Every single member of Detroit's starting rotation ranks among the top 15 in American League Fielding Independent Pitching. If Iglesias can contribute the dazzling defense he's shown, the big bats in the Tigers lineup will carry the rest of the load.

National League: 2. Yasiel Puig, OF, Los Angeles Dodgers

Stats: 63 G, .368/.430/.583, 11 HR, 27 RBI, 47 R, 186 OPS-plus, 3.0 WAR

Stock: Up

The most exciting player in baseball resides in Los Angeles. With apologies to Mike Trout's brilliance and Miguel Cabrera's hitting genius, Puig has put on a legendary show in 63 games for the Dodgers.

His WAR and numbers show value, but his contributions to the Dodgers' 40-8 run since June 22 go beyond advanced statistics.

Simply put, the Cuban phenom has transformed one of baseball's most underachieving teams into a squad that looks like a legitimate World Series contender.

He's second on the NL ROY Stock Watch for one reason: playing time. Jose Fernandez has been dominating the NL since April, while Puig didn't arrive until June.

Watch the list over the next few weeks, especially after Fernandez's shut down. If Puig continues to rake, the award will reside in Los Angeles.

American League: 3. Yan Gomes, C/IF, Cleveland Indians

Stats: 54 G, .313/.358/.534, 8 HR, 28 RBI, 28 R, 151 OPS-plus, 2.6 WAR

Stock: Even

Gomes, Cleveland's back-up catcher and utility infielder, has been a revelation for Terry Francona's bench and lineup this season.

In less than 200 plate appearances, Gomes has produced 2.6 Wins Above Replacement, good for seventh among all catchers. Ironically, Cleveland's regular catcher and future lineup anchor, Carlos Santana, has been worth only 1.9 WAR according to FanGraphs.

Advanced statistics aside, Gomes has proved to be an adequate bench option for the Indians moving forward, versatile enough to play multiple positions and powerful enough to provide big pop in the lineup.

National League: 3. Hyun-Jin Ryu, LHP, Los Angeles Dodgers

Stats: 23 GS, 148.1 IP, 121 K, 43 BB, 2.91 ERA, 3.33 FIP, 2.3 WAR

Stock: Up

If not for the outrageous seasons by Yasiel Puig and Jose Fernandez, the 26-year-old rookie from South Korea would be stealing the National Rookie of the Year race.

While Clayton Kershaw and Zack Greinke garner the attention and the in-season trade for Ricky Nolasco bolstered the rotation, Ryu has been a steadying presence on the mound since opening day.

As the team steamrolls towards the postseason, Ryu, likely the third starter in October, will be able to eye bigger achievements than a Rookie of the Year award in his first season on U.S. soil.

Agree? Disagree?

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