Where the 2015 MLB Rookie Class Ranks Among Best of the Last 25 Years
The story of the 2015 MLB season, or one of them anyway, has been the tremendous influx of young talent in what may wind up being the deepest rookie class of all time.
With a second wild-card spot up for grabs and the playing field in both leagues as level as we've seen in recent memory, teams have opted to aggressively promote their top prospects as opposed to playing it safe and letting them spend extra time in the minors.
That has left us with a rookie class of epic proportions, but is it the best rookie class of the past 25 years?
The following article attempts to answer that question, though obviously a good deal of projection and guesswork goes into such an exercise.
A few things to consider about how the rankings work:
- Career Performance: The following rookie classes are ranked on the overall talent pool of each rookie class, not necessarily on how each group of players performed in their rookie season. For example, Jose Bautista gives the 2006 class a boost, despite not breaking out until years later.
- Depth: The 1995 rookie class featured Alex Rodriguez, Chipper Jones, Mariano Rivera and Andy Pettitte, but there is a steep drop-off in talent behind those four, and as a result they wound up as an honorable mention. Depth of the rookie class played a significant role narrowing down the top 10.
- Superstar Talent: Once the top 10 were narrowed down, high-end talent served as something of a tiebreaker when two rookie classes were relatively close.
- Balance: The 2013 rookie class was loaded with pitching but light on hitting. The 2003 rookie class was stacked with position player talent and thin on arms. Both made the list, but neither were in the running for the top spot.
Included on each slide is my take on an All-Rookie Class team as well as the 10 best players not included in said team, an overview of the rookie class as a whole, a quick look at who from the class made the All-Star team as rookies and then a statistical breakdown of the class both in rookie-year performance and career performance.
Enjoy.
Note: Any prospect rankings referenced in the following article come courtesy of Baseball America.
Honorable Mentions
1 of 11
Mike Mussina, Jeff Bagwell, Ivan Rodriguez, Luis Gonzalez, Bernie Williams, Mo Vaughn, Chuck Knoblauch, Tino Martinez, Juan Guzman, Darryl Kile, Charles Nagy, Ray Lankford
Alex Rodriguez, Chipper Jones, Andy Pettitte, Mariano Rivera, Johnny Damon, Shawn Green, Brad Radke, Ray Durham, Edgardo Alfonzo, Garret Anderson, Hideo Nomo, Phil Nevin, Troy Percival
Robinson Cano, Felix Hernandez, Adrian Gonzalez, Brian McCann, Ryan Howard, Curtis Granderson, Edwin Encarnacion, Scott Kazmir, J.J. Hardy, Ervin Santana, Huston Street, Nick Swisher, Chris Young (P), Jeff Francoeur
Chris Sale, Paul Goldschmidt, Kyle Seager, Freddie Freeman, Jason Kipnis, Salvador Perez, Brandon Crawford, Jose Altuve, Eric Hosmer, J.D. Martinez, Brandon Belt, Craig Kimbrel, Greg Holland, Aroldis Chapman, Kenley Jansen, Lance Lynn, Josh Harrison
10. 2007
2 of 11
| C Carlos Ruiz | SS Erick Aybar |
| 1B James Loney | SP Yovani Gallardo |
| 2B Dustin Pedroia | SP Matt Garza |
| 3B Mark Reynolds | SP Jeremy Guthrie |
| SS Troy Tulowitzki | OF Josh Hamilton |
| LF Alex Gordon | SP Phil Hughes |
| CF Adam Jones | C Miguel Montero |
| RF Ryan Braun | RF Hunter Pence |
| SP Tim Lincecum | OF Justin Upton |
| RP Joakim Soria | RP Brian Wilson |
Rookie Class Overview
The big story of 2007 on the rookie side of things was Japanese phenom Daisuke Matsuzaka, as the Boston Red Sox shelled out a six-year, $52 million deal with a $51.1 million posting fee on top of that to sign him.
He stepped into their rotation immediately, going 15-12 with a 4.40 ERA and 201 strikeouts in 204.2 innings of work. He followed that up by going 18-3 with a 2.90 ERA to finish fourth in Cy Young voting the following year, but his production fell off dramatically from there.
It was actually Matsuzaka's teammate Dustin Pedroia who would take AL Rookie of the Year honors, as he began the season as the No. 77 overall prospect but wound up hitting .317/.380/.442 and provided a huge spark offensively.
In the National League, Ryan Braun did not debut until May 25, but he still managed to post a 1.004 OPS with 34 home runs and 97 RBI. That allowed him to narrowly edge out Troy Tulowitzki (128 to 126 vote points) for Rookie of the Year honors.
Meanwhile, Tulowitzki helped lead the Colorado Rockies to a surprise World Series trip. Little did he know they would reach the postseason just one more time during his 10 seasons with the team.
Hunter Pence, Adam Jones and Alex Gordon all turned into stars and put together terrific seasons, while Josh Hamilton enjoyed a fantastic peak that culminated in 2010 AL MVP honors.
It's the pitching that keeps this class from being ranked any higher, and the dramatic decline of Tim Lincecum plays a big part in that. Still, he and closer Brian Wilson both played a key role in a pair of World Series titles for the San Francisco Giants.
Starters Yovani Gallardo, Matt Garza and Phil Hughes and closer Joakim Soria round out the rest of the front-line arms in this group.
Rookie All-Stars
- RP Hideki Okajima, BOS
Rookie Class Statistical Leaders
Position Players
| Dustin Pedroia, BOS | .317 | BA | .304 | Ryan Braun |
| Troy Tulowitzki, COL | .838 | OPS | .911 | Ryan Braun |
| Delmon Young, TB | 186 | H | 1,458 | Dustin Pedroia |
| Ryan Braun, MIL | 34 | HR | 253 | Ryan Braun |
| Troy Tulowitzki, COL | 99 | RBI | 837 | Ryan Braun |
| Troy Tulowitzki, COL | 104 | R | 785 | Ryan Braun |
| Jerry Owens, CWS | 32 | SB | 321 | Rajai Davis |
| Troy Tulowitzki, COL | 6.8 | WAR | 44.4 | Dustin Pedroia |
Pitchers
| Daisuke Matsuzaka, BOS | 204.2 | IP | 1,745.1 | Jeremy Guthrie |
| Daisuke Matsuzaka, BOS | 15 | W | 108 | Tim Lincecum |
| John Danks, CWS | 13 | L | 107 | Jeremy Guthrie |
| Manny Corpas, COL | 19 | SV | 202 | Joakim Soria |
| Jeremy Guthrie, BAL | 3.70 | ERA | 3.61 | Tim Lincecum |
| Jeremy Guthrie, BAL | 1.209 | WHIP | 1.268 | Tim Lincecum |
| Daisuke Matsuzaka, BOS | 201 | K | 1,704 | Tim Lincecum |
| Daisuke Matsuzaka, BOS | 4.1 | WAR | 22.7 | Tim Lincecum |
9. 1997
3 of 11
| C Jorge Posada | CF Mike Cameron |
| 1B Dmitri Young | SP Bartolo Colon |
| 2B Jose Vidro | UT Craig Counsell |
| 3B Scott Rolen | OF Brian Giles |
| SS Nomar Garciaparra | OF Jose Guillen |
| LF Vladimir Guerrero | SP Livan Hernandez |
| CF Andruw Jones | SP Derek Lowe |
| RF Bobby Abreu | SP Kevin Millwood |
| SP Chris Carpenter | SP Matt Morris |
| RP Keith Foulke | OF Shannon Stewart |
Rookie Class Overview
The 1997 season marked the second consecutive season Atlanta Braves outfielder Andruw Jones would begin the year as the No. 1 prospect in all of baseball.
He had debuted down the stretch the previous season at the age of 19, and he wound up going 8-for-20 with two home runs and six RBI in the World Series.
However, it was Scott Rolen who walked away with NL Rookie of the Year honors, as he hit .283/.377/.469 with 35 doubles, 21 home runs and 92 RBI for the Philadelphia Phillies.
On the AL side of things, Boston Red Sox shortstop Nomar Garciaparra stole the show. The former Olympian hit .306/.342/.534 with 44 doubles, 30 home runs and 92 RBI while leading the AL in hits (209) and triples (11) to win AL Rookie of the Year and finish eighth in MVP voting.
All three of those guys would go on to terrific careers, while outfielders Vladimir Guerrero and Bobby Abreu and catcher Jorge Posada were also perennial All-Stars and among the best of the generation.
The pitching side of things was fairly weak in this class, but Chris Carpenter and Bartolo Colon were both Cy Young winners and Matt Morris, Kevin Millwood, Livan Hernandez and Derek Lowe were all staff aces at one point or another in their careers.
Rookie All-Stars
- SP Jason Dickson, ANA
- SS Nomar Garciaparra, BOS
- 2B Tony Womack, PIT
Rookie Class Statistical Leaders
Position Players
| Nomar Garciaparra, BOS | .306 | BA | .318 | Vladimir Guerrero |
| Nomar Garciaparra, BOS | .875 | OPS | .931 | Vladimir Guerrero |
| Nomar Garciaparra, BOS | 209 | H | 2,590 | Vladimir Guerrero |
| Nomar Garciaparra, BOS | 30 | HR | 449 | Vladimir Guerrero |
| Nomar Garciaparra, BOS | 98 | RBI | 1,496 | Vladimir Guerrero |
| Nomar Garciaparra, BOS | 122 | R | 1,453 | Bobby Abreu |
| Tony Womack, PIT | 60 | SB | 400 | Bobby Abreu |
| Nomar Garciaparra, BOS | 6.6 | WAR | 70.0 | Scott Rolen |
Pitchers
| Matt Morris, STL | 217.0 | IP | 3,189.0 | Livan Hernandez |
| Jason Dickson, ANA | 13 | W | 214 | Bartolo Colon |
| Chris Holt, HOU* | 12 | L | 177 | Livan Hernandez |
| Rich Loiselle, PIT | 29 | SV | 191 | Keith Foulke |
| Matt Morris, STL | 3.19 | ERA | 3.76 | Chris Carpenter |
| Matt Morris, STL | 1.276 | WHIP | 1.276 | Chris Carpenter |
| Matt Morris, STL | 149 | K | 2,215 | Bartolo Colon |
| Matt Morris, STL | 3.9 | WAR | 44.5 | Bartolo Colon |
*Tied with Brian Moehler (DET)
8. 1998
4 of 11
| C Jason Varitek | SS Orlando Cabrera |
| 1B Todd Helton | SP Ryan Dempster |
| 2B Miguel Cairo | 3B Troy Glaus |
| 3B Adrian Beltre | SP Orlando Hernandez |
| SS Miguel Tejada | 1B Paul Konerko |
| LF Geoff Jenkins | 1B Derrek Lee |
| CF Randy Winn | DH David Ortiz |
| RF Magglio Ordonez | 3B Aramis Ramirez |
| SP Javier Vazquez | 1B Richie Sexson |
| RP Kerry Wood | SP Jarrod Washburn |
Rookie Class Overview
Filling the shoes of Andres Galarraga in Colorado was no easy task, as he hit .318/.389/.585 with 41 home runs and 140 RBI in his final season with the team in 1997.
That is unless you have someone like Todd Helton waiting in the farm system, as he stepped in and hit .315/.380/.530 with 25 home runs and 97 RBI to kick off what would be the best career in franchise history.
He lost out on NL Rookie of the Year honors to Chicago Cubs right-hander Kerry Wood, though, as the flame-throwing rookie helped the team to an NL wild-card berth and provided one of the highlights of the season with his 20-strikeout performance.
In the AL, Oakland outfielder Ben Grieve entered the season as the No. 1 prospect in the league and delivered on the hype with a .288/.386/.458 line that included 18 home runs and 89 RBI.
However, it was later-blooming players like David Ortiz, Miguel Tejada, Jason Varitek, Adrian Beltre, Paul Konerko, Troy Glaus, Aramis Ramirez and Derrek Lee—none of whom received Rookie of the Year votes—who earned this class a spot on the list.
The pitching is weak here, led by Javier Vazquez, Ryan Dempster and Jarrod Washburn, but there's enough superstar talent on the position-player side to justify their ranking.
Rookie All-Stars
- SP Rolando Arrojo, TB
- RF Ben Grieve, OAK
Rookie Class Statistical Leaders
Position Players
| Todd Helton, COL | .315 | BA | .316 | Todd Helton |
| Todd Helton, COL | .911 | OPS | .953 | Todd Helton |
| Ben Grieve, OAK | 168 | H | 2,716 | Adrian Beltre |
| Todd Helton, COL | 25 | HR | 492 | David Ortiz |
| Todd Helton, COL | 97 | RBI | 1,609 | David Ortiz |
| Ben Grieve, OAK | 94 | R | 1,401 | Todd Helton |
| Randy Winn, TB | 26 | SB | 216 | Orlando Cabrera |
| Mark Kotsay, FLA | 3.9 | WAR | 81.2 | Adrian Beltre |
Pitchers
| Rolando Arrojo, TB | 202.0 | IP | 2,840.0 | Javier Vazquez |
| Rolando Arrojo, TB | 14 | W | 165 | Javier Vazquez |
| Javier Vazquez, MON | 15 | L | 160 | Javier Vazquez |
| Kerry Ligtenberg, ATL | 30 | SV | 129 | Antonio Alfonseca |
| Orlando Hernandez, NYY | 3.13 | ERA | 3.67 | Kerry Wood |
| Orlando Hernandez, NYY | 1.170 | WHIP | 1.249 | Javier Vazquez |
| Kerry Wood, CHC | 233 | K | 2,536 | Javier Vazquez |
| Rolando Arrojo, TB | 4.1 | WAR | 43.3 | Javier Vazquez |
7. 2003
5 of 11
| C Victor Martinez | SP R.A. Dickey |
| 1B Mark Teixeira | UT Chone Figgins |
| 2B Chase Utley | DH Travis Hafner |
| 3B Miguel Cabrera | SP Dan Haren |
| SS Jose Reyes | RP Brad Lidge |
| LF Hideki Matsui | SS Jhonny Peralta |
| CF Coco Crisp | 2B Brandon Phillips |
| RF Michael Cuddyer | OF Scott Podsednik |
| SP Cliff Lee | SP Brandon Webb |
| RP Francisco Rodriguez | SP Dontrelle Willis |
Rookie Class Overview
When your nickname in Japan is "Godzilla," your move stateside is bound to come with plenty of fanfare, and that was certainly the case for Hideki Matsui joining the New York Yankees.
Despite solid numbers across the board, Matsui actually lost the AL Rookie of the Year race to Kansas City Royals shortstop Angel Berroa (.287/.338/.451, 17 HR, 73 RBI, 21 SB), who definitely peaked in his rookie season.
In the end, it was left-hander Dontrelle Willis who stole the show among the 2003 rookie class, as his funky delivery and enthusiastic personality took the league by storm. He was roughed up in the postseason while the Florida Marlins made a run to a World Series title, but he was a big reason as to why they were there to begin with.
One player who did come up big in the postseason for the Marlins was a then-20-year-old Miguel Cabrera, who posted a .793 OPS with 21 doubles and 12 home runs as a rookie before emerging as one of the top hitters in the league the following year.
He's joined by Chase Utley, Jose Reyes, Mark Teixeira and Victor Martinez as the bona fide stars of this class, while guys like Brandon Phillips, Jhonny Peralta and Michael Cuddyer have carved out solid careers as well.
The decline of Willis and injuries to Brandon Webb hurt the pitching depth of this class, but Cliff Lee is a stud to headline a group that also includes workhorse Dan Haren and the single-season saves leader in Francisco Rodriguez.
Rookie All-Stars
- LF Hideki Matsui, NYY
- SP Dontrelle Willis, FLA
Rookie Class Statistical Leaders
Position Players
| Scott Podsednik, MIL | .314 | BA | .322 | Miguel Cabrera |
| Jody Gerut, CLE | .830 | OPS | .966 | Miguel Cabrera |
| Rocco Baldelli, TB | 184 | H | 2,305 | Miguel Cabrera |
| Mark Teixeira, TEX | 26 | HR | 406 | Miguel Cabrera |
| Hideki Matsui, NYY | 106 | RBI | 1,432 | Miguel Cabrera |
| Scott Podsednik, MIL | 100 | R | 1,219 | Miguel Cabrera |
| Scott Podsednik, MIL | 43 | SB | 474 | Jose Reyes |
| Scott Podsednik, MIL | 3.6 | WAR | 64.6 | Miguel Cabrera |
Pitchers
| Jae Weong Seo, NYM | 188.1 | IP | 2,380.2 | Dan Haren |
| Jeriome Robertson, HOU | 15 | W | 150 | Dan Haren |
| Jeremy Bonderman, DET | 19 | L | 130 | Dan Haren |
| Mike MacDougal, KC | 27 | SV | 378 | Francisco Rodriguez |
| Brandon Webb, ARI | 2.84 | ERA | 3.52 | Cliff Lee |
| Brandon Webb, ARI | 1.151 | WHIP | 1.182 | Dan Haren |
| Brandon Webb, ARI | 172 | K | 1,985 | Dan Haren |
| Brandon Webb, ARI | 6.2 | WAR | 43.3 | Cliff Lee |
6. 2008
6 of 11
| C Geovany Soto | OF Michael Bourn |
| 1B Joey Votto | RF Jay Bruce |
| 2B Martin Prado | SP Clay Buchholz |
| 3B Evan Longoria | SP Johnny Cueto |
| SS Alexei Ramirez | 1B Chris Davis |
| LF Carlos Gomez | 3B Chase Headley |
| CF Jacoby Ellsbury | SP Hiroki Kuroda |
| RF Carlos Gonzalez | 3B Pablo Sandoval |
| SP Clayton Kershaw | SP Max Scherzer |
| RP Glen Perkins | 2B Daniel Murphy |
Rookie Class Overview
Jay Bruce entered the 2008 season as the No. 1 prospect in baseball and the favorite for NL Rookie of the Year honors, and he put together a solid debut with a .767 OPS and 21 home runs.
However, it was Chicago Cubs catcher Geovany Soto who walked away with the hardware as he became the first rookie catcher to start for the NL in the All-Star Game.
In the American League, Evan Longoria was the Kris Bryant of 2008, as he began the season in the minors but was called up as soon as the team had secured another year of service time control.
He would help lead the Tampa Bay Rays to the World Series, coming up with a number of clutch hits along the way, including three doubles and four home runs in their ALCS victory over the Red Sox.
Joey Votto, Carlos Gonzalez, Carlos Gomez and Jacoby Ellsbury join Longoria as star position players from the class, but there was plenty of talent debuting on the mound as well.
Clayton Kershaw went 5-5 with a 4.26 ERA and 1.495 WHIP as a rookie, but it wouldn't take long for him to emerge as the best pitcher in all of baseball.
He's joined by Max Scherzer and Johnny Cueto as front-line arms from the class, but it was Clay Buchholz who entered the season as the highest-rated pitching prospect from the group.
Rookie All-Stars
- RF Kosuke Fukudome, CHC
- 3B Evan Longoria, TB
- C Geovany Soto, CHC
Rookie Class Statistical Leaders
Position Players
| Joey Votto, CIN | .297 | BA | .310 | Joey Votto |
| Joey Votto, CIN | .874 | OPS | .956 | Joey Votto |
| Joey Votto, CIN | 156 | H | 1,236 | Alexei Ramirez |
| Evan Longoria, TB | 27 | HR | 200 | Jay Bruce |
| Geovany Soto, CHC | 86 | RBI | 690 | Evan Longoria |
| Jacoby Ellsbury, BOS | 98 | R | 636 | Joey Votto |
| Jacoby Ellsbury, BOS | 50 | SB | 323 | Michael Bourn |
| Evan Longoria, TB | 4.8 | WAR | 41.8 | Evan Longoria |
Pitchers
| Nick Blackburn, MIN | 193.1 | IP | 1,555.1 | Clayton Kershaw |
| Jair Jurrjens, ATL* | 13 | W | 108 | Clayton Kershaw |
| Greg Smith, OAK | 16 | L | 79 | Hiroki Kuroda |
| Jensen Lewis, CLE | 13 | SV | 133 | Jim Johnson |
| Jair Jurrjens, ATL | 3.68 | ERA | 2.46 | Clayton Kershaw |
| Armando Galarraga, DET | 1.192 | WHIP | 1.043 | Clayton Kershaw |
| Johnny Cueto, CIN | 158 | K | 1,667 | Clayton Kershaw |
| Armando Galarraga, DET | 4.1 | WAR | 45.2 | Clayton Kershaw |
*Tied with Armando Galarraga (DET)
5. 2013
7 of 11
| C Stephen Vogt | RP Cody Allen |
| 1B Evan Gattis | SP Chris Archer |
| 2B Anthony Rendon | RF Kole Calhoun |
| 3B Nolan Arenado | SP Gerrit Cole |
| SS Jose Iglesias | OF Corey Dickerson |
| LF Christian Yelich | SP Jose Fernandez |
| CF A.J. Pollock | SP Shelby Miller |
| RF Yasiel Puig | SP Julio Teheran |
| SP Sonny Gray | SP Michael Wacha |
| RP Trevor Rosenthal | SP Alex Wood |
Rookie Class Overview
For as much attention as Yasiel Puig received during his rookie season, it's somewhat ironic that 2013 has a chance to go down as the greatest single-season influx of pitching talent we've seen in generations.
Sonny Gray, Shelby Miller, Michael Wacha, Chris Archer, Gerrit Cole, Trevor Rosenthal and Brad Boxberger all earned a spot in the 2015 All-Star Game after debuting in 2013.
That doesn't include Jose Fernandez, who had just returned from injury at the All-Star break, not to mention Julio Teheran, Alex Wood, Hyun-Jin Ryu, Kevin Siegrist, Danny Salazar and Cody Allen, among others.
It's not as though it was simply a pitching-dominated class either, as Nolan Arenado and A.J. Pollock are budding superstars for their respective teams and were joined by Jose Iglesias and Stephen Vogt in also earning a trip to the All-Star Game.
Obviously the verdict is still out on this group, and a good crop of position-player talent is generally a better bet for long-term success than pitchers simply because of the health and durability issue.
That said, don't be surprised if five years from now this rookie class is challenging for a spot in the top three.
Rookie All-Stars
- SP Jose Fernandez, MIA
Rookie Class Statistical Leaders
Position Players
| Nolan Arenado, COL | .267 | BA | .294 | Yasiel Puig |
| Jedd Gyorko, SD | .745 | OPS | .858 | Yasiel Puig |
| Nolan Arenado, COL | 130 | H | 429 | Adeiny Hechavarria |
| Jedd Gyorko, SD | 23 | HR | 63 | Evan Gattis |
| Evan Gattis, ATL | 65 | RBI | 205 | Nolan Arenado |
| Yasiel Puig, LAD | 66 | R | 208 | Adam Eaton |
| Jonathan Villar, HOU | 18 | SB | 60 | A.J. Pollock |
| Yasiel Puig, LAD | 4.9 | WAR | 13.4 | A.J. Pollock |
Pitchers
| Hyun-Jin Ryu, LAD | 192.0 | IP | 590.0 | Julio Teheran |
| Shelby Miller, STL | 15 | W | 38 | Julio Teheran |
| Wily Peralta, MIL | 15 | L | 35 | Wily Peralta |
| Jim Henderson, MIL | 28 | SV | 87 | Trevor Rosenthal |
| Jose Fernandez, MIA | 2.19 | ERA | 2.26 | Jose Fernandez |
| Jose Fernandez, MIA | 0.979 | WHIP | 0.980 | Jose Fernandez |
| Jose Fernandez, MIA | 187 | K | 515 | Chris Archer |
| Jose Fernandez, MIA | 6.3 | WAR | 10.9 | Sonny Gray |
4. 2001
8 of 11
| C A.J. Pierzynski | 1B Adam Dunn |
| 1B Albert Pujols | SS David Eckstein |
| 2B Brian Roberts | 1B Aubrey Huff |
| 3B Michael Young | SP Ted Lilly |
| SS Jimmy Rollins | SP Kyle Lohse |
| LF Alfonso Soriano | SP Jason Marquis |
| CF Vernon Wells | SP Roy Oswalt |
| RF Ichiro Suzuki | SP Ben Sheets |
| SP CC Sabathia | IF Juan Uribe |
| RP Chad Bradford | SP Jake Westbrook |
Rookie Class Overview
The 2001 rookie class produced two of the greatest rookie seasons in MLB history, courtesy of Albert Pujols and Ichiro Suzuki.
Pujols hit .329/.403/.610 with 47 doubles, 37 home runs and 130 RBI to immediately establish himself as one of the best hitters in the game.
Meanwhile, a 27-year-old Ichiro led the American League in batting average (.350), hits (242) and stolen bases (56) to help the Seattle Mariners to a 116-win season and claim AL MVP honors.
Behind them, CC Sabathia and Roy Oswalt would become two of the best pitchers of the era, while Jimmy Rollins, Alfonso Soriano and Michael Young were perennial All-Stars and leaders for their respective teams.
This class may not have the overall depth of some that it's ranked ahead of, but two of the best players of their generation and a pair of bona fide aces is enough to earn them a spot on the list.
Rookie All-Stars
- 3B Albert Pujols, STL
- SS Jimmy Rollins, PHI
- SP Ben Sheets, MIL
- RF Ichiro Suzuki, SEA
Rookie Class Statistical Leaders
Position Players
| Ichiro Suzuki, SEA | .350 | BA | .315 | Ichiro Suzuki |
| Albert Pujols, STL | 1.013 | OPS | .982 | Albert Pujols |
| Ichiro Suzuki, SEA | 242 | H | 2,923 | Ichiro Suzuki |
| Albert Pujols, STL | 37 | HR | 554 | Albert Pujols |
| Albert Pujols, STL | 130 | RBI | 1,677 | Albert Pujols |
| Ichiro Suzuki, SEA | 127 | R | 1,582 | Albert Pujols |
| Ichiro Suzuki, SEA | 56 | SB | 498 | Ichiro Suzuki |
| Ichiro Suzuki, SEA | 7.7 | WAR | 99.7 | Albert Pujols |
Pitchers
| Chris Reitsma, CIN | 182 | IP | 2,959.2 | CC Sabathia |
| CC Sabathia, CLE | 17 | W | 212 | CC Sabathia |
| Chris Reitsma, CIN | 15 | L | 141 | Kyle Lohse |
| Bret Prinz, ARI | 9 | SV | 114 | Danys Baez |
| Roy Oswalt, HOU | 2.73 | ERA | 3.36 | Roy Oswalt |
| Roy Oswalt, HOU | 1.059 | WHIP | 1.211 | Roy Oswalt |
| CC Sabathia, CLE | 171 | K | 2,550 | CC Sabathia |
| Roy Oswalt, HOU | 4.7 | WAR | 54.0 | CC Sabathia |
3. 2006
9 of 11
| C Russell Martin | SP Matt Cain |
| 1B Prince Fielder | OF Matt Kemp |
| 2B Ian Kinsler | SP Jon Lester |
| 3B Ryan Zimmerman | SP Francisco Liriano |
| SS Hanley Ramirez | RF Nick Markakis |
| LF Nelson Cruz | SP James Shields |
| CF Shane Victorino | SP Justin Verlander |
| RF Jose Bautista | SP Adam Wainwright |
| SP Cole Hamels | SP Jered Weaver |
| RP Jonathan Papelbon | UT Ben Zobrist |
Rookie Class Overview
In a blockbuster trade of epic proportions, the Florida Marlins sent Josh Beckett and Mike Lowell to the Boston Red Sox in exchange for a package of players headlined by shortstop Hanley Ramirez.
Those two veterans would help the Red Sox win a World Series, while Ramirez emerged as an immediate star, hitting .292/.353/.480 with 51 stolen bases to win NL Rookie of the Year honors.
Meanwhile, Justin Verlander (17-9, 3.63 ERA) beat out Jonathan Papelbon (35 SV, 0.92 ERA) for top rookie honors in the AL, but this would prove to be a far deeper class than just those three headliners.
Verlander was considered by many to be the top pitcher in the game for several years, but he was far from the only ace in the group, as Cole Hamels, Jon Lester, Adam Wainwright, Jered Weaver, Matt Cain and James Shields all fronted their respective staffs.
Prince Fielder, Ryan Zimmerman, Russell Martin, Matt Kemp and Ian Kinsler were all highly regarded prospects, but what really pushes this group over the top is a trio of late bloomers in Jose Bautista, Nelson Cruz and Ben Zobrist.
In terms of both overall star power and depth, this rookie class is as good as any we've seen in recent years.
However, it's lacking that true elite-level talent, and that's clear in the fact that Ian Kinsler and Cole Hamels are the group's career WAR leaders.
Rookie All-Stars
- SP Francisco Liriano, MIN
- RP Jonathan Papelbon, BOS
- 2B Dan Uggla, FLA
Rookie Class Statistical Leaders
Position Players
| Hanley Ramirez, FLA | .292 | BA | .296 | Hanley Ramirez |
| Josh Willingham, FLA | .852 | OPS | .906 | Prince Fielder |
| Hanley Ramirez, FLA | 185 | H | 1,693 | Nick Markakis |
| Prince Fielder, MIL | 28 | HR | 305 | Prince Fielder |
| Ryan Zimmerman, WAS | 110 | RBI | 957 | Prince Fielder |
| Hanley Ramirez, FLA | 119 | R | 930 | Ian Kinsler |
| Hanley Ramirez, FLA | 51 | SB | 267 | Hanley Ramirez |
| Hanley Ramirez, FLA | 4.9 | WAR | 45.9 | Ian Kinsler |
Pitchers
| Matt Cain, SF | 190.2 | IP | 2,074.2 | James Shields |
| Justin Verlander, DET | 17 | W | 153 | Justin Verlander |
| Clay Hensley, SD* | 12 | L | 100 | Paul Maholm |
| Bobby Jenks, CWS | 41 | SV | 345 | Jonathan Papelbon |
| Justin Verlander, DET | 3.63 | ERA | 2.98 | Adam Wainwright |
| Matt Cain, SF | 1.280 | WHIP | 1.149 | Cole Hamels |
| Matt Cain, SF | 179 | K | 1,892 | Justin Verlander |
| Jonathan Papelbon, BOS | 5.0 | WAR | 43.2 | Cole Hamels |
*Tied with Matt Cain (SF)
2. 2015
10 of 11
Rookie Class Overview
Just how good the 2015 MLB rookie class is going to be remains to be seen, but there is little question this crop of young talent will change the MLB landscape in the years to come.
It's already happening in Chicago, where Kris Bryant, Kyle Schwarber, Jorge Soler and Addison Russell have delivered on the hype and have the Cubs poised for a trip to the postseason.
Meanwhile, the division-rival St. Louis Cardinals continue to cultivate young talent, and a pair of outfielders in Randal Grichuk and Stephen Piscotty have stepped up huge in the wake of numerous injuries.
Pittsburgh Pirates infielder Jung Ho Kang has proven to be well-worth the gamble the team took signing him out of Korea, while Milwaukee Brewers right-hander Taylor Jungmann figures to make some noise in the NL Central as well in the years to come.
Rebuilding efforts have finally begun in Philadelphia, and third baseman Maikel Franco and right-hander Aaron Nola figure to be key pieces of the puzzle there moving forward. Tip of the cap to what Rule 5 pick Odubel Herrera has done this year, though duplicating it could be tough.
The Mets pitching is downright scary, and 22-year-old Noah Syndergaard has a chance to be the best of the bunch when all is said and done. With the Nationals set to lose Denard Span at the end of the season, and without him for much of this year, Michael Taylor will be a big part of their future.
Out in the NL West, Cuban slugger Yasmany Tomas figures to improve for the Diamondbacks in the years to come, while Matt Duffy and Chris Heston have been huge for the Giants. The Dodgers are still top dogs in the division, and Joc Pederson is a big reason why despite his second-half swoon.
The National League is not the only place we've seen an influx of rookies, as a pair of future superstars have debuted in Minnesota in Miguel Sano and Byron Buxton.
He's struggled at times with his command, but don't be surprised if White Sox left-hander Carlos Rodon winds up being the best arm of this class.
Carlos Correa might already be the best shortstop in the AL, and he's been joined by Lance McCullers and Preston Tucker in helping the Astros to a division lead.
Blake Swihart has tremendous upside behind the plate for the Red Sox, who have also trotted out Henry Owens, Eduardo Rodriguez and Brian Johnson from their impressive stable of young arms.
Left-handers Daniel Norris and Andrew Heaney both have front-line potential, while Nate Karns is having as good a season as any rookie pitcher. In the bullpen, Roberto Osuna and Aaron Sanchez have both been crucial arms for the Blue Jays as they push for a division title.
Slick-fielding Francisco Lindor has proven he can swing it as well, while speedy Billy Burns and Rule 5 pick Mark Canha have been the latest little-known players to emerge in Oakland.
The list goes on and on, and there are no doubt a number of players who have been left out here.
The point is, in terms of the sheer number of impact players to debut, the 2015 season is like nothing we've seen in recent years.
The sky is the limit for this group, but for now they're still chasing one other rookie class...
1. 2012
11 of 11
| C Yasmani Grandal | 3B Matt Carpenter |
| 1B Anthony Rizzo | OF Yoenis Cespedes |
| 2B Brian Dozier | SP Yu Darvish |
| 3B Josh Donaldson | SP Nathan Eovaldi |
| SS Andrelton Simmons | 3B Todd Frazier |
| LF Starling Marte | SP Matt Harvey |
| CF Mike Trout | SP Hisashi Iwakuma |
| RF Bryce Harper | SP Dallas Keuchel |
| SP Corey Kluber | 3B Manny Machado |
| RP Kelvin Herrera | SP Jose Quintana |
Rookie Class Overview
The 2015 rookie class has been absolutely spectacular, there's no question about it, but they will be fighting an uphill battle to catch the 2012 crop of rookies as the best in the past 25 years.
It all starts with the best player in the game in Mike Trout.
There's a good chance when we revisit this five years from now he'll still be the best player in the game, and if someone has taken that title away from him, the smart money would be on his Rookie of the Year counterpart from 2012 in Bryce Harper.
As for this season, Trout has his work cut out for him if he hopes to repeat as AL MVP, and the man with the best chance of overtaking him is Toronto Blue Jays slugger Josh Donaldson, who also happens to be a member of this rookie class.
He earns top third base honors in a class that also includes Manny Machado, Todd Frazier and Matt Carpenter, who were all members of the All-Star team this year.
Anthony Rizzo is a legitimate MVP candidate in the NL this year and the leader of an upstart Chicago Cubs team, Andrelton Simmons is the unquestioned best defensive player in the game, and is there anyone more underrated than Brian Dozier?
And that's just the position player side of things.
Late bloomer Corey Kluber gets the nod as top starting pitcher in this class, but it could have just as easily gone to Yu Darvish, Matt Harvey or Dallas Keuchel, who are all front-line arms.
The 2015 class has a real shot at unseating this group, but for now the 2012 rookie class still reigns supreme as tops in the past 25 years.
Rookie All-Stars
- RP Ryan Cook, OAK
- SP Yu Darvish, TEX
- RF Bryce Harper, WAS
- SP Lance Lynn, STL
- SP Wade Miley, ARI
- CF Mike Trout, LAA
Rookie Class Statistical Leaders
Position Players
| Mike Trout, LAA | .326 | BA | .304 | Mike Trout |
| Mike Trout, LAA | .963 | OPS | .951 | Mike Trout |
| Mike Trout, LAA | 182 | H | 705 | Mike Trout |
| Mike Trout, LAA | 30 | HR | 131 | Mike Trout |
| Mike Trout, LAA | 83 | RBI | 380 | Mike Trout |
| Mike Trout, LAA | 129 | R | 454 | Mike Trout |
| Mike Trout, LAA | 49 | SB | 112 | Mike Trout |
| Mike Trout, LAA | 10.8 | WAR | 35.9 | Mike Trout |
Pitchers
| Wade Miley, ARI | 194.2 | IP | 792.1 | Wade Miley |
| Yu Darvish, TEX* | 16 | W | 48 | Wade Miley |
| Nathan Eovaldi, MIA | 13 | L | 45 | Wade Miley |
| Addison Reed, CWS | 29 | SV | 104 | Addison Reed |
| Wade Miley, ARI | 3.33 | ERA | 2.46 | Matt Harvey |
| Scott Diamond, MIN | 1.243 | WHIP | 0.993 | Matt Harvey |
| Yu Darvish, TEX | 221 | K | 680 | Yu Darvish |
| Yu Darvish, TEX^ | 3.9 | WAR | 13.9 | Jose Quintana |
*Tied with Wade Miley (ARI)
^Tied with Jarrod Parker (OAK)
All stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference, unless otherwise noted, and accurate through Tuesday, Aug. 25.
