Predicting MLB's Top 2017 Rookie of the Year Candidate at Each Position
Rookie of the Year winners can come from anywhere on the diamond. In fact, over the last 10 years, the award has gone to at least one player from every position—if you consider the results from both the American League and National League.
We're a long way from regular-season awards, obviously. There's the matter of that pesky 162-game schedule to get out of the way.
Still, with spring training in full swing, let's gaze ahead and name the top ROY candidate at each position, factoring in prospect pedigree, whatever big league numbers they've compiled and—most importantly—their chances of earning significant playing time in 2017.
Catcher: Tom Murphy, Colorado Rockies
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In 21 games with the Colorado Rockies last season, Tom Murphy hit five home runs and two doubles. Overall, the 25-year-old backstop owns a .949 OPS in 88 big league plate appearances.
Murphy could share time with defensive whiz Tony Wolters. If his power keeps playing at Coors Field, though, the Rockies will find ways to keep him in the lineup, particularly if he masters the tools of ignorance.
"Tom's eager to learn and eager to get to know this pitching staff," Colorado catchers coach Mike Redmond said, per Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post. "But that takes time, and this spring is a great opportunity for him to make a big impact on this ballclub. He's got the toughness and the skill set. We think he's ready to take that next step."
Honorable mention(s): Jorge Alfaro (PHI), Chance Sisco (BAL)
First Base: Josh Bell, Pittsburgh Pirates
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A little more than a month after undergoing knee surgery, Josh Bell made his spring debut for the Pittsburgh Pirates on Monday.
He went 0-for-2 with a walk, but it was still a big day for the Bucs' No. 3 prospect, per MLB.com.
"It was tough not to get the repetitions in for a couple of weeks and then progress back into what I was doing right before the surgery," Bell said, per Bill Brink of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. "But, for the most part, I feel virtually the same. I'll keep that up as the season goes on."
Pittsburgh is hoping Bell can build on a promising MLB debut that saw him hit .273 in 45 games. In five minor league seasons, the 24-year-old owns a .303/.373/.454 slash line.
Manager Clint Hurdle offered an optimistic note.
"He's going to be like one of those switch-hitters you saw back in the day who was able to hit the ball from both sides and stay in one [lineup] spot," Hurdle said, per Rob Biertempfel of TribLive.com. "Some guys, you have to hit them in one spot left-handed and in another spot right-handed. I don't think Josh is going to be that way."
Honorable mention(s): Dan Vogelbach (SEA), Rowdy Tellez (TOR)
Second Base: Jose Peraza, Cincinnati Reds
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Jose Peraza doesn't crack MLB.com's list of the top 10 second base prospects. He's got the inside track on a starting job with the Cincinnati Reds, however, and the tools to make a ROY run.
Emphasis on "run."
In 72 games with Cincinnati last season, Peraza hit .324 and stole 21 bases. Extrapolate that to a full MLB slate and you're talking about one of the game's elite speedsters.
When the rebuilding Reds traded veteran Brandon Phillips to the Atlanta Braves, a path was cleared for Peraza to take over at the keystone sack.
The 22-year-old could stumble, but he's a dark horse worth betting on.
Honorable mention(s): Ozzie Albies (ATL)
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Third Base: Yoan Moncada, Chicago White Sox
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OK, we're cheating a little.
The Chicago White Sox released veteran second baseman Brett Lawrie, which could define top prospect Yoan Moncada's quickest route to the 25-man roster.
At the same time, as CBS Sports' R.J. Anderson noted, "some scouts believe he'll end up in center field."
Still, the 21-year-old Cuban logged all 35 of his defensive innings at third base for the Boston Red Sox last season. Technically, it's the only MLB position he's ever known.
Add the fact that White Sox third baseman Todd Frazier is battling an oblique injury and could be traded, and Moncada qualifies at the hot corner.
He also qualifies as an unmitigated stud-in-waiting, with a .287/.395/.480 slash line and 94 stolen bases in 187 minor league games, plus a shiny five-tool pedigree.
Honorable mention(s): Ryon Healy (OAK)
Shortstop: Dansby Swanson, Atlanta Braves
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The top overall pick in the 2015 amateur draft, Dansby Swanson posted a .302/.361/.442 slash line in 38 games with Atlanta last season.
Now, as the Braves prepare to move into their new stadium, Swanson can become the glistening face of the franchise.
In December, MLB.com's Jim Callis compared the 22-year-old to soon-to-be New York Yankees Hall of Famer Derek Jeter:
"Like Jeter, Swanson should hit for a high average with moderate power (albeit good pop for a shortstop) and a decent amount of walks. He has similar quickness and should provide 20 or so steals per year. Swanson is a solid defender and likely a better shortstop than Jeter was, though he probably won't match The Captain's five Gold Glove Awards.
"
That's premature, obviously. It speaks to Swanson's potential, though, and adds fuel to the already-smoldering hype fire.
Honorable mention(s): J.P. Crawford (PHI), Amed Rosario (NYM)
Left Field: Andrew Benintendi, Boston Red Sox
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In 34 games with the Boston Red Sox last season, Andrew Benintendi posted a .295/.359/.476 slash line with 11 doubles, a triple and two home runs.
He also provided one of the few highlights in Boston's division series sweep at the hands of the Cleveland Indians when he homered in his first postseason at-bat.
The 22-year-old is primed to win the Sox's left field job and join Jackie Bradley Jr. and Mookie Betts to form one of the most exciting, athletic outfields in recent memory.
Benintendi is ratcheting up the excitement in the Grapefruit League, where he's gone 8-for-18 with four doubles, two home runs and six RBI.
"We've talked so much about how natural and pretty and a swing he has," Boston manager John Farrell said Friday after Benintendi went 4-for-4 with with a single, two doubles and a home run, per Jen McCaffrey of MassLive.com. "But when you get out front on a split-finger and you're kind of spread out a little bit and the next 98-mph fastball is pulled down the line for a home run, those aren't things that typically happen. He's got plenty of ability."
Honorable mention(s): Clint Frazier (NYY)
Center Field: Manuel Margot, San Diego Padres
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After years of futility, the San Diego Padres are finally committed to an unambiguous rebuild. It could mean 100 losses, but it also equals hope.
Take Manuel Margot, the No. 8 outfield prospect in the game, per MLB.com. He's got the complete package: speed, range, defensive instincts, a strong arm and solid gap power.
The 22-year-old gave Friars fans a scare when he exited Sunday's exhibition game with an injury, though it turned out to be "left knee soreness," per the Padres' official Twitter feed.
Assuming Margot bounces back, he's on track to start the season as the regular center fielder in San Diego and jump-start the franchise's return to relevance.
Honorable mention(s): Austin Meadows (PIT), Lewis Brinson (MIL)
Right Field: Aaron Judge, New York Yankees
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After going deep in his first at-bat with the New York Yankees, Aaron Judge limped to a .179/.263/.345 slash line in 95 MLB plate appearances.
Still, he's the favorite to win the starting right field job in the Bronx.
The 24-year-old masher has to prove himself. The Yanks may be in the midst of a rebuild, but they're always under pressure to win now.
Judge's pop, however, could be a difference-maker in homer-happy Yankee Stadium.
"Like I always say," manager Joe Girardi said, per Mike Mazzeo of the New York Daily News. "If he gets the barrel to the ball, good things are going to happen."
Honorable mention(s): Hunter Renfroe (SDP)
Pitcher: Tyler Glasnow, Pittsburgh Pirates
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The No. 1 pitching prospect in the game, per MLB.com, Pirates righty Tyler Glasnow is competing for a rotation job with shoo-in veterans Gerrit Cole and Ivan Nova, as well as fellow youngsters Jameson Taillon and Chad Kuhl, among others.
The 23-year-old Glasnow owns a 2.03 ERA and 11.6 strikeouts per nine innings in five minor league seasons. He's also struck out eight in 3.2 spring training frames.
He's knocking on the door of MLB stardom.
"Trust me, if Tyler Glasnow is ready to help us at the major league level, that's a good thing for us and we'll absolutely give him that opportunity," general manager Neal Huntington said, per Stephen J. Nesbitt of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. "If he's not, we'll continue to work to help him get ready. When he puts this all together, he's going to be a fun pitcher to watch."
Honorable mentions(s): Lucas Giolito (CWS), Jose De Leon (TBR), Jharel Cotton (OAK)
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