Rookie Watch

With the 2011 season a month in, it's time to check in on the rookies and see what the ROY race looks like. It is early and this list doesn't have any relievers on it yet, however one certainly can't overlook Kimbrel (ATL) or Chapman (CIN)and next months list will incorporate them for sure. This column focuses on starters and hitters, I've included hitters that have at least over 50 AB's and the starters with at least 4 starts.



Mark Trumbo (LAA) - This guy leads all rookies with 76 AB, however is just hitting .237 with 3HR and 9RBI's. Trumbo has 2 stolen bases, and has struck out 18 times already this year. I'm curious what will happen to Trumbo's playing time once Morales is healthy?
TRUMBO - last 7 games - 26AB / 2HR / 5RBI / .192 BAA

Freddie Freeman (ATL) - Freeman has 67 AB's, good for second amongst rookies. He has 3HR and 9RBI's and holds a better batting average than Trumbo's at .269. Freeman appears to have much better plate discipline than his peers already walking 10 times compared to his 11k's.
FREEMAN - last 7 games - 23AB / 2HR / 5RBI / .348 BAA

Darwin Bailey (CC) - 65 AB's yet leads all rookies (that have over 50 AB) with a .323 BAA. Barney has 0HR and 10RBI's. Barney also has quietly collected the most hits out of any rookies in MLB.
BAILEY - last 7 games - 28AB / 0HR / 5RBI / .321 BAA

Danny Espinosa (WSH) - In 59 AB's Espinosa has muscled 2 HR and 15 RBI's while carrying a .254BAA. Espinosa has 7BB's to go along with the most runs scored out of all rookies thus far. Once Zimmerman returns form the DL, I expect those runs scored to keep going up.
ESPINOSA - last 7 games - 23 AB / 2 Triples / 1HR / 7RBI / .261 BAA

Brandon Belt (SF) - Here's a guy that many had pegged for NL ROY, yet with 52 AB's and a horrific .192 BAA, Belt has seen his playing time seriously cut. Belt has 1HR and just 4 RBI's. He'll need to improve for sure in order to get himself back in the line-up let alone the ROY race.
BELT - last 7 games - 6AB - 1BB / .000 BAA

J.P. Arencibia (TOR) - 50 AB's (the cut-off) because he still splits time with Molina. JP's offense has been decent for sure with 2 triples, 3 HR and 7 RBI's. He bests a .260 BAA and isn't afraid to walk to get on base. However there's been some question in his ability to call games that have led to some late inning collapses in TO this year.
ARENCIBIA - last 7 games - 15 AB / 1 HR / 1RBI / .200 BAA

Brent Morel (CHW) - 57 AB, this is a guy that wasn't even on the radar to start the year and other than his AB total thus far, I can't see why Ozzie would keep sending him out there? Morel has 0 HR, 7 RBI, oBB and 7k's to go along with his .228 BAA and .241OBP.
MOREL - last 7 games - 10AB / 2 singles / .200 BAA

Being that it's just a month deep, it's difficult to put too much stock into things yet a trend has to start somewhere. There are some things worth noting though, Freeman appears to have taken charge of his early season problems and is on the right track to ROY status. He is hitting everything lately and with a ton of protection in the Braves' line-up, he'll continue to see good pitches. I also expect Arencibia to get better behind the plate as the season progresses, everyone is entitled to a few bad games. It's always great to see a few names on the list, that weren't mentioned to start the year, that are certainly worth watching (Bailey and Espinosa). Lots of ball to go.

Now for the starting pitchers...

Michael Pineda (SEA) - A serious flame thrower who's turning in to a very reliable starter for Seattle. Having started 4 games he's pitched 25 innings for a 3-1 record. Pineda has tallied 21 punch-outs and 9 walks, good for a 1.78 ERA and 1.07 WHIP. Pineda has allowed just 5 ER in 4 games so far, pretty incredible for a rookie.

Kyle Drabek (TOR) - Prized rookie from the Blue Jays acquired in the Halladay trade. With 4 games started under his belt he has tossed 24 innings for a 1-0 record. Drabek has 19k's but also 15BB's, good for a 3.00ERA and 1.42 WHIP. Drabek has only allowed 8 ER and given up just 19 hits, one more than the Pineda who leads rookies with just 18 surrendered. Other than some control issues, Drabek has shown some good composure and at times battled himself out of some tight jams, which is always good to see from a rookie starter.

Zach Britton (BAL) - Britton has 4 games started and tossed 25 innings for a 3-1 record. He has amassed 17k's and holds a 3.16 ERA with a 1.17 WHIP. Britton has proven the hype was legit and has the stuff to be a front end starter no doubt, once Matusz returns from the DL it will take some pressure off the young starter.

Brandon Beachy (ATL) - Atlanta has so many good rookies this year and Beachy can't be forgotten. Beachy has 4 GS and 23.12 innings pitched, good for a 1-1 record. He has 24 punch outs (good for 1st among rookie starters) Beachy has 3.86 ERA and a 1.24 WHIP and as Atlanta continues to heat up I expect the same for Beachy.

Jeremy Hellickson (TB) - A guy that many have as their ROY from the AL, yet so far sits at the bottom of this list. Through 4 GS he has tossed 25 innings for a 1-2 record. Hellickson has 20 k's yet has given up 12 ER and 23 hits giving him 4.32 ERA and 1.36 WHIP. With Tampa also heating up and Longoria due back soon, I imagine Hellickson will be fine. His 12 ER is over 4 GS, translating to 3ER a game, which isn't that terrible at all. Hellickson is the real deal and will climb to ROY contention for sure.

This is just the first month report card on rookie hitters and starters and I expect things to shift quite a bit by next month. There will be new comers rising to contention and players on this report card that fall off the map. Feel free to let us know who we missed and keep checking back as Cans of Corn will be tracking the rookie watch all season long. One thing is for sure there is a serious crop of rookies to be monitored this season and most likely more on the way, (Jennings and Lawrie etc). Also, with all of Atlanta's rookies you'd have to figure we'll see the NL ROY come out of there right? God I love baseball!

NL ROY (after 1 month) - Freddie Freeman
AL ROY (after 1 month) - Michael Pineda