What to Make of Baseball’s 2020 Rookies at the Dish
With the 2020 shortened season, one of the most exciting aspects coming in was the young talent that fans may get to see. With just 60 games, and the 60-player pool rule, there was plenty of potential to see young players make highly anticipated debuts. Plus, we’re just two years removed from one of the most talent-loaded drafts in MLB history. With several rising prospects making debuts, let’s recap what we’ve seen and what we can look forward to.
Kyle Lewis Seattle Mariners OF
Kyle Lewis has not only been on the 40-man roster for the Mariners all season, but he’s played in all but two games. Lewis is a probable American League Rookie of the Year, and that list is no slouch. Outperforming exciting White Sox centerfielder, Luis Robert, down the stretch has propelled Lewis into the top performing rookie in most major statistical categories. Lewis ranks 5th amongst all qualified rookies in the heralded stat of OPS, tied for 1st in homeruns, and 2nd amongst qualified AL rookies in OBP. Lewis has posted a 1.9 fWAR, and gives fans no reason to believe he won’t be the Seattle’s centerfielder for years to come.
Luis Robert Chicago White Sox OF
Luis Robert is right in the thick of the R.O.Y race with Kyle Lewis, and he’s doing it for perhaps the AL’s best team. Where Lewis has separated himself, however, is his OBP (Shown Below). Robert exhibited his elite athleticism this season, and has flexed his strength with 11 homerun balls, to date. His athleticism is his most exciting feature moving forward. Yes, the .291 OBP and .249 average are worrisome, but the 11 homeruns and .435 slugging-percentage are plenty to be excited about.
Ryan Mountcastle Baltimore Orioles OF/1B
The Orioles have had an exciting 2020 season, all things considered, and rookie Ryan Mountcastle was at the center of it all. Mountcastle ranks fourth in OPS amongst all qualified rookies (second in the AL). OPS is where Mountcastle’s 2020 success is most noticeable, which is a great sign for O’s fans, as OPS has evolved into the most heralded conventional stat. The Baltimore rookie posted a 139 OPS+ this season, meaning his OPS value is 39% higher than league average.
Jake Cronenworth San Diego Padres IF
The Padres’ offense has been a headline all year. But, one of the more underrated pieces of that offense, is rookie Jake Cronenworth. The 26-year-old rookie has a few years on most other rookies in the League. However, his maturity has proved to be a strength with a low 15% K%, and his 98th-percentile ranking in xWOBA, per Baseball Savant. Surrounded by big names like Fernando Tatis Jr. and Manny Machado, who are prone to strikeouts, Cronenworth has been a huge asset to the “Slam Diego” lineup. The most exciting thing about Cronenworth moving forward is undoubtedly his statcast ranks: 99th-percentile in xBA, 96th-percentile in xSLG, and 91st-percentile in whiff%. Cronenworth has been a hard out all year and the thought of a Padres infield with him, Tatis Jr., and Machado for years to come should be scary for the NL West.
Alec Bohm Philadelphia Phillies 3B
Alec Bohm is in a 3-person race for the NL Rookie of the Year, along with Cronnenworth and Brewers’ pitcher Devin Williams. The third-overall pick in 2018, and top Phillies’ prospect, Bohm has been a huge contributor to one of the best offenses in the League. The Phillies’ lineup was predicted to be stacked, and it is. But, one of the holes in the 2019 lineup was at third-base, where Maikel Franco posted a -0.5 fWAR. Bohm has already posted a better figure with a 1.1 fWAR in 41 games, which projects to ~4.34 fWAR over 162 games. Like many exciting rookies, Bohm projects well based on his first-year statcast numbers. Most notably, Bohm ranks in the 89th-percentile in hard-hit%, exhibiting his bat-speed and ability to barrel Big League pitches. Regardless of if he wins Rookie of the Year, Bohm has cemented his place in this loaded Philly lineup.
Other 2020 rookies to be excited about: Nick Madrigal (CWS 2B), Willi Castro (DET SS), Ke’Bryan Hayes (PIT 3B), Bobby Dalbec (BOS 3B), Sean Murphy (OAK C), Yoshi Tsutsugo (TB LF), and Randy Arozarena (TB LF).
-Jackson Madden
