The MLB Rookie of the Year award is given out to the best performing first year player from each league at the end of every regular season. There are a ton of exciting names at the top of the National League Rookie of the Year ladder. Here are the NL Rookie of the Year rankings for the month of September.
Michael Harris, OF, Atlanta Braves
Avg: .301
OBP: .346
SLG: .533
HR: 15
RBI: 48
2B: 22
K/BB: 83/16
WAR: 4.1
Michael Harris has one of the best hitting abilities among all rookies in recent memory. He definitely has the best hit tool among 2022 rookies, regardless of the NL or AL. Harris typically hits in the 9 spot in the Braves lineup and he has been very productive out of that spot. His role in the 9 spot explains his lack of RBIs, while having 15 home runs, 22 doubles and a respectable .300+ batting average. If he is able to continue this production for the Braves, they will be a very dangerous team for a very long time.
Spencer Strider, SP, Atlanta Braves
W-L Record: 9-4
ERA: 2.67
Innings Pitched: 114.66
WHIP: 0.98
Strikeouts: 174
WAR: 3.5
Looking at Spencer Striders stats and his season, he seems to be more likely to be in the CY Young race than in the Rookie of the Year race. But Strider is just a rookie. He has put up an unheard-of season, with his sub-2.75 ERA and his sub-1.0 WHIP. Just in his last start, he broke the Braves single game record for strikeouts with 16 in his 8 tremendous innings. That brought his season total to 174 strikeouts in just under 115 innings. That’s good for an incredible 13.7 K/9 rating, putting him among the best in the MLB, not just rookies.
Edward Cabrera, SP, Miami Marlins
W-L Record: 4-2
ERA: 2.45
Innings Pitched: 44.0
WHIP: 1.02
Strikeouts: 48
WAR: 1.6
Edward Cabrera won’t win this award and it isn’t because of his talent or his performance. Cabrera wasn’t given the same opportunity that the other rookies on this list were given. He spent a little bit of the season in the Minor Leagues where he continued to refine his abilities before being called back up. On the mound, he has been competitive with Spencer Strider in his performance and his statistics. The only thing he is lacking is the volume. There is no doubt in any baseball fans mind that Edward Cabrera is going to be a tremendous pitcher for years to come, even if he doesn’t bring home the Rookie of the Year award.
Prediction: Spencer Strider, SP, Atlanta Braves
Spencer Strider has been absolutely ridiculous all season long. This is no disrespect to any other National League rookie, but Strider has been on a completely different level. His only semi-competition plays alongside him in Atlanta in Michael Harris. But still, Strider has put together one of the most dominant rookie pitching campaigns in recent memory. His 100 MPH fastball and sweeping slider create incredible issues for opposing hitters, which is why he has been able to be consistently dominant for the entire 2022 season. He is the 2022 NL Rookie of the Year, and the award could be given out today.
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