Category: Baseball column

Who will win mlb rookie of the year 2023? prediction

The 2022 MLB season is one of the best rookie classes in recent memory. Julio Rodríguez and Michael Harris II earned AL & NL Rookie of the Year honors. At the same time, Adley Rutschman, Spencer Strider, Jeremy Peña, Steven Kwan, George Kirby, Bobby Witt Jr., and Brendan Donovan also significantly impacted the league.

It’ll be a challenging move for the 2023 rookie class, but it does have some exciting players capable of generating similar buzz.

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Here, we highlight the three players most likely to win the Rookie of the Year in 2023.

Playing time and previous production records are the most significant factors in choosing who makes a list, but there are always a few surprises along the way.

 

• Hunter Brown, Houston Astros

Hunter Brown likely won’t have a spot in the Houston Astros’ rotation this season, but neither did Atlanta Braves rookie standout Spencer Strider last season. Strider eventually transitioned to the starting role and has never looked back.

Brown, 24, was called up to the majors last September, his first taste of the big leagues. He recorded a 0.89 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, & 22 strikeouts in 20.1 innings, spanning two starts and five appearances off the bench. That earned him a spot on the playoff roster, and he went to 3.2 scoreless games in October.

Even with Justin Verlander gone, the Astros still have Framber Valdez, Cristian Javier, Lance McCullers Jr., Luis García, and José Urquidy in their five-man starting lineup to start the Year. However, one of those guys gets injured or goes through a rough patch, and Brown is next in line, and a six-man rotation starting this Year isn’t out of the question.

 

• Triston Casas, Boston Red Sox

Triston Casas has a clear path to a starting first base job for the Boston Red Sox after Eric Hosmer was released earlier in the offseason. With nothing to prove in the minors, he’s locked up for a spot on the Opening Day roster.

The 23-year-old plays for Team USA at the 2020 Olympics, hitting a . 960 home runs with three homers and eight RBIs in six games. He’s been equally impressive in the upper tier of the minors over the past two seasons.

Casas sees the extension as a call-up from last September. While he hit just .197 in 95 games, that low batting average was accompanied by a .358 on-base percentage, 20 percent walk rate, and 113 OPS+, along with five homers and 12 RBIs.

With 55 hits, 65 sacks, and . 273/. 382/. Casas’ strength and hitting ability are solid.

 

• Gunnar Henderson, Baltimore Orioles

Regardless of how the Baltimore Orioles decide to deploy infielders Ramón Urías, Jorge Mateo, and Adam Frazier, they expect to see Gunnar Henderson in their regular starting lineup at the 2023 jumper.

Before hitting, the 21-year-old emerged as one of baseball’s elite players last season. 259/. 348/. After making his MLB debut on Aug. 31, he started multiple games at second base, shortstop, and third base.

His offensive ceiling makes him a potential AL Rookie of the Year honor. He could be a wire-to-wire frontrunner, similar to Julio Rodríguez in 2022.

 

Who will win mlb rookie of the year 2023? prediction

 

The 2022 MLB season is one of the best rookie classes in recent memory. Julio Rodríguez and Michael Harris II earned AL & NL Rookie of the Year honors. At the same time, Adley Rutschman, Spencer Strider, Jeremy Peña, Steven Kwan, George Kirby, Bobby Witt Jr., and Brendan Donovan also significantly impacted the league.

It’ll be a challenging move for the 2023 rookie class, but it does have some exciting players capable of generating similar buzz.

 

 

Here, we highlight the three players most likely to win the Rookie of the Year in 2023.

 

Playing time and previous production records are the most significant factors in choosing who makes a list, but there are always a few surprises along the way.

 

• Hunter Brown, Houston Astros

Hunter Brown likely won’t have a spot in the Houston Astros’ rotation this season, but neither did Atlanta Braves rookie standout Spencer Strider last season. Strider eventually transitioned to the starting role and has never looked back.

Brown, 24, was called up to the majors last September, his first taste of the big leagues. He recorded a 0.89 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, & 22 strikeouts in 20.1 innings, spanning two starts and five appearances off the bench. That earned him a spot on the playoff roster, and he went to 3.2 scoreless games in October.

Even with Justin Verlander gone, the Astros still have Framber Valdez, Cristian Javier, Lance McCullers Jr., Luis García, and José Urquidy in their five-man starting lineup to start the Year. However, one of those guys gets injured or goes through a rough patch, and Brown is next in line, and a six-man rotation starting this Year isn’t out of the question.

 

• Triston Casas, Boston Red Sox

Triston Casas has a clear path to a starting first base job for the Boston Red Sox after Eric Hosmer was released earlier in the offseason. With nothing to prove in the minors, he’s locked up for a spot on the Opening Day roster.

The 23-year-old plays for Team USA at the 2020 Olympics, hitting a . 960 home runs with three homers and eight RBIs in six games. He’s been equally impressive in the upper tier of the minors over the past two seasons.

Casas sees the extension as a call-up from last September. While he hit just .197 in 95 games, that low batting average was accompanied by a .358 on-base percentage, 20 percent walk rate, and 113 OPS+, along with five homers and 12 RBIs.

With 55 hits, 65 sacks, and . 273/. 382/. Casas’ strength and hitting ability are solid.

 

• Gunnar Henderson, Baltimore Orioles

Regardless of how the Baltimore Orioles decide to deploy infielders Ramón Urías, Jorge Mateo, and Adam Frazier, they expect to see Gunnar Henderson in their regular starting lineup at the 2023 jumper.

Before hitting, the 21-year-old emerged as one of baseball’s elite players last season. 259/. 348/. After making his MLB debut on Aug. 31, he started multiple games at second base, shortstop, and third base.

His offensive ceiling makes him a potential AL Rookie of the Year honor. He could be a wire-to-wire frontrunner, similar to Julio Rodríguez in 2022.

 

Is there a 45 degree rule in baseball?

Yes, there is a 45-degree rule in baseball. Running against a left-handed pitcher is one of the most challenging tasks a baserunner has. There are many aspects to studying left-handed pitchers. Here I will focus on one detail.

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We know that left-handed pitchers must obey the 45-degree rule. Once a pitcher has pitched to home plate (as determined by his right leg traveling 45 degrees from the line connecting his left leg to first base), he is no longer permitted to throw to first base.

Conservative runners wait until left-handed pitchers commit to the plate. Be wary of exceptions to the rule. If a pitcher’s right leg goes over his left, he’s at home plate. In this case, the runner can usually jump well over the lefty.

 

Is there a 45 degree rule in baseball?

 

Yes, there is a 45-degree rule in baseball. Running against a left-handed pitcher is one of the most challenging tasks a baserunner has. There are many aspects to studying left-handed pitchers. Here I will focus on one detail.

 

We know that left-handed pitchers must obey the 45-degree rule. Once a pitcher has pitched to home plate (as determined by his right leg traveling 45 degrees from the line connecting his left leg to first base), he is no longer permitted to throw to first base.

Conservative runners wait until left-handed pitchers commit to the plate. Be wary of exceptions to the rule. If a pitcher’s right leg goes over his left, he’s at home plate. In this case, the runner can usually jump well over the lefty.

 

What MLB team has the most Rookie of the Year awards?

There have been 146 players in the history of MLB to win the Rookie of the Year award, and no team has won more than the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers. The most recent Dodgers NL Rookie of the Year was Bellinger, who was a unanimous vote in 2017.

Established in 1940 by the Chapter of Chicago of the BBWAA, the award selected a recipient each year from 1940 to 1946. ROY became a national award in 1947, won by Brooklyn’s Jackie Robinson.

Rookie of the Year was awarded to only one player for two years, then in 1949, it was awarded to one each in the American League and the NL and renamed Jackie Robinson Rookie of the Year in July 1987.

The Dodgers have the most Rookie of the Year teams in MLB history with 18, twice as many as the next closest New York Yankees. The Oakland Athletics have won the Rookie of the Year award eight times, while the Boston/Atlanta Braves have seven.

History of Dodgers Rookie of the Year winners

 

Jackie Robinson, 1947

Robinson broke the MLB color barrier on April 15, 1947, & went on to have a prolific season in which he hit .297/.383/.427 with 31 doubles and 12 homers. Robinson also led the NL with 29 stolen bases.

 

Don Newcombe, 1949

Newcombe, then 23, finished the season with a 17-8 record in 38 games (31 starts) and an NL-best five shutouts. In 1956, he became the first to win a Cy Young Award and was voted NL MVP that same season.

Newcombe was the player in MLB history to win all three awards and own a World Series ring until Justin Verlander achieved that feat in 2017. Newcomb died in 2019 at the age of 92.

 

Joe Black, 1952

Despite only starting twice in 56 regular-season games, Black won Rookie of the Year and finished third in MVP voting. The right-hander went 15-4 with 15 saves, a 2.15 ERA, and led the majors after completing 41 games.

 

Jim Gilliam, 1953

A two-time All-Star at the end of his 14-year career, Gilliam hit. Plus, six home runs & 21 stolen bases. He also set a LA Dodgers Rookie record with 100 walks.

Frank Howard, 1960

Howard was the first Los Angeles Dodgers player to win Rookie of the Year because of his impact after joining the club from the minors in May of the 1960 season. He hit .268/.320/.464 in 117 games with 15 doubles, 23 homers, and 77 RBIs.

 

Jim Lefebvre, 1965

Lefebvre had a modest year hitting .250/.337/.369 with 21 doubles, four triples, 12 home runs, and 69 RBIs. He tied for the team lead w/ 12 homers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ted Sizemore, 1969

Three years after being drafted by the LA Dodgers in the 15th round, Sizemore entered the majors. In the Rookie of the Year campaign, he hit .271/.328/.342 with 20 doubles, five triples, four home runs, and 46 RBIs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rick Sutcliffe, 1979

Sutcliffe kicked off the first three-game winning streak for Dodgers players to win Rookie of the Year at least in consecutive years. In his first MLB season, the right-hander is 17-10 with a 3.46 ERA in 39 games (30 starts).

 

Steve Howe, 1980

A year after becoming the Dodgers’ 1st-round pick in the 1979 draft, Steve Howe appeared in 59 games with 17 saves and a 2.66 ERA.

 

 

 

Fernando Valenzuela, 1981

Valenzuela started the 1981 season with eight complete games in a row, including five finishes, and quickly captivated fans and the sport. The season was cut short by strikes, but the southpaw is still 13-7 with a 2.48 ERA, 11 complete games, and eight yells in 25 starts.

In 1981, Valenzuela also won the Cy Young Award.

 

Steve Sax, 1982

Sachs hit .282/.335/.359 in 150 games with 23 doubles, seven triples, four home runs, & 49 stolen bases, replacing David Lopez as the starting second baseman. Sachs’ win gave the Dodgers four straight Rookie of the Year awards, a record that was later broken.

Eric Karros, 1992

The Dodgers were poor overall, but Carlos came home with a .257/.304/.426 batting average, 30 doubles, 20 home runs, and 88 RBIs. He started the Dodgers’ second straight Rookie of the Year award and was the team’s best last term.

 

Mike Plazza, 1993

Piazza was the only Dodgers catcher to win the ROY award, & he was their first unanimous pick. The Hall of Fame catcher hit .318/.370/.561 with 24 doubles, 35 homers, and 112 RBIs in 149 games. Piazza’s 35 homers were a LA Dodgers rookie record that Bellinger broke in 2017, & the 1993 season marked the start of six straight All-Star appearances.

 

Raul Mondesi, 1994

Mondesi, a dynamic talent and power arm in the right field, hit .306/.333/.516 with 27 doubles, 16 home runs, and 56 RBIs.

 

 

 

Hideo Nomo, 1995

Nomo has grown beyond his legacy as a stateside-hopping Japan-born player, his legacy with a 13-6 record & 2.54 ERA in 28 starts for the Dodgers. He led the NL with 236 strikeouts and three shutouts.

 

Todd Hollandsworth, 1996

Marking the end of five consecutive Dodgers Rookie of the Year wins, Hollandsworth hit. Steal base. Hollandsworth beat Edgar Renteria of the Florida Marlins to win the award, which was a bit frustrating.

 

Corey Seager, 2016

Seeger hit 308/.365/.512 with 40 doubles, five triples, 26 homers, and 72 RBIs in 157 games, ending the franchise’s decade-long run of the year Rookie shortage. He was the Dodgers’ second-ever Rookie of the Year award, earning a silver medal and finishing third in MVP voting.

 

Cody Bellinger, 2017

Like Seager last season, Bellinger is a clear choice for Rookie of the Year. That’s despite starting the season with Triple-A Oklahoma City and only joining the Dodgers in late April due to a string of injuries.

Bellinger was initially expected only to have a brief stint with the team, but his play has kept him in the lineup forever. He broke Piazza’s NL rookie home run record with 39.

 

What MLB team has the most Rookie of the Year awards?

 

There have been 146 players in the history of MLB to win the Rookie of the Year award, and no team has won more than the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers. The most recent Dodgers NL Rookie of the Year was Bellinger, who was a unanimous vote in 2017.

Established in 1940 by the Chapter of Chicago of the BBWAA, the award selected a recipient each year from 1940 to 1946. ROY became a national award in 1947, won by Brooklyn’s Jackie Robinson.

Rookie of the Year was awarded to only one player for two years, then in 1949, it was awarded to one each in the American League and the NL and renamed Jackie Robinson Rookie of the Year in July 1987.

The Dodgers have the most Rookie of the Year teams in MLB history with 18, twice as many as the next closest New York Yankees. The Oakland Athletics have won the Rookie of the Year award eight times, while the Boston/Atlanta Braves have seven.

 

History of Dodgers Rookie of the Year winners

 

Jackie Robinson, 1947

Robinson broke the MLB color barrier on April 15, 1947, & went on to have a prolific season in which he hit .297/.383/.427 with 31 doubles and 12 homers. Robinson also led the NL with 29 stolen bases.

 

 

 

 

Don Newcombe, 1949

Newcombe, then 23, finished the season with a 17-8 record in 38 games (31 starts) and an NL-best five shutouts. In 1956, he became the first to win a Cy Young Award and was voted NL MVP that same season.

Newcombe was the player in MLB history to win all three awards and own a World Series ring until Justin Verlander achieved that feat in 2017. Newcomb died in 2019 at the age of 92.

 

Joe Black, 1952

Despite only starting twice in 56 regular-season games, Black won Rookie of the Year and finished third in MVP voting. The right-hander went 15-4 with 15 saves, a 2.15 ERA, and led the majors after completing 41 games.

 

 

Jim Gilliam, 1953

A two-time All-Star at the end of his 14-year career, Gilliam hit. Plus, six home runs & 21 stolen bases. He also set a LA Dodgers Rookie record with 100 walks.

Frank Howard, 1960

Howard was the first Los Angeles Dodgers player to win Rookie of the Year because of his impact after joining the club from the minors in May of the 1960 season. He hit .268/.320/.464 in 117 games with 15 doubles, 23 homers, and 77 RBIs.

 

Jim Lefebvre, 1965

Lefebvre had a modest year hitting .250/.337/.369 with 21 doubles, four triples, 12 home runs, and 69 RBIs. He tied for the team lead w/ 12 homers.

 

 

 

Ted Sizemore, 1969

Three years after being drafted by the LA Dodgers in the 15th round, Sizemore entered the majors. In the Rookie of the Year campaign, he hit .271/.328/.342 with 20 doubles, five triples, four home runs, and 46 RBIs.

 

 

 

 

 

Rick Sutcliffe, 1979

Sutcliffe kicked off the first three-game winning streak for Dodgers players to win Rookie of the Year at least in consecutive years. In his first MLB season, the right-hander is 17-10 with a 3.46 ERA in 39 games (30 starts).

 

Steve Howe, 1980

A year after becoming the Dodgers’ 1st-round pick in the 1979 draft, Steve Howe appeared in 59 games with 17 saves and a 2.66 ERA.

 

 

Fernando Valenzuela, 1981

Valenzuela started the 1981 season with eight complete games in a row, including five finishes, and quickly captivated fans and the sport. The season was cut short by strikes, but the southpaw is still 13-7 with a 2.48 ERA, 11 complete games, and eight yells in 25 starts.

In 1981, Valenzuela also won the Cy Young Award.

 

Steve Sax, 1982

Sachs hit .282/.335/.359 in 150 games with 23 doubles, seven triples, four home runs, & 49 stolen bases, replacing David Lopez as the starting second baseman. Sachs’ win gave the Dodgers four straight Rookie of the Year awards, a record that was later broken.

 

Eric Karros, 1992

The Dodgers were poor overall, but Carlos came home with a .257/.304/.426 batting average, 30 doubles, 20 home runs, and 88 RBIs. He started the Dodgers’ second straight Rookie of the Year award and was the team’s best last term.

 

Mike Plazza, 1993

Piazza was the only Dodgers catcher to win the ROY award, & he was their first unanimous pick. The Hall of Fame catcher hit .318/.370/.561 with 24 doubles, 35 homers, and 112 RBIs in 149 games. Piazza’s 35 homers were a LA Dodgers rookie record that Bellinger broke in 2017, & the 1993 season marked the start of six straight All-Star appearances.

 

Raul Mondesi, 1994

Mondesi, a dynamic talent and power arm in the right field, hit .306/.333/.516 with 27 doubles, 16 home runs, and 56 RBIs.

 

 

Hideo Nomo, 1995

Nomo has grown beyond his legacy as a stateside-hopping Japan-born player, his legacy with a 13-6 record & 2.54 ERA in 28 starts for the Dodgers. He led the NL with 236 strikeouts and three shutouts.

 

Todd Hollandsworth, 1996

Marking the end of five consecutive Dodgers Rookie of the Year wins, Hollandsworth hit. Steal base. Hollandsworth beat Edgar Renteria of the Florida Marlins to win the award, which was a bit frustrating.

 

Corey Seager, 2016

Seeger hit 308/.365/.512 with 40 doubles, five triples, 26 homers, and 72 RBIs in 157 games, ending the franchise’s decade-long run of the year Rookie shortage. He was the Dodgers’ second-ever Rookie of the Year award, earning a silver medal and finishing third in MVP voting.

 

Cody Bellinger, 2017

Like Seager last season, Bellinger is a clear choice for Rookie of the Year. That’s despite starting the season with Triple-A Oklahoma City and only joining the Dodgers in late April due to a string of injuries.

Bellinger was initially expected only to have a brief stint with the team, but his play has kept him in the lineup forever. He broke Piazza’s NL rookie home run record with 39.

 

Who has the longest MLB career?

It’s hard not to pay tribute to the player with the longest career in Major League Baseball. After all, getting into the big leagues is hard, and it’s equally hard to stay there and be successful enough.

That means there’s something special about the top-ranked players with the longest baseball careers and the most MLB games played. In addition to performing well, they must stay healthy & avoid injuries that could lead to their replacement.

 

Charlie Hough, season 25

As a knuckleballer, Charlie Hough has an easier time sticking around than some of the other pitchers on our list of longest MLB careers. He lasted from 1970-1994, spending a decade with the Dodgers & a decade with the Rangers before finishing his career with the White Sox & Marlins.

He was selected as an All-Star just once, but his “knuckle dance” knocked hitters off balance long enough for Hough to pitch for 25 years, going 216 with a 3.75 ERA.

 

Eddie Collins, 25 seasons

Eddie Collins had a long career from 1906-1930, a time of great victories and six World Series rings. He was a member of the Philadelphia Athletics when they won championships in 1910, 1911, & 1913. In 1917, he won another title with the White Sox.

Collins returned to Athletics after winning back-to-back World Series titles in 1929 and 1930. That makes him the only non-Yankee player to win five World Series titles with the same team. Collins isn’t just for joyrides; he has 3,315 career hits & a . 333 career batting average. Collins also won MVP honors in 1914 & led the AL in stolen bases four times.

 

Bobby Wallace, 25 seasons

Bobby Wallace was an elder timer who played 25 seasons in the major leagues from 1894-1918. He spent his first five years with the Cleveland Spiders & the rest of his career in St. Louis, playing for the Browns and Cardinals.

He is considered the best shortstop of his generation. Before Omar Vizquel broke his record in 2012, he was the oldest shortstop player in the majors. Wallace was a . 268 hitter with more than 2,300 at-bats.

 

Jim Kaat, season 25

Jim Kaat is among the few crafty lefties to have a long career in the big leagues. He pitched from 1959 to 1983, for 25 seasons, despite Pitching for just five franchises. While he was an All-Star only three times in his career, Kaat won 16 straight Gold Gloves from 1962 to 1977, making him the Greg Maddux of his generation.

In 2022, his accomplishments will finally be recognized when the Golden Days Era committee elects him to the Hall of Fame.

 

Rickey Henderson, 25 seasons

It’s hard to get Ricky Henderson out once he’s on base, and it’s hard to get him out once he’s in baseball.

From 1979 to 2003, Henderson played 25 seasons for nine organizations, including multiple stints with the Oakland Athletics. Not only was Henderson a great player, but he was arguably the best starting hitter and base stealer in MLB history.

Usually, we think of quick players deteriorating with age, but not Henderson.

He stuck around for over 20 years, played at a high level, and was a 10-time All-Star, not to mention the 1990 MVP. Due to his longevity, he is the all-time MLB leader in stolen bases and scoring. He also collected more than 3,000 hits and set a single-season record with 130 stolen bases, which is why he was also a first-round Hall of Fame voting member.

 

Jamie Moyer, season 25

Jamie Moyer is the latest player on our list of longest baseball careers. He pitched for 25 seasons and, in 2012, became the oldest pitcher to win an MLB game.

Moyer played for eight teams over 25 years, winning 269 games with a career ERA of 4.25. He only made one All-Star team, so his career wasn’t spectacular. But even though he’s too old to throw particularly hard, Moyer has found a way to get hitters out with skill and precise control, so it’s admirable that he’s lasted this long.

 

Deacon McGuire, 26 season

If you want to remember Deacon McGuire’s 26 seasons in the majors, you must turn back the clock. McGuire was a catcher, which made his quarter-century in the majors even better.

He’s been a durable catcher, which has allowed him to set numerous records, including assists in the game, stolen bases caught, and stolen bases allowed, all of which have stayed in the record books. In his 26 seasons, McGuire also played for 11 different teams, batting. 278 and racking up 1,748 hits and 45 home runs.

Not only did he have the surgery that bears his name, but his 26 seasons make Tommy John one of the longest careers in MLB.

Of course, the fact that he underwent surgery of the same name and could continue his career despite missing an entire season adds to his longevity. Remember, John was an Opening Day starter in 1966 and 1989, which tells everything you need to know about how long his career was.

It wasn’t a Hall of Fame career, however, as it took John 26 seasons to rack up 288 wins, third most among pitchers outside of Cooperstown.

 

Cap Anson, 27 seasons

Cap Anson was one of the first true superstars in the majors, not to mention he had one of the longest baseball careers. He played 27 seasons from 1871-1897 while spending more than a decade at the end of his career as a player/manager.

Anson spent most of his career with what is now known as the Cubs. He still holds many of the franchise’s records. He was a 1st baseman & a solid hitter, batting.

He had three hundred thirty-four for his career & won two batting titles.

Give Anson a little praise, though. On several occasions, he refused to play with black players and became an influential figure in segregated baseball until Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier 50 years after Anson’s final season.

 

Nolan Ryan has 27 seasons

By today’s standards, Nolan Ryan’s 27 seasons in the majors are miraculous. He had the longest MLB career and was a powerhouse pitcher who regularly threw over 100 mph in his prime.

There are plenty of examples of hard pitchers who flame out quickly or cannot get a batter out once their velocity drops. But the last pitch of Ryan’s career came at 98 mph, and it was at age 46.

Ryan made his debut in September 1966 and his last start in September 1993. He ended up tearing his ACL in what was supposed to be his final season, cutting short his two career starts. Beyond that, Ryan was a physical prodigy, pitching for 27 seasons and throwing seven no-hitters, both MLB records.

His longevity also helped Ryan set several other records that may never be broken, including 5,714 career strikeouts.