A look at the American League and National League Rookie Of The Year favourites

The 2023 MLB season has featured an impressive crop of young ballplayers who are making a name for themselves right away. The adjustment from the minor leagues hasn’t been too daunting, and they’ve made an impact on their club. We’ll take a look at the frontrunners for Rookie Of The Year in each league.

The Orioles have been on fire since May, and the play of Henderson has a lot to do with their resurgent season. He’s hit over 30 home runs while closing in on 100 RBI, which has made him a certified middle of the order hitter from day one. He will likely win the AL Rookie of The Year considering his production and how well his team has played.

Casas has been a force in the power department, but hasn’t quite matched Henderson’s prowess for driving in runs. Still, Boston has to be extremely happy with the 23 year-old’s development, considering how much he struggled in a taste of MLB action last year. He figures to be the Red Sox first baseman for a long time to come.

The Astros continue to add pieces to their already impressive core of players, which is a scary thought for other teams in the American League. France has been a stabilizing force in Houston’s rotation since the beginning of May. With the re-acquisition of Justin Verlander, it’ll be interesting to see if France makes starts in the postseason for the Astros.

Bibee has quietly been one of the best rookies in the game. He’s eaten innings since his callup in late April, and has done a tremendous job of limiting his walks. With the Guardians limping to the finish line, the team might elect to shut down the rookie pitcher with the idea of bringing him back fresh for 2024.

Carroll has been nearly unstoppable in his first full season in the big leagues. He’s shown a knack for driving the ball out of the ballpark, but is also a threat on the basepaths. He has an excellent chance to hit 30 home runs and steal 50 bases as a rookie, and might notch 100 RBI with a red-hot finish.

While Elly De La Cruz is the rookie that has received most of the attention in Cincinnati, Steer has been a pillar of consistency for the Reds in 2023. He’s been somewhat of a revelation, as the organization invested a third round pick on him back in 2019. Steer is the type of versatile player who makes a manager’s life easier day in and day out.

In what has been a disappointing season, the Mets can take some solace in the fact that Senga has been as good as they thought he would be coming over from Japan. He’s been healthy and effective, as MLB hitters have struggled to identify his ghost forkball. It remains to be seen whether he can be a true ace, but he has demonstrated that he can at least be a middle of the rotation arm.

His last name would indicate that he’s not very proficient at the plate, but Outman has found a way to reach base safely on a consistent basis. He’s been helped by the fact that he plays on such a formidable team, which has allowed him to fit in rather than feeling the pressure of standing out. It wouldn’t be surprising if Outman had a clutch moment or two in the postseason.