There is a new leader in the Rookie Power Rankings.
Reds second baseman Jonathan India tops the MLB Pipeline list this week, dethroning Marlins left-hander Trevor Rogers, who ranked No. 1 in six consecutive editions.
Meanwhile, in the American League, the Venezuelan Astros pitcher, Luis García, occupies the highest position he has reached this season and will continue to compete with Cubans Randy Arozarena (Rays) and Adolis García (Rangers) for the Rookie award of the Year of the Young Circuit.
1. Jonathan India, 2B, Reds
Previous Ranking: 2
India continues to find ways to show what an above-average player is when it comes to batting. Before August, he was walking at an impressive rate and his on-base percentage was high. In August, he has been more aggressive and the result has been more power, as he had six home runs and a .560 slugging in his first 22 games this month. He also leads all rookies with a 3.3 fWAR, 129 wRC + and .388 on-base percentage. It’s because of something that Cincinnati’s ninth placed India as leadoff hitter in early June and didn’t look back.
2. Luis Garcia, RHP, Astros
Previous Ranking: 3
The gem Garcia threw against the Royals on Tuesday (6.2 scoreless innings, seven strikeouts) isn’t the only reason we promoted the 24-year-old right-hander on this list. Garcia has been a very consistent pitcher for the AL West leaders, especially lately. In his last four starts (22.2 innings of work), the Bolivar native has a 1.99 ERA with 23 strikeouts and five walks. Garcia leads all rookies in the majors this year with 144 strikeouts in 123.1 innings and his ERA this season is 3.21.
3. Trevor Rogers, LZ, Marlins
Previous Ranking: 1
Rogers has made just one major league start since July 20, due to lower back spasms and now because of his noble decision to return home to help his family cope with problems caused by COVID. -19. The left-hander made a start for A-Class Low Jupiter on Tuesday as part of his rehab and threw 55 pitches in 3.1 innings. Rogers still has a 2.45 ERA, 129 fWAR strikeouts of 3.3 this season (the best of any rookie pitcher) in 110.0 innings worked this year.
4. Randy Arozarena, OF, Rays
Previous Ranking: 3 (tied)
The favorite for the AL Rookie of the Year award before the start of the 2021 campaign is working out his best month on offense. Arozarena was .396 / .484 / .642 with eight extra-base hits in his first 15 games in August. In that period, his OPS was 1,125. On the season, he is hitting .272 / .351 / .451 with 16 homers and 11 stolen bases in 112 games. If he keeps up this pace in September, he has a good chance of overtaking Garcia among the AL rookies on this list.
5. Adolis Garcia, OF, Rangers
Previous Ranking: 5
Garcia continues to combine power and defense to become one of the bright spots in what has been a difficult season in Arlington. The 28-year-old Cuban leads all rookies with 27 homers and his .482 slugging ranks fifth among rookies with a minimum of 250 plate appearances. Garcia is also tied for seventh among all center fielders with seven Outs Above Average, thanks to his good jumps and impressive speed. The rest of his offensive profile hurts his bid for the AL Rookie of the Year award, but he has enough flashy tools to stay in the fight.
6. Dylan Carlson, OF, Cardinals
Previous Ranking: 8 (tied)
The switch hitter and ranger was out of action Aug. 13-23 with a sprained right wrist, but came back Tuesday and went 1-for-3-1 with a double. Thunder remains Carlson’s biggest hurdle in 2021, but he’s still running a .258 / .339 / .415 offensive line with 12 home runs and wRC + over the 109 average in 114 games. Recent enhancements will help you get some Rookie of the Year votes.
E-7. Emmanuel Class, RHP, Indians
Previous Ranking: 7
It is clear that the Dominican has little chance of being Rookie of the Year, because as a reliever he is competing with starters and position players for a prize. However, the right is meeting some requirements to be considered. Class leads all rookies with 18 saves and is seventh among all Young Circuit relievers in that category. A cutting fastball that averages 100.1 miles per hour also works in his favor.
E-7. Ryan Mountcastle, 1B / OF, Orioles
Previous Ranking: 8 (tied)
He already looked like a good hitter in the majors, but he took his game to a new level in August with a .372 / .391 / .884 offensive line and six home runs in his first 12 games of the month. Those numbers would have been much better if he hadn’t been absent for 10 days due to a concussion.
9. Patrick Wisdom, 3B, Cubs
Previous Ranking: Was not
Unlike the case for the others on this list, the third baseman struggled with the bat in August, but now that time is running out and the balance of performance vs. projection is leaning quite a bit towards the former, the infielder deserves a spot in these Power Rankings. Along with Garcia and Mountcastle, he is one of three rookies with 20 home runs in 2021 – that exact number in 80 games for Chicago.
10. Tyler Stephenson, C, Reds
Previous Ranking: Was not
The only thing that kept Stephenson out of previous editions of these Power Rankings was the lack of consistent playing time. He’s practically splitting responsibilities behind the plate with Tucker Barnhart, but his batting performance has been too good not to have him on the roster near the end of the season. Stephenson has a .289 / .374 / .452 offensive line with nine homers in 313 plate appearances.
They also received votes: Shane McClanahan, LZ, Rays; David Bednar, RHP, Pirates; Garrett Whitlock, RHP, Red Sox
Honorable mentions: Ian Anderson, RHP, Braves; Casey Mize, RHP, Tigres; Akil Baddoo, OF, Tigres; Andrew Vaughn, OF, White Sox; Dominican Wander Franco, SS, Rays
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