The fights for the Rookie of the Year awards are in the final stretch. The Cuban Randy Arozarena and the Venezuelan Luis García are the favorites in the American League, while Jonathan India and Trevor Rogers compete for the award in the National. But only one of those four was included in our latest list of the hottest rookies of 2021.
Our rankings are based on performances between September 15-28.
1. Jesús Sánchez, OF, Marlins
After going 1-for-25 in his major league debut in 2020, Sánchez has recovered to a .253 / .322 / .498 line and 14 home runs in his first 62 games of his rookie season. He’s finished strong, having blown the fence in three straight games against the Braves on Sept. 10-12. In the last two weeks, the Dominican is hitting .326 / .400 / .651 with four homers.
2. Jarred Kelenic, OF, Mariners
Kelenic arrived in Seattle in May amid high expectations, but he didn’t see himself as one of the best hitting prospects in baseball in his first month, nor when he returned to the majors in July. September has been the best month of his short career, hitting .273 / .385 / .636 with four home runs in his last 13 games, although his line in 89 games is .176 / .260 / .347 with 14 home runs .
3. Eli Morgan, RHP, Indians
Morgan’s fastball holds at roughly 90 mph, but the right-hander makes up for that with his big shift and good command. In 83.2 innings of work this season, he is 4-7 with a 5.37 ERA and a 79/22 strikeout rate on walks.
4. Frank Schwindel, 1B, Cubs
Selected by the Royals in the 18th round of the 2013 Amateur Draft, Schwindel was claimed on waivers by the Cubs after being discharged by the Athletics and had his first opportunity to play every day in the Major Leagues when Chicago sent Anthony Rizzo to the Los Angeles. Yankees. Since then, Schwindel has been one of the best hitters in the league, hitting .340 / .386 / .566 in the past two weeks and hitting .355 / .403 / .640 with 13 home runs in 51 games with the puppies.
5. Luis Garcia, RHP, Astros
The Venezuelan has stopped fanning batters but maintained his success, conceding just one run in 11.3 innings of his last two starts before Wednesday, despite passing six walks and striking out just three. He leads all rookie pitchers in wins (11) and is second in ERA (3.30), innings (155.1) and strikeouts (167).
6. Nick Fortes, C, Marlins (Not in the Marlins Top 30)
The substitute has seized his opportunity since he was promoted to the big team on September 18 after Colombian Jorge Alfaro injured a calf. He homered in three of his first 11 plate appearances and has a .364 / .440 / .773 offensive line in 23 at-bats.
7. Keibert Ruiz, C, Nationals
The Venezuelan, who was the most valuable piece that passed to the capital from the Dodgers in exchange for Max Scherzer and Trea Turner in July, has established himself as a starter in Washington in September and has hit .378 / .425 / .595 with two home runs in their last nine games. In a total of 26 games in the majors, he has a .272 / .322 / .420 offensive line with three homers.
8. Josh Rogers, LZ, Nationals
The left-hander joined Washington’s rotation in September and has posted a 2.08 ERA with 13 strikeouts in 17.1 innings of his last three outings. He is 2-1 with a 2.73 ERA in his five appearances for the Nationals.
9. Dylan Carlson, OF, Cardinals
The ranger contributed to the Cardinals’ historic 17-game winning streak by hitting .308 / .333 / .615 with three homers over the past two weeks. One of the top NL Rookie of the Year candidates this season, he has a .261 / .337 / .423 offensive line with 16 home runs in 144 games.
10. Camilo Doval, RHP, Giants
As San Francisco tries to get away from the Dodgers to conquer the NL West and secure home-field advantage in the postseason, the Dominican has done his part by conceding no runs in 12 appearances in September, including 7.2 innings in white, along with three wins and two saves in the last two weeks. He is 5-1 with those saves and six leads preserved in 27 games. In addition, he has a 3.24 ERA with 33 fans in 27 episodes.
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