From time to time, MLB writers vote on MVP, Cy Young, and Rookie of the Year favorites at a given point in the season.
With July coming to an end, two young stars lead the Rookie of the Year race: Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Spencer Strider is seen as the favorite in the National League, and Seattle Mariners outfielder Julio Rodriguez is the most likely candidate to win in the American League.
MLB notes that both men are in the middle of playoff races.
.@SpencerSTRIDer and @JRODshow44 are right in the middle of postseason races. 👀 pic.twitter.com/LNCHZFY0zk
— MLB (@MLB) July 28, 2022
According to the writers’ votes, J-Rod is followed by Jeremy Pena and Bobby Witt Jr. in the American League, with Joe Ryan and Adley Rutschman coming in fourth and fifth in the race.
One of Strider’s teammates, Michael Harris II, currently ranks second among writers’ preferences.
Chicago Cubs’ Christopher Morel and Seiya Suzuki are third and fourth, and St. Louis Cardinals’ Brendan Donovan checks in at fifth place.
Strider And Rodriguez Have Been Incredible
Strider has been one of the most impressive hurlers in the National League, with a 2.91 ERA in 80.1 innings in his debut season.
He is striking out a whopping 37.2 percent of the hitters he faces, which is insanely high, and has a rock-solid 1.02 WHIP.
His candidacy is very solid, but not as solid as Rodriguez’s in the junior circuit.
Pena was once relatively close in the race, but J-Rod is just something else.
The 21-year-old slugger is hitting .274/.337/.489 with 18 home runs, 55 runs, 56 RBI, and 21 stolen bases.
He has a shot at being just the second player to go 30-30 in the year of his debut in MLB.
Can you guess the other one?
His name is Mike and he plays center field for the Los Angeles Angels.
Yes: Trout did it back in 2012.
Rodriguez looks well on his way to run away with the AL ROY.
