On Thursday, I reported on the early race for American League Rookie of the Year. Now it’s time to look at the best “rookies” in the National League.
I put rookies in quotes because, unfortunately, the NL Rookie of the Year race features international veteran players whose eligibility goes against the spirit of the award in my opinion. I have argued for years that international players’ service time in other professional leagues should count and transfer to MLB, and that they should not be eligible for Rookie of the Year honors. However, according to the book, they are considered rookies, so let’s move on and evaluate the NL field.
Cubs sensation Shota Imanaga, a 30-year veteran with eight years of experience in Japan’s NPB, is the early favorite for the NL award. Dodgers star Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who pitched seven years professionally in Japan before signing his record contract, is among the top contenders. Giants center fielder Jung Hoo Lee, who played professionally for seven years in South Korea and leads all MLB rookies in hits, is among the best players in this NL field.
In terms of true rookies, the Pirates’ Jared Jones and the Giants’ Kyle Harrison stood out among the starting pitchers, while the Padres’ Jackson Merrill and the Cubs’ Michael Busch made debuts from the league’s position player pool. . And Paul Skenes, baseball’s top prospect, is about to make his major league debut for the Pirates. (He is not included in this ranking but is clearly one to watch.)
There will be twists and turns in the Rookie of the Year race. We’re dealing with small samples and these rankings will change: some rookies will catch fire, others will struggle; some prospects will impress after orders and some lesser known names will impress. But with more than six weeks of the season over, here are the 10 best rookies in the NL based on their performance.
1. Shota Imanaga, LHP, Cub Scouts
Age: 30
Height: 5-10 Weight: 175
Imanaga is not only the favorite for the NL Rookie of the Year award, but also the NL Cy Young Award, as he is arguably the best starting pitcher in baseball. He went 5-0 with a 1.08 ERA and 0.816 WHIP in seven starts. Imanaga is a strikeout pitcher with a rare combination of an elite chase rate (96th percentile) and walk rate (96th percentile). Opposing hitters hit .140 against his four-seam fastball and .214 against his split-finger wipeout. He asks hitters to chase the fastball at the top of the zone and the split finger at the bottom of the zone. His command and control has been much better than advertised as he makes very few errors in the middle of the plate.
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2. Jared Jones, RHP, Pirates
Age: 22
Height: 6-1 Weight: 190
A second-round pick in 2020, Jones has had an exceptional start to his major league career, posting a 2.63 ERA and 0.780 WHIP in seven outings with a staggering 52 strikeouts in 41 innings. He ranks in the 95th percentile or better in chase rate, whiff percentage, strikeout rate and walk rate. Opposing hitters hit .176 against his four-seamer and .154 against his slider.
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3. Yoshinobu Yamamoto, RHP, Dodgers
Age: 25
Height: 5-10 Weight: 176
Aside from his first start of the season in South Korea – when he was knocked out of the game by the Padres after one inning – Yamamoto lived up to expectations and the record $325 million contract. He posted a 2.79 ERA in eight starts, striking out 47 in 42 innings and producing two earned runs or fewer in all but three starts. His split finger turned out to be a strikeout pitch, and opposing batters are hitting .137 against him with just two extra-base hits in 50 at-bats. But what really sets Yamamoto apart is his elite command and control in and out of the strike zone, as he lives on the black and is capable of dominating from east to west and north to south.
4. Michael Busch, 1B, Cub Scouts
Age: 26
Bats: L The throws: A.
Height: 6-1 Weight: 210
The Cubs front office, realizing that Busch was stuck in the Dodgers organization behind first baseman Freddie Freeman (who is signed through 2027), made an aggressive trade of top prospects last offseason for land it, thus filling their opening at first base. Busch has delivered as expected thus far, hitting .259/.309/.488 and leading NL rookies with seven home runs and 19 RBIs. His barrel percentage (93rd percentile) and sweet-spot percentage (90th) have been impressive. He also demonstrated positive range at first base despite being a below-average defender overall.
5. Jackson Merrill, CF, Padres
Age: 21
Bats: L The throws: A.
Height: 6-3 Weight: 195
Merrill made a smooth transition from shortstop to center field, posting 2 defensive runs saved to start the season while ranking in the 91st percentile for outfield range (outs above average) and the 87th percentile for arm strength. An above-average runner, Merrill is hitting a respectable .274 with four doubles, a triple, two home runs, 16 RBIs and four stolen bases.
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6. Kyle Harrison, LHP, Giants
Age: 22
Height: 6-2 Weight: 200
After recording a 4.15 ERA in seven starts last year, Harrison posted a 3.20 ERA in eight starts to start this season. He struck out 40 and walked 12 in 45 innings. Opposing hitters are hitting .229 against his four-seam fastball with 28 strikeouts in 105 at-bats. His fastball run value ranks in the 96th percentile and his extension ranks in the 77th percentile.
7. Andy Pages, OF, Dodgers
Age: 23
Bats: A. The throws: A.
Height: 6-0 Weight: 212
After many years in the minors, Pages finally got his chance in the major leagues and made the most of it, as he hit .308 with four home runs, 14 runs scored and 13 RBIs in 78 at-bats. Pages can play all three outfield positions at an above average level. He ranks in the 83rd percentile for takedowns above average (range) and in the 81st percentile for arm strength. He ranks in the 84th percentile in sprint speed, but the first most impressive stat is his creme de la creme percentage (99th percentile).
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8. Jackson Chourio, RF, Brewers
Age: 20
Bats: A. The throws: A.
Height: 6-0 Weight: 198
The Brewers signed Chourio to a historic eight-year contract extension this offseason that includes club options for 2032 and 2033. He was guaranteed a record $82 million for a player with no prior experience in the major leagues. He was rushed to the majors before he was ready, but held his own overall despite a .221 batting average and .264 on-base percentage. He has four home runs and six stolen bases, giving him about 20 home runs and 30 steals. Chourio still needs to develop but there is no reason he can’t finish his development in the majors.
9. Jung Hoo Lee, CF, Giants
Age: 25
Bats: L The throws: A.
Height: 6-1 Weight: 192
Lee signed a six-year, $113 million contract with the Giants last offseason after playing seven years in the KBO. He hit .262 with a .310 on-base percentage and played above-average defense in center field. He currently has a six-game hitting streak and is tied for first on the team in hits. He ranks in the 97th percentile for arm strength and the 84th percentile for sprint speed. Most impressive is that he ranks in the 99th percentile in breath rate and strikeout percentage.
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10. Jacob Young, FC, Nationals
Age: 24
Bats: A. The throws: A.
Height: 5-11 Weight: 192
Young hit .301 with a .372 on-base percentage and leads all rookies with 12 stolen bases. He has a 121 OPS+ and has played in 28 games for the Nationals after being called up in early April. A 2021 seventh-round pick out of the University of Florida, Young ranks in the 97th percentile in sprint speed and the 89th percentile in outfield reach based on above-average putouts. He is also in the 89th percentile in strikeout percentage.
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(Top photos: Shota Imanaga: Jim McIsaac / Getty Images; Jared Jones: Justin Berl / Getty Images; Yoshinobu Yamamoto: Brian Rothmuller / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)