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The clubhouse leaders for MLB Rookies of the Year
Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Corey Seager is the clear favorite for NL Rookie of the Year. Jennifer Stewart/Getty Images

The clubhouse leaders for MLB Rookies of the Year

Much like every other award this season, Rookie of the Year has a number of worthwhile candidates in both leagues. Debuting talents have played huge roles in upgrading, stabilizing and even propelling their respective teams toward the postseason all around the game.

However, it is a tale of two different conditions in regard to how competitive the race for the award could be between the leagues. In the American League, any number of players could have a shot, ranging from season-long contributors such as Nomar Mazara and Michael Fulmer to the sudden eruption that Gary Sanchez has made in the Bronx.

Over in the National League, it was a banner year for rookie shortstops, with Corey Seager, Aledmys Diaz and Trevor Story all getting off to massive starts and continuing to be huge contributors throughout the summer.

So what are the decisive differences in weighing this rookie class against each other to choose a Rookie of the Year candidate? Here is a look at the pros, cons and potential outcomes for each top candidate.

American League Rookie of the Year

Dylan Bundy, Orioles

Pros: Finally healthy again, the much-discussed Bundy has averaged nearly nine strikeouts per nine innings and reached double figures in wins in only 14 starts.

Cons: He slowed tremendously down the stretch, with his ERA climbing each month and his innings declining along the way.

Prediction: Bundy is good story and shows promise of salvaged potential after missing the previous two seasons in full, but he won’t factor much into the ROY vote.

Cheslor Cuthbert, Royals

Pros: He made the most of the opportunity opened up by the season-ending injury to Mike Moustakas. Cuthbert has produced 40 extra-base hits and been one of the surprise debuts of the year.

Cons: There’s nothing particularly eye-popping about his line, complete with a .278 average and .414 slugging percentage.

Prediction: Thanks for your contributions on an everyday basis, Cheslor, but the hardware will be headed elsewhere.

Michael Fulmer, Tigers

Pros: He was essential to helping the Tigers get over the midseason hump that propelled them into second-half competitiveness. Between May 21 and Aug. 14, over 100 innings, he worked to a 1.44 ERA and led the AL in the category for a time.

Cons: He dropped half of his contests across August and September, allowing six earned runs in two separate contests.

Prediction: Fulmer has a really good shot of pulling it off. He has had the longest run of sustained success among all candidates and had a very strong showing for a rookie hurler faced with the American League.

Nomar Mazara, Rangers

Pros: Mazara has been the most consistent rookie bat in the league, reaching 20 round trippers while playing his entire rookie season (143 games) at the average age of a Double-A player.

Cons: His split line is pedestrian (.269/.322/.424) when compared to what other rookies have been able to achieve around him.

Prediction: Nomar has a good chance at a third-place finish but not much higher.

Tyler Naquin, Indians

Pros: He stepped in to the vacancy created by Michael Brantley’s injury admirably, carrying an .896 OPS, while cutting 18 doubles, 14 homers and 42 RBI.

Cons: He played infrequently early in the season, thus hurting his overall compiled numbers in the end.

Prediction: Naquin is an important part of the Indians, but his numbers don’t translate into a ROY-caliber outcome.

Gary Sanchez, Yankees

Pros: He has had a historic start to his career, crushing 20 home runs in his first two months as a Major Leaguer, while hitting .311 as well.

Cons: There could be some who hold his late start to the season (not coming until August full time) against him, but it would be hard considering what he has done with the time.

Prediction: It is hard to recall many people winning a season-long award with only two months in the books, but if anyone has done what it takes to pull the feat off, it is Sanchez. Don’t be surprised if he walks away with the hardware.

National League Rookie of the Year

Aledmys Diaz, Cardinals

Pros: He has been a revelation for the Cardinals since filling in due to a Jhonny Peralta wrist injury in spring training. He is carrying an .879 OPS, while slugging 17 home runs and only striking out 59 times in 443 plate appearances.

Cons: Diaz’s glove has not come around as quickly as his bat, as he has committed 16 errors on the year.

Prediction: If injuries had no curtailed a portion of his season, he could have made a compelling push for the award. However, the All-Star shortstop checks in at a distant second place in the ballot.

Kenta Maeda, Dodgers

Pros: A winner of 16 games in his first season as an American pro, the seasoned Meada has been invaluable in making 31 starts for an often injury-plagued Los Angeles staff.

Cons: He has been very hot or very cold, however, with two months of an ERA north of 4.60.

Prediction: Maeda’s solid overall body of work should garner him appearances on most ballots, perhaps enough to land a third-place finish.

Steven Matz, Mets

Pros: The young lefty held his own in the star-studded Mets rotation, winning nine games and striking out 8.8 batters per nine innings.

Cons: Elbow and shoulder woes kept him from regularly reaching the mound, as his season was cut short in mid-August, and he was often not able to pitch deep into games.

Prediction: The lack of innings and outings will keep him from making a strong push for the honor.

Corey Seager, Dodgers

Pros: 2015’s top prospect delivered on his promise in a major way. Seager leads all MLB shortstops in WAR (6.3), OPS (.888), runs scored (104), hits (192) and doubles (40).

Cons: In the contest of for Rookie of the Year, there is none. He has been the most important everyday player on a division champion Dodgers team.

Prediction: He should be the unanimous winner of the award and have a competitive finish on MVP ballots as well. He is a future headline star in the game.

Trevor Story, Rockies

Pros: He was on a record pace for rookie power at the shortstop position, hitting 27 home runs overall after setting the April rookie record for homers with 11.

Cons: Another victim of the rookie injury bug, his season came to a close in July after he tore a ligament in his thumb.

Prediction: Although he has been out of action for two months, Story still leads NL shortstops in home runs. But his prolonged absence will likely make him an afterthought for voters.

Trea Turner, Nationals

Pros: He has been red-hot for the Nationals ever since being given an everyday opportunity. Turner has run up 100 hits in just 69 games, while stealing 29 bases and carrying a .919 OPS.

Cons: The Nationals held him back in the minors mostly until nearly July, and then he did not get an everyday starting shot until late in the month. The time on the sidelines held his numbers back.

Prediction: Turner could make a surprisingly high number of appearances on ballots due to the shear impact he has made over the last two months. It would not be surprising to see him as runner-up to Seager.

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