2017's MLB All-Rookie Team

After getting a few cups of coffee with the Royals way back in 2011 and '12, the minor league journeyman finally found his way back to the majors five years later. He made his biggest impact to date this time around as well, connecting for nine home runs and driving in 43. Pina was especially strong behind the dish, throwing out 36 percent of would-be base stealers and producing the second highest catcher’s dWAR in the National League (1.9).

The impact of Bellinger’s arrival in L.A. sent waves throughout the NL. His arrival ran parallel with the Dodgers' ascent up the standings. After reaching the majors in late April, Bellinger launched 25 first-half home runs, including 13 in June alone, setting a new NL rookie monthly record.

In a season that was defined by transition in Pittsburgh, Bell was the club’s most constant presence. The converted outfielder led the team in RBI, triples and games played. If a rebuild is ahead for the Buccos, at the very least they have already identified one brick for the new foundation.

Yet again, the A’s are beginning to push some intriguing talents up from the depths of their latest rebuilding project. Olson possesses the most potent swing of them all, launching 47 home runs on the year between Triple-A Nashville and Oakland. The 23-year-old saved some of his best for last, as Olson homered in six of seven games over the last week.

After tearing through Triple-A pitching for a month, Happ forced his way into the crowded Chicago infield picture and stayed for good. The versatile athlete has fit in while contributing in both center field and at second base. In just 115 games, the 23-year-old launched 24 home runs and did so in the second fewest games ever needed by a rookie switch hitter to top 20 homers.

After doing seemingly everything in their power to give Devers as much time to incubate in the minors as possible, the Red Sox's struggles at third base forced their hand into finally bringing their top prospect to Boston. Devers immediately took advantage of the opportunity. The youngest player in the majors when promoted, his first MLB hit was a home run, becoming the 35th player to record his first multi-homer game before his 21st birthday as well. Add in his game-winning Sunday night homer against a 102.8 mph Aroldis Chapman fastball — making him the second lefty to take Chapman deep, ever — and Devers’s young legend continues to grow quickly.

While Chapman continues to figure things out at the plate, he is already teaching a master’s level course with the leather. His 2.4 defensive WAR at third base leads all American League third basemen and is the highest season total since 2013 at the position. He checks in fourth in the AL in double plays turned from the hot corner despite playing nearly 50 fewer games than any other player in the league’s top five.

Following in the footsteps of the man he supplanted at shortstop in St. Louis, DeJong has been a revelation. After returning to Triple-A following his debut in May, he made the most of his second opportunity, becoming NL Rookie of the Month in July, his first month as a full-time starter. His 25 home runs are a single-season shortstop record for the franchise.

The numbers do all the talking here: a rookie-record 52 home runs along with AL-bests in runs scored, walks and strikeouts. Judge had seven homers of 450 feet or greater, including an MLB-best 496-foot shot back on June 11. He is one of four rookies ever with 45 homers, 100 runs scored, 100 RBI and 100 walks. The question that remains is if Judge is simply Rookie of the Year or if an MVP nod will join his rookie honors.

The centerpiece prospect sent back in return for Craig Kimbrel from the Red Sox, Margot is the most exciting talent to reach Petco Park in years. He made an instant impact with five extra-base hits in the first six games of the year and accumulated seven three-hit games in the year. His 17 stolen bases were the best among the year's NL rookie crop.

Baseball’s top prospect who broke camp with his big league team, Benintendi met the sizeable expectations he carried coming into the year. The athletic left fielder helped form the most athletic outfield trio in the game alongside Mookie Betts and Jackie Bradley Jr., while chipping in 20 home runs, 26 doubles and driving in 90 runs. Benintendi also became the first Boston rookie since Nomar Garciaparra to post at least 20 home runs and 20 steals with 90 RBI.

Giancarlo Stanton, move over. After launching 29 long balls for Triple-A Lehigh Valley, he didn’t miss a beat once reaching Philly. He became fastest player in MLB history to reach 17 home runs, needing only 33 games. He had 43 RBI in his first 39 games, a mark only bettered by Albert Pujols, and one better than Joe DiMaggio. Ultimately, Hoskins finished the year with 18 home runs, 48 RBI and a 1.014 OPS in just 50 games.

Zimmer wasted little time in making his mark in Cleveland, putting on display the bevy of skills that propelled his climb to the top of the Indians' system. The 24-year-old instantly became a perfect fit at the heart of the Cleveland outfield, providing a speed/power combination long needed there. Zimmer stole 18 bases in 19 attempts and hit eight home runs in 101 games, including a grand slam on July 25. A broken bone in his hand unfortunately brought his strong debut effort to a premature end.

A masher with Renfroe’s type of power is a perfect — and needed — fit in the spacious confines of Petco Park. His 26 home runs set a new Padres rookie record and was capped by a three-homer date on Sept. 20. Although he strikes out at alarming rate currently (150 K’s in 122 games), his upside as a 30-plus long ball producer is undeniable.

A part of the prospect haul that came over from Texas in exchange for Cole Hamels a few year ago, Williams made good on his first taste of the majors. In a half season’s work, Williams spent time across each outfield station and flashed true power potential, connecting for 12 home runs and 14 doubles. On Sept. 12, he collected his first three-hit game, capped by a two-run, game-winning double in the 15th inning.

Another debut that was overshadowed by standing in the direct shadow of Judge, Mancini put the finishing touches on a fine debut campaign with a 17-game hit streak. Mancini’s 14 pre-All-Star break homers set a new Orioles rookie record, and he became the first Oriole since 1960 to hit .290 along with 20 home runs.

A revelation for the retooled Rockies, Freeland showed potential to become a truly rare quantity in Colorado: a legitimate front of the rotation arm. The 8^th overall pick in the 2014 MLB Draft won 11 games in his debut season and carried a no-hitter into the ninth inning in July. Most remarkably, Freeland actually had a lower ERA at home (3.67) than on the road (4.57) and only allowed seven home runs in 84 innings at Coors Field.

Although it was roller-coaster of a year for Marquez, who saw his ERA rise and fall every other month, he proved to have the stuff become a mainstay in the Colorado rotation moving forward. Marquez led the club in strikeouts while pairing with Freeland to be the winningiest duo of rookie rotation mates in the game.

After dominating Triple-A for a second straight year, Weaver got his shot in the majors and proved he could carry the act over there as well. The lanky right-hander won his first six starts after being moving to the rotation on Aug. 23, allowing two or fewer runs in each outing. Weaver averaged 10.7 strikeouts per nine inning on the year and surrendered only seven home runs in 60.1 innings.

It would have been laughable to propose that Williams, who had a 7.82 ERA in seven appearances a year ago, would win more games than both Jameson Taillon and Tyler Glasnow a year later. Yet that is exactly what happened as the less heralded righty outperformed both struggling top prospects. In fact, Williams posted the lowest ERA in the Pittsburgh rotation this season.

Surrounded in his rotation by an All-Star (Luis Severino), a pair of trade deadline additions (Sonny Gray, Jaime Garcia) and high-priced former front-line arms (CC Sabathia, Masahiro Tanaka), Montgomery has become an all-important constant in the New York rotation. The definition of solid, in a 29-start season, Montgomery allowed more than four runs only twice. 

The prize return in the deal that sent Adam Eaton to the Nationals, in his second stop, Giolito proved why he occupied the top of so many top 100 prospect lists a year ago. Over seven starts in Chicago, Giolito allowed two or fewer runs in five starts, posting a WHIP below 1.00.

Of all the pitchers Cincinnati auditioned over the seemingly endless attempts to sort out its woeful starting pitching situation, Bryan Price and company may have finally struck gold with Castillo. A lean, 24-year-old Dominican with an electric arm, Castillo rounded into one of the NL’s best pitchers down the stretch, allowing five runs over his final five starts, striking out 39 against only six walks.

While his future still lies at the beginning of games, Hader certainly announced himself while working later. The Brewers opted to amplify their bullpen with the presence of their top prospect. He responded in exciting fashion, working to a 2.08 ERA in his 35 appearances. Hader also averaged 12.8 strikeouts per nine innings.