Making their case: NL Rookie of the Year edition
After adding an incentive to encourage teams to promote their top prospects, 2023 saw an explosion of players making their debuts, leading to a deeper class than in years past.
With the finalists for the 2023 National League Rookie of the Year now set, let's take a look at each player's case for the award.
Corbin Carroll, Arizona Diamondbacks, outfielder
2023 stats: .285/.362/.506, 25 HR, 76 RBI, 116 R, 54 SB in 155 games played
Leading the charge behind one of baseball's biggest surprises this season, Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Corbin Carroll entered 2023 as the favorite to win the National League Rookie of the Year Award after recording 15 extra-base hits in 32 games in 2022.
He followed up that promising debut with 65 XBH, including an NL-leading 10 triples out of the leadoff spot for the NL champions. In a league full of unique young talents, his mixture of speed and power is hard to find.
Making his first All-Star Game, Carroll put together one of the more impressive rookie seasons in recent history in what should be a long, productive MLB career.
Signing an eight-year, $111M extension before the season, Carroll is locked with the club until the 2032 season.
The most deserving of the three finalists, Carroll is a virtual lock to walk away with the award after Arizona's drastic turnaround.
James Outman, Los Angeles Dodgers, outfielder
2023 stats: .248/.353/.437, 23 HR, 70 RBI, 86 R, 16 SB in 151 games played
The NL Rookie of the Month in April and August, Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder James Outman became the second player in franchise history to earn the honor twice.
Outman slashed .289/.366/.600 with 13 XBH and 18 RBI in April and .277/.408/.482 with seven XBH and 15 RBI in August.
While he did have rough stretches as most rookies do, Outman continued to put in the work every day, which led to a very productive debut season for the 26-year-old.
He was tied for fifth among rookies with 23 home runs, tied for sixth with 70 RBI and was third with 86 runs scored.
While Outman had a great rookie season, there were a few players more deserving of the nomination, and his numbers fail to compare to the other two finalists.
Kodai Senga, New York Mets, pitcher
2023 stats: 12-7, 2.98 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 202 SO in 166.1 innings pitched
After spending 11 years playing in Japan, pitcher Kodai Senga joined the New York Mets on a five-year, $75M deal, and it already looks like a bargain.
Not only was he the best rookie pitcher in baseball — he was also one of the best pitchers in the entire league.
Known for a unique pitch he calls the "Ghostball," Senga didn't skip a beat in his transition to MLB. He ended his first MLB season in fifth place with a 2.98 ERA and fourth in opponents batting average at .208.
Senga will be 31 years old in 2024 and looks primed to be New York's ace after his strong performance.
Even though he was better than expected for the Mets in 2023, Senga will likely be the runner-up after the impact Carroll had on the D'backs' magical season.
The NL Rookie of the Year Award will be announced live on MLB Network at 6 p.m. ET on Nov. 13.
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