Top candidates for MLB Rookie of the Year in 2017

Alfaro could be Philly's starting catcher next season after hitting .285-15-67 at Double-A Reading this season. He will get a long look in spring training.

Bader struggled at Triple-A this season after a strong showing at Double-A. The Cardinals could still use his bat, with Matt Holliday and Brandon Moss potentially departing this offseason.

Barreto is likely Oakland's shortstop of the future after hitting .284-11-53 with 30 steals between Double- and Triple-A this season. He should be up in the first half of 2017.

Benintendi has been spectacular in his MLB debut with a batting average above .300 and hit .312-9-76 with only 39 strikeouts in 372 at-bats in the minors this season.

Brinson turned it on after getting traded from Texas to Milwaukee in late July and hit .268-15-61 for the season. He's likely to be Milwaukee's starting center fielder in 2017.

Crawford struggled offensively this season but was a high average hitter before 2016. His defense should get him to the majors soon.

De Leon has an elite changeup and has shown dominant strikeout rates at all levels. He had a 2.61 ERA in 16 starts at Triple-A Oklahoma City this season.

Garrett had a 2.55 ERA between Double- and Triple-A this season, continuing his progress from 2015. The Reds will give him a long look going into next season.

Giolito has elite stuff but is still learning how to pitch. The 22-year-old has struggled with his control but had a 2.97 ERA in 22 starts in the minors this year.

Glasnow was dominant at Triple-A this season, even as his control wasn't always perfect. He had a 1.87 ERA in 20 starts at Indianapolis.

Hader ran into some struggles at Triple-A Colorado Springs this season but still posted a 3.29 ERA and 11.5 strikeouts per nine innings for the season. His sidearm motion is quite difficult for uninitiated hitters.

Honeywell has pinpoint control and throws a screwball, a pitch that isn't often used in the game anymore. He had a 2.34 ERA between High-A and Double-A this season.

Margot is likely San Diego's starting center fielder for 2017, showing great range and leadoff hitting skills. He hit .304 with 30 steals at Triple-A El Paso this season.

Meadows hit .266-12-47 with 17 steals between three minor league levels this season, finishing with a .536 slugging percentage. The Pirates could have a tough decision to make on Andrew McCutchen, and moving on from him would open the door for Meadows.

Traded from the Giants to Twins this season, Mejia had a 3.00 ERA in 20 starts between two levels. His control has come together nicely this season, and he should compete for a rotation spot in spring training.

Arguably the best prospect in baseball, Moncada should have a chance to start heading into 2017. He hit .294-15-62 with 45 steals between High-A and Double-A this season.

Traded from Texas to Milwaukee in the Jonathan Lucroy deal, Ortiz posted a 3.08 ERA between High-A and Double-A this season. He's shown very good control and could make the rotation at the beginning of next season.

Paulino has been a dominant player between three minor league levels this season, with a 2.00 ERA in 90 innings, along with 106 strikeouts. He only has three Triple-A starts under his belt but might not need much more seasoning.

Phillips didn't reach the majors this season after a disappointing year at Double-A Biloxi, hitting only .229. However, he did hit 16 home runs and draw 67 walks, and Phillips will likely still get a long look in the spring.

A former first-round pick, Renfroe became a complete offensive force at Triple-A El Paso this season. He hit .306-30-105 and should be penciled in for a regular job going into 2017.

While still raw, Reyes has the ability to be an ace very soon. He has a 1.58 ERA in 40 innings between starting and relief for the Cardinals and had 12.8 strikeouts per nine innings at Triple-A.

With Matt Wieters' pending free agency, Sisco could step in as Baltimore's starting catcher. He hit .320-4-44 at Double-A Bowie in 2016.

The athletic Tapia hit .328-8-48 with 23 steals between Double- and Triple-A this season. He will have to battle for at-bats in spring training but has the all-around game to win a key role.

Voth doesn't have the great stuff as some of Washington's other pitching prospects, but he's been very effective in the minors. He posted a 3.15 ERA in 157 innings this season.

Winker failed to make his MLB debut this season, but he still had a fine year at Triple-A Louisville. The on-base machine hit .303-3-45 with a .397 on-base percentage.