Major League Baseball has seen a handful of rookies emerge this season who look like future stars.
Given the star power permeating the American and National Leagues, the Rookie of the Year races will be as contested as the National League Cy Young Award race. With so many rookies deserving, only one can win the award.
Detroit Tigers Kevin McGongile extends his lead in the American League Rookie of the Year race
In a poll conducted by MLB.com of 32 experts, Detroit Tigers infielder Kevin McGonigle is the favorite to win the Rookie of the Year, but has a slight lead in the poll over the injured Chicago White Sox Munetaka Murakami. According to Jason Foster, McGonigle received 120 total vote points to Murakami’s 119 and 14 first-place votes to Murakami’s 11.
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“McGonigle has surged into the lead after finishing second in the first poll,” wrote Foster. “The jump comes as he’s compiled a .333 average and a .929 OPS over his past 11 games through Sunday. His .291 average and .394 on-base percentage for the season are both best among AL rookies with at least 200 plate appearances. Meanwhile, his 101 total bases are tied for second-most among all AL rookies.”
The 21-year-old is putting together a season that not just could win him the Rookie of the Year award, but could also net him MVP votes. His .291 batting average is third among rookies in the American League, leading in on-base percentage (.394), second to Murakami (44) in walks (38) and leads in triples (three).
With Murakami sidelined with a hamstring injury, which will have him out until the end of June, McGonigle has free rein to extend his lead to win the award.