The primary half of the 2024 MLB season featured a number of memorable moments and breakout performances from a number of the recreation’s high rookies.
In June, Yardbarker offered an early have a look at how every main award race was shaping up. With the second half of the season starting Friday, here is how the American League and Nationwide League Rookie of the Yr races stand.
American League
Mason Miller, RHP, Oakland Athletics
Contemplating solely 5 aid pitchers have earned AL Rookie of the Yr honors, it is possible a protracted shot Miller will take residence the award. Even so, the All-Star nearer deserves recognition, as no AL rookie has been extra dominant as persistently as Miller, who has one of the overpowering fastballs in baseball. Amongst all certified relievers, Miller is first in fWAR (1.8), strikeouts (70) and SIERA (1.57) whereas rating sixth in batting common in opposition to (.147) and 18th in saves (15).
Luis Gil, RHP, New York Yankees
Gil, the front-runner in our final AL Rookie of the Yr rankings, carried out like a possible Cy Younger candidate to start the season, posting a 1.99 ERA over his first 11 begins. Sadly for Gil, he hit a wall in June, possible attributable to his unfamiliar workload.
In 5 outings final month, Gil posted a 6.45 ERA, along with his worst efficiency coming in opposition to Baltimore on June 20, throughout which he allowed seven earned runs in 1.1 innings. Though Gil stays the highest rookie beginning pitcher within the AL, he’ll must rebound rapidly to have a shot at successful the Rookie of the Yr Award.
Wyatt Langford, OF, Texas Rangers
The No. 4 general choose within the 2023 MLB Draft, Langford received off to a disappointing begin to his rookie season, hitting simply .222 with one inside-the-park residence run and 13 RBI in his first 34 video games. Nevertheless, since coming back from a hamstring harm on Might 28, Langford has been on a formidable tear, batting .276 with 4 homers and 29 RBI over his previous 41 video games. The AL Rookie of the Yr race is vast open, so if Langford can preserve his present momentum within the second half of the season, he may win the award.
Nationwide League
Paul Skenes, RHP, Pittsburgh Pirates
It is tough to call anybody who has achieved extra previously yr than Skenes, the No. 1 choose within the 2023 MLB Draft and the NL’s beginning pitcher for the 2024 All-Star Recreation. Skenes and his devastating pitch arsenal have seamlessly transitioned to MLB, because the 22-year-old posted a 1.90 ERA and 0.92 WHIP with 89 strikeouts in his first 11 begins. So long as his well being permits, the Pirates’ ace needs to be the unanimous NL Rookie of the Yr, and if he continues to excel within the second half, he may win his first Cy Young Award.
Jackson Merrill, OF, San Diego Padres
Skenes is not the one NL rookie who has carried out like a seasoned veteran. The 21-year-old Merrill has additionally established himself as the perfect rookie middle fielder in baseball and one of many high gamers at his place. Merrill slashed .278/.310/.435 with 12 residence runs and 46 RBI within the first half of the season, which earned him a spot within the 2024 MLB All-Star Recreation. In response to StatsCentre, Merrill grew to become the youngest participant to take part within the All-Star Recreation since 2013.
Shota Imanaga, LHP, Chicago Cubs
Imanaga, the early front-runner for the NL Rookie of the Yr Award, has struggled mightily over the previous month and a half. After posting the bottom ERA by way of a participant’s first 9 profession begins in MLB historical past (0.84), Imanaga — a star in Japan — has a staggering 5.61 ERA over his previous eight outings, permitting 9 residence runs in that span. It’s going to be attention-grabbing to see whether or not Imanaga can rebound strongly sufficient within the second half to assist the Cubs (47-51) make a push for a playoff spot.
