2019 Rookie of the Year: Breaking down the finalists

Awards announcements represent the final chapter of a Major League Baseball season.

The first winners will be revealed Monday when the Baseball Writers Association of America names the American and National League Rookies of the Year.

This race should be more clear cut than last year’s, but closer than the 2017 contest. The awards winners should follow the theme of the 2019 season as the big boppers with the gaudy home-run numbers are likely to take home the hardware.

New York Mets slugger Pete Alonso and Houston Astros bruiser Yordan Alvarez are the league’s respective frontrunners. But cases can be made for Mike Soroka, who emerged as an ace for an Atlanta Braves club that won a second consecutive division title, and John Means, one of the few bright spots for a 54-win Baltimore Orioles squad.

Interesting to ponder, perhaps less for who will win, and more concerning what careers we can expect from these players.

MLB’s First-Year Stars Are Historically Great This Season

As happened with NFL quarterbacks and pro tennis players, the traditional learning curve for Major League Baseball hitters has been re-drawn, if not outright obliterated. Apprenticeships no longer are required.

For a second consecutive year, first-year players are dominating baseball in numbers like we’ve never seen before. In the footsteps of Juan Soto, Ronald Acuna Jr., Gleyber Torres, Shohei Ohtani and others last season, Pete Alonso, Yordan Alvarez, Vlad Guerrero Jr., Eloy Jimenez, Fernando Tatis Jr. and their fellow freshmen are blowing up the idea that young hitters can’t be trusted until they are allowed time and reps to adjust to big league pitching. This is the era of Plug-and-Play Superstars.

Until last season, there had never been a season in which more than five first-year players hit 15 home runs. Then seven freshmen did so last year. And so far this season, 10 can claim the Freshman 15.

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Set aside for now the more aerodynamic baseball, which this season is inflating home run numbers. This young hitters trend began a few years ago and has just exploded this year. The game is getting younger because the numbers show young hitters can be trusted–in many cases, more than older players.

So, how much do we buy this particular argument, and, if not, where do we see issues?

Padres star rookie Fernando Tatis Jr. will ‘most likely’ miss rest of year with back injury

PHILADELPHIA – San Diego Padres shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. was placed on the 10-day injured list on Friday with a back injury that “most likely” will end his season, according to manager Andy Green.

The 20-year-old Tatis, a Rookie of the Year candidate, is batting .317 with 13 doubles, 22 homers and 53 RBI in 84 games. Green said the injury was the result of “common usage” and that it would require rest to heal.

“It’s disappointing, obviously,” Green said. “We’re going to do what we can to take care of him, and we expect him to be a huge part of what we’re doing going forward. It’s been really tough for him the last couple of days to swallow. It’s a tough blow.”

Green said Tatis will be re-evaluated in three weeks.