Here are the 10 hottest rookies over the past 30 days
Welcome to the third MLB Pipeline Rookie Hot List of the year. This is the June edition of our monthly look at the rookies on a roll around the Major Leagues, and this month, the hitters have it. We have seven hitters and three pitchers on the list, and the balance honestly could have been even more tilted.
Friendly reminder: As always, this is not about who’s going to win the Rookie of the Year Award. And it’s also not about who’s the best prospect, though that can be a tiebreaker when there’s a close call.
It’s simply about who’s hot -- rookie players who have put up the best performances over the past 30 days. There’s something of a bias toward playing time, so a player with twice as many at-bats or innings (or appearances, for a reliever) will get the nod over one with a slightly better slugging percentage or ERA in fewer opportunities. That guideline definitely came into play this month.
June's honorable mentions include Patrick Bailey, Ryan Noda and Ji Hwan Bae. All stats are as of the end of games on Monday, June 12.
On with the list …
1. Corbin Carroll, OF, D-backs: This could be a list of the hottest players in baseball, full stop, and Carroll would still be very near the top. He’s one of two rookies with more than 100 plate appearances and an OPS better than 1.000 over the past month. He sports a ridiculous .362/.455/.745 line in that span, with eight homers, 25 RBIs, 23 runs and nine stolen bases in nine attempts for good measure.
2. Josh Jung, 3B, Rangers: In just about any other month, Jung would easily hold down the No. 1 spot. Like Carroll, he’s over 100 PAs and over 1.000 OPS, with a .355/.417/.613 line. He’s a bit behind Carroll in the counting stats, with five homers, 15 RBIs and 21 runs, but like Carroll, he’s a key part of a surprise contender and a leading candidate for year-end rookie honors.
3. Bobby Miller, RHP, Dodgers: It was hard to determine where exactly to place Miller, since his innings total is a little light with just four big league starts under his belt. But what a run it’s been, with Miller making history in those four starts. He’s 3-0 with an 0.78 ERA, an 0.83 WHIP, 23 K's and seven walks in 23 innings. When you dominate like that, you get ranked highly.
4. Spencer Steer, 3B, Reds: It’s an awfully fun time to be a Red, with Elly De La Cruz joining the surging Cincinnati youth movement. Steer just edges out his teammate on the left side of the infield, Matt McLain, but honestly, you could flip a coin. Steer has more homers (by one), steals and RBIs than his teammate, but it’s close in almost every area. We probably should’ve made them a joint entry.
5. Matt McLain, SS, Reds: McLain has “only” two homers and 10 RBIs over the past month. He’s also playing shortstop every day, getting on base and scoring runs. He leads rookies in triples, at-bats and plate appearances over the past month, and only Carroll has scored more runs.
6. Eury Pérez, RHP, Marlins: Another impressive debutant on the mound, Pérez hasn’t been pitching deep into games but has been otherwise exceptional. He has a 1.85 ERA over the past month, with just under a strikeout per inning. He’s walking a few more batters than you might like, but otherwise Pérez has dazzled.
7. Kodai Senga, RHP, Mets: Speaking of a few more walks than you’d like, that’s about the only blemish on Senga’s recent ledger. He leads all rookies with 36 K's over the past month, but he’s also issued 17 free passes in 27 2/3 innings. Still, he has a 2.28 ERA in that span, and when he’s been good, he’s been brilliant -- witness two recent starts with seven innings and no earned runs.
8. Francisco Alvarez, C, Mets: It’s beginning to come together for Alvarez, who’s always had monster power and is showing it in the big leagues. Alvarez leads all rookies with nine homers in the past month, and he’s also looking less like an all-or-nothing slugger. He's striking out a little less and getting a few more base hits, while also still mashing taters. It’s a good recipe.
9. Gunnar Henderson, 3B, Orioles: Speaking of “beginning to come together,” Henderson took a little while to find his footing this year, but he’s very much trending in the right direction. He’s still not playing every day, which is a major reason he’s not higher in these rankings. But Henderson’s .324/.368/.620 line over the past month is elite, and if you wanted to bump him up a few spots, it would be hard to argue.
10. Will Brennan, OF, Guardians: This month’s list is laden with big-time prospects. But it shouldn’t be any surprise that if there’s one exception, it’s from Cleveland, an organization that has made a habit of turning unheralded farm system products into productive big league players. Brennan comes in at .346/.378/.538 over the past month.