2023 MLB Awards: Top 5 NL Rookie of the Year Award Candidates
Now that the 2023 Major League Baseball regular season has reached its end, MLB awards season will soon be upon us.
As a part of our 2023 MLB award selections, here are our top five National League Rookie of the Year Award candidates:
5) Javier Assad, RHP, Chicago Cubs
32 G, 10 GS, 5-3, 3.05 ERA, 109.1 IP, 147 ERA+, 4.29 FIP, 1.226 WHIP, 7.7 SO9, 2.29 SO/W, 2.3 WAR
Assad made his big league debut in August of last year. Though he impressed in his eight starts, he opened the 2023 season in the Chicago Cubs' bullpen when the club's pitching rotation consisted of Marcus Stroman, Justin Steele, Drew Smyly, Jameson Taillon and Hayden Wesneski. When Wesneski, Taillon and Smyly each struggled and Stroman landed on the IL at the start of August, Assad received a chance to start. The right hander emerged as the club's third-best starter behind Steele and Kyle Hendricks during the final stretch of the season, logging a 2.84 ERA over 50.2 IP.
4) Matt McLain, SS, Cincinnati Reds
89 G, .290/.357/.864, 16 HR, 50 RBI, 14 SB, 129 OPS+, 3.7 WAR
McLain would probably be higher on this list, had he played more games and not gone down with an oblique strain at the end of August. He may have been the Cincinnati Reds' most valuable player in 2023. While slashing .290/.357/.864 and playing stellar defense at shortstop, the Reds went 50-42 between the time of McLain's May 15 call-up and his season-ending injury. Cincinnati was 32-38 without their star rookie on the roster.
3) Nolan Jones, OF Colorado Rockies
106 G, .297/.389/.931, 20 HR, 62 RBI, 20 SB, 138 OPS+, 4.3 WAR
The Colorado Rockies acquired Jones in a trade with the Cleveland Guardians over the winter and the Guardians sure could have used Jones' pop in their lineup this season. He batted .297 with a .389 OBP, 20 home runs and 20 stolen bases. Jones is a star in the making and was the lone bright spot for the Rockies, who lost 103 games in 2023.
2) Kodai Senga, RHP New York Mets
29 G, 29 GS, 12-7, 2.98 ERA, 166.1 IP, 142 ERA+, 3.63 FIP, 1.220 WHIP, 10.9 SO/W, 4.5 WAR
Had Senga logged more innings, he would warrant serious NL Cy Young Award consideration. Nonetheless, Senga was remarkable in 29 starts this season, logging a 2.98 ERA and 142 ERA+.
1) Corbin Carroll, OF Arizona Diamondbacks
155 G, .285/.362/.868, 25 HR, 76 RBI, 54 SB, 134 OPS+, 5.4 WAR
While Assad, Senga, Jones and McLain all had exceptional rookie campaigns, Corbin Carroll set himself apart as this year's best newcomer in the National League. Carroll will likely finish top-5 in NL MVP voting, and was an integral part of the Arizona Diamondbacks' success in 2023.
