2022 MLB AL Rookie of the Year Rankings: August

Time Stamp: August 3, 2022 12:43 PM

The MLB Rookie of the Year award is given out to the best performing first year player from each league at the end of every regular season. The American League features a few guys who have shown the potential of being future superstars. Here are the AL Rookie of the Year rankings for August.

Julio Rodriguez, OF, Seattle Mariners

Avg: .271

OBP: .334

SLG: .482

HR: 18

RBI: 57

2B: 19

K/BB: 109/28

WAR: 3.9

Julio Rodriguez has put his talent on display for the whole world to see. The 21-year-old has a legitimate chance to put together a 30-home run, 30 stolen base season. He is just 12 home runs and 9 stolen bases away from this 30/30 club. But he must get (and stay) healthy. He is currently on the IL with an injury that occurred while taking a swing just a few days ago. When he is able to return from the IL, he is going to be a main player in the Mariners push for the playoffs. He is one of the sole reasons that the Mariners went all in at the trade deadline, dealing away top prospects to improve their Major League club.

Bobby Witt Jr., SS, Kansas City Royals

Avg: .252

OBP: .296

SLG: .447

HR: 14

RBI: 51

2B: 19

K/BB: 91/20

WAR: 1.0

Bobby Witt Jr was one of the preseason favorites to win the AL Rookie of the Year. And Witt has not disappointed. He has been one of the few bright spots on the Royals roster. The young star has brought an excitement to Kansas City that they haven’t had since their World Series contention years. The Royals just traded away two of their better players in Andrew Benintendi and Whit Merrifield. This leaves Bobby Witt Jr as one of the only productive pieces left on that roster. The rest of his 2022 season should be exciting and fun to watch.

Jeremy Pena, SS, Houston Astros

Avg: .252

OBP: .298

SLG: .438

HR: 15

RBI: 38

2B: 11

K/BB: 84/17

WAR: 3.1

Jeremy Pena has been one of the better rookies in the American League for most of the season. He is a staple in the Astros lineup that has been one of the best lineups in the MLB. Pena finds himself in the Astros lineup every game as he continues to get better as the season progresses. He holds a pretty good WAR (3.1) for a rookie. One of his biggest flaws is his on-base percentage. He has a pretty respectable batting average (.252) but his OBP is just .040 higher than his average (.298). This shows that Pena is a good hitter, with true talent at the plate, but he lacks the maturity that is required among the leagues best.

Prediction: Julio Rodriguez, OF, Seattle Mariners

I mean no disrespect to the other candidates when I say this, but Julio Rodriguez is the obvious AL Rookie of the Year. He has emerged as a potential superstar and put that potential on display at the Home Run Derby where he captured Americas eyes with his historic performance. Rodriguez is leading the Mariners into the playoffs, and he is doing things that are unheard of for a player of his age. The Mariners likely wouldn’t be in the position to make a playoff push without him. While he is on the IL with a wrist injury right now, the award is his and his to lose.

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