BA took the 2020 season off because of the pandemic and unusual 60-game format with “regional” schedules. So this year’s Best Tools results mark the 35th installment of this BA staple.

BA has collected a lot of data in that time. Each year, BA ranks three AL players and three NL players in 25 different categories, for a total of 150 Best Tools category winners each season.

Here are the cumulative results of 35 years of MLB Best Tools in the traditional scouting tools categories.

BEST HITTER

Most career category wins
11 Tony Gwynn
7 Albert Pujols
5 Miguel Cabrera
4 Mike Trout
3 Todd Helton, Kirby Puckett, Ichiro Suzuki, Frank Thomas

Active players with multiple category wins
5 Miguel Cabrera
4 Mike Trout
2 Freddie Freeman, Joey Votto

The post 35 Years Of MLB Best Tools: The Best Of The Best Since 1988 appeared first on College Baseball, MLB Draft, Prospects - Baseball America.

POWER TRIO

For half a decade, three of the brightest young talents in baseball have called the National League home. All three came up so early that none is more than 25 years old.

League MVP candidate Ronald Acuña Jr. of the Braves won a trio of Best Tools categories this year: Best Hitter, Most Exciting Player and Best Outfield Arm. He placed second in Best Power.

Acuña has fared well in Best Tools voting in the past but had never won a category.

Padres outfielder Juan Soto won Best Strike-Zone Judgment for a third consecutive season, picking up the mantle from Joey Votto, who won the category in eight of the previous nine seasons.

The Padres’ Fernando Tatis Jr. has returned to form this season after missing 2022 with injuries and a PED suspension. The erstwhile shortstop was recognized at his new position of right field as Best Defensive Outfielder and with a second-place finish in Best Outfield Arm. 

Best Hitter

    1.    Ronald Acuña Jr., Braves

    2.    Freddie Freeman, Dodgers

    3.    Luis Arraez, Marlins

Best Power

    1.    Matt Olson, Braves

    2.    Ronald Acuña Jr., Braves

    3.    Pete Alonso, Mets

Best Bunter

    1.    TJ Friedl, Reds

    2.    Corbin Carroll, D-backs

    3.    Geraldo Perdomo, D-backs

Best Strike-Zone Judgment

    1.    Juan Soto, Padres

    2.    Luis Arraez, Marlins

    3.    Freddie Freeman, Dodgers

Best Hit-And-Run Artist

    1.    Luis Arraez, Marlins

    2.    Nico Hoerner, Cubs

    3.    Jeff McNeil, Mets

Best Baserunner

    1.    Corbin Carroll, D-backs

    2.    Trea Turner, Phillies

    3.    Christian Yelich, Brewers

Fastest Baserunner

    1.    Elly De La Cruz, Reds

    2.    Corbin Carroll, D-backs

    3.    Trea Turner, Phillies

Most Exciting Player

    1.    Ronald Acuña Jr., Braves

    2.    Elly De La Cruz, Reds

    3.    Corbin Carroll, D-backs

Best Pitcher

    1.    Zac Gallen, D-backs

    2.    Spencer Strider, Braves

    3.    Clayton Kershaw, Dodgers

Best Fastball

    1.    Spencer Strider, Braves

    2.    Zack Wheeler, Phillies

    3.    Camilo Doval, Giants

Best Curveball

    1.    Blake Snell, Padres

    2.    Charlie Morton, Braves

    3.    Clayton Kershaw, Dodgers

Best Slider

    1.    Alexis Diaz, Reds

    2.    Clayton Kershaw, Dodgers

    3.    Spencer Strider, Braves

Best Changeup

    1.    Devin Williams, Brewers

    2.    Logan Webb, Giants

    3.    Sandy Alcantara, Marlins

Best Control

    1.    Logan Webb, Giants

    2.    Zac Gallen, D-backs

    3.    Aaron Nola, Phillies

Best Pickoff Move

    1.    Max Fried, Braves

    2.    Taijuan Walker, Phillies

    3.    David Peterson, Mets

Best Reliever

    1.    Josh Hader, Padres

    2.    Alexis Diaz, Reds

    3.    Devin Williams, Brewers

Best Defensive C

    1.    Patrick Bailey, Giants

    2.    Sean Murphy, Braves

    3.    JT Realmuto, Phillies

Best Defensive 1B

    1.    Christian Walker, D-backs

    2.    Paul Goldschmidt, Cardinals

    3.    Freddie Freeman, Dodgers

Best Defensive 2B

    1.    Ha-Seong Kim, Padres

    2.    Nico Hoerner, Cubs

    3.    Ozzie Albies, Braves

Best Defensive 3B

    1.    Nolan Arenado, Cardinals

    2.    Manny Machado, Padres

    3.    Ke’Bryan Hayes, Pirates

Best Defensive SS

    1.    Dansby Swanson, Braves

    2.    Francisco Lindor, Mets

    3.    Willy Adames, Brewers

Best Infield Arm

    1.    Elly De La Cruz, Reds

    2.    Casey Schmitt, Giants

    3.    Manny Machado, Padres

Best Defensive OF

    1.    Fernando Tatis Jr., Padres

    2.    Joey Wiemer, Brewers

    3.    Mookie Betts, Dodgers

Best Outfield Arm

    1.    Ronald Acuña Jr., Braves

    2.    Fernando Tatis Jr., Padres

    3.    Nolan Jones, Rockies

Best Manager

    1.    Craig Counsell, Brewers

    2.    Brian Snitker, Braves

    3.    Torey Lovullo, D-backs

American League

TWO LEGIT

Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. and Mariners outfielder Julio Rodriguez are the first players in history to hit at least 20 homers and steal at least 20 bases in their first two MLB seasons.

The young superstars are also decorated in American League Best Tools voting.

Witt was voted Fastest Baserunner as a rookie in 2022 and repeated in 2023. This year he added second-place finishes in the Best Baserunner and Best Defensive Shortstop categories.

Rodriguez placed third in the Most Exciting Player category in both 2022 and 2023, adding a second-place finish for Best Defensive Outfielder.

Best Hitter

    1.    Shohei Ohtani, Angels

    2.    Corey Seager, Rangers

    3.    Bo Bichette, Blue Jays

Best Power

    1.    Shohei Ohtani, Angels

    2.    Aaron Judge, Yankees

    3.    Luis Robert Jr., White Sox

Best Bunter

    1.    Andres Gimenez, Guardians

    2.    Daulton Varsho, Blue Jays

    3.    Esteury Ruiz, Athletics

Best Strike-Zone Judgment

    1.    Yandy Diaz, Rays

    2.    Jose Ramirez, Guardians

    3.    Ryan Noda, Athletics

Best Hit-And-Run Artist

    1.    Steven Kwan, Guardians

    2.    Andres Gimenez, Guardians

    3.    Whit Merrifield, Blue Jays

Best Baserunner

    1.    Esteury Ruiz, Athletics

    2.    Bobby Witt Jr., Royals

    3.    Daulton Varsho, Blue Jays

Fastest Baserunner

    1.    Bobby Witt Jr., Royals

    2.    Esteury Ruiz, Athletics

    3.    Jorge Mateo, Orioles

Most Exciting Player

    1.    Shohei Ohtani, Angels

    2.    Luis Robert Jr., White Sox

    3.    Julio Rodriguez, Mariners

Best Pitcher

    1.    Gerrit Cole, Yankees

    2.    Kevin Gausman, Blue Jays

    3.    Framber Valdez, Astros

Best Fastball

    1.    Jhoan Duran, Twins

    2.    Felix Bautista, Orioles

    3.    Gerrit Cole, Yankees

Best Curveball

    1.    Framber Valdez, Astros

    2.    Tyler Glasnow, Rays

    3.    Jhoan Duran, Twins

Best Slider

    1.    Shohei Ohtani, Angels

    2.    Dylan Cease, White Sox

    3.    Matt Brash, Mariners

Best Changeup

    1.    Shane McClanahan, Rays

    2.    Pablo Lopez, Twins

    3.    Trevor Richards, Blue Jays

Best Control

    1.    George Kirby, Mariners

    2.    Zach Eflin, Rays

    3.    Framber Valdez, Astros

Best Pickoff Move

    1.    Taylor Clarke, Royals

    2.    Tanner Bibee, Guardians

    3.    Zack Greinke, Royals

Best Reliever

    1.    Felix Bautista, Orioles

    2.    Matt Brash, Mariners

    3.    Ryan Pressly, Astros

Best Defensive C

    1.    Jonah Heim, Rangers

    2.    Adley Rutschman, Orioles

    3.    Jose Trevino, Yankees

Best Defensive 1B

    1.    Nathaniel Lowe, Rangers

    2.    Anthony Rizzo, Yankees

    3.    Yandy Diaz, Rays

Best Defensive 2B

    1.    Marcus Semien, Rangers

    2.    Andres Gimenez, Guardians

    3.    Taylor Walls, Rays

Best Defensive 3B

    1.    Matt Chapman, Blue Jays

    2.    Jose Ramirez, Guardians

    3.    Alex Bregman, Astros

Best Defensive SS

    1.    Wander Franco, Rays*

    2.    Bobby Witt Jr., Royals

    3.    Javier Baez, Tigers

* Baseball America asked managers to submit Best Tools surveys by Aug. 4. Ten days later, the Rays placed Wander Franco on the restricted list as MLB investigated accusations of inappropriate relations with a minor. The investigation is ongoing.

Best Infield Arm

    1.    Matt Chapman, Blue Jays

    2.    Carlos Correa, Twins

    3.    Eugenio Suarez, Mariners

Best Defensive OF

    1.    Kevin Kiermaier, Blue Jays

    2.    Julio Rodriguez, Mariners

    3.    Daulton Varsho, Blue Jays

Best Outfield Arm

    1.    Adolis Garcia, Rangers

    2.    Alex Verdugo, Red Sox

    3.    Kevin Kiermaier, Blue Jays

Best Manager

    1.    Bruce Bochy, Rangers

    2.    Kevin Cash, Rays

    3.    Dusty Baker, Astros

The post MLB Best Tools 2023: Managers, Scouts & Executives Vote On Baseball’s Best Talent appeared first on College Baseball, MLB Draft, Prospects - Baseball America.

Lawrence Butler, OF, Athletics: Butler hit two home runs in the Athletics’ 6-5 loss to the Blue Jays. The 23-year-old center fielder got the A’s on the board with a solo shot that traveled 417 feet to dead center in the fifth inning and added a two-run homer in the bottom of the 10th inning that traveled 403 feet to bring the A’s within a run. The 2018 sixth-round pick finished 2-for-4 and now has four home runs in 23 games since being called up.

Gunnar Henderson, 3B, Orioles: Henderson went 2-for-5 with a double, a home run and three RBIs in the Orioles’ 6-3 win over the Angels. Henderson notched the Orioles’ first hit when he led off the second inning with a double and put the game away in the seventh when, with the Orioles nursing a slim 3-2 lead, he turned around a 96 mph fastball from Gerardo Reyes and launched it to right field for a three-run homer. The home run was Henderson’s 23rd of the season and moved him into a tie with Triston Casas for most among AL rookies.

The post Prospect Report: Royce Lewis Launches Third Grand Slam In Eight Games To Lead Twins Rout appeared first on College Baseball, MLB Draft, Prospects - Baseball America.

At precisely the right time, Grayson Rodriguez is doing just that.

Rodriguez pitched six innings with two runs allowed to lead the Orioles to a 6-3 win over the Angels on Monday night. The 23-year-old righthander allowed seven hits, walked two and struck out seven to record his fifth straight quality start and help the Orioles move a season-high 3.5 games ahead of the Rays for the best record in the American League.

The Orioles No. 1 prospect entering the season, Rodriguez struggled at the outset of his major league debut but has been a wholly different pitcher in the second half.

Rodriguez had a 7.35 ERA in his first 10 starts before the Orioles demoted him to Triple-A Norfolk in late May. He has a 2.85 ERA in nine starts since he returned to the majors on July 17.

“This second time around I kind of feel like myself,” Rodriguez said. “Going down to Norfolk, it just got me back to who I am and I think that’s starting to show.”

After struggling to find his rhythm early, Rodriguez dialed in and showcased his ace-caliber stuff against the Angels. He painted a 99 mph fastball on the outside corner to strike out Mike Stefanic looking in the fourth inning and spotted a 98 mph fastball on the opposite side of the plate to get Nolan Schanuel looking in the fifth. He located his slider perfectly on a trio of strikeouts, none prettier than an 83 mph late-breaker that dotted the bottom outside corner to freeze Brandon Drury in the fifth. His changeup was best of all, racking up eight swings and misses and diving hard under the barrel of Angels’ hitters all day.

Rodriguez left a hanging changeup over the plate that Randal Grichuk launched for a home run in the fourth inning. Other than that, he gave the Angels little to do damage against.

“After about the third, I thought the last three innings he really picked it up,” Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said. “You really saw the life to his fastball. He just makes that one mistake to Grichuk, gave him a chance with the changeup, but besides that, his last three innings he looked like the Grayson we know he can be.”

It was the latest step in Rodriguez’s continued growth into one of the American League’s most effective starters. His 2.85 ERA is the fourth-lowest in the AL since he returned from the minors on July 17. His .213 opponent average is fifth-lowest.

It’s a far cry from Rodriguez’s first stint in the majors, when batters hit .307/.374/.582 against him and left his confidence shaken.

“The first time I was up here I wasn’t really having fun and I think it showed,” Rodriguez said. “Now I can’t wait to get out there and get the ball when it’s my day.”

Rodriguez’s ascent is happening at just the right time. The Orioles declined to add a top-of-the-rotation starter at the trade deadline and acquired only struggling Cardinals righthander Jack Flaherty, who has a 6.66 ERA in five starts for the Orioles. Young righthanders Kyle Bradish and Dean Kremer face workload concerns after already exceeding their previous career highs by more than 20 innings with a month still to go in the regular season. Fellow righthander Tyler Wells was demoted to Double-A at the end of July to manage his innings amidst similar concerns.

Rodriguez, for his part, is showing no signs of slowing. He’s completed at least six innings in six of his last seven starts. He averaged 97.4 mph on his fastball against the Angels, exactly in line with his season average. His slider and changeup were every bit sharp as they have been all year, as was his command once he dialed it in.

As the season is progressing, Rodriguez keeps getting better.

“There’s more conviction in his pitches,” Hyde said. “More on the attack in the strike zone, better tempo in his delivery, confidence. He’s had the stuff. It’s all about putting it together, and he has since he’s come back.”

The Orioles have climbed out of their rebuild and surged to the top of the AL largely on the strength of homegrown position players Adley Rutschman, Gunnar Henderson, Cedric Mullins, Austin Hays and Ryan Mountcastle. While there was never a doubt about the franchise’s position player core, the Orioles have long faced questions about whether or not they could build a playoff-caliber rotation to complement that dynamic lineup.

With Rodriguez pitching like he has been, they may just have that frontline starter who can carry them deep into October.

“The defense has been phenomenal (and) our guys can swing it,” Rodriguez said. “We’ve got a lot of young guys who can play and a lot of really good veterans. It’s a good combo. We’ve got some really good leaders in this clubhouse.

 “I guess coming up through the farm system I’ve seen this talent, and I think it’s finally starting to show.”

The post Grayson Rodriguez Continues Growth Into Frontline Starter For Orioles appeared first on College Baseball, MLB Draft, Prospects - Baseball America.

Ohtani’s agent Nez Balelo said before Monday’s game against the Orioles that it is “inevitable” Ohtani will require “some kind of procedure” to repair a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his elbow, although he declined to specify which procedures are being considered. Balelo said Ohtani suffered a tear in a different part of the ligament than when he tore his UCL in 2018, which ultimately required Tommy John surgery. Whether Ohtani needs a second Tommy John surgery, a lesser surgery such as an internal brace procedure or a nonsurgical option remains to be determined.

Regardless of what procedure Ohtani has, his agent said the 29-year-old intends to continue pitching and hitting as a two-way player.

“I’m just telling you right now that Shohei, there’s not a question in his mind that he’s going to come back and he’s going to continue to do both like we have the last few years,” Balelo said.

Ohtani has continued to DH since tests revealed a tear in his UCL after he left during the second inning of his start against the Reds on Aug. 23. Shortly after Balelo spoke, Ohtani was scratched from Monday’s lineup with a right oblique tightness after he took an awkward swing during batting practice.

Ohtani is batting .304 with a major league-leading 44 home runs and 1.066 OPS and went 10-5, 3.14 with 167 strikeouts in 132 innings on the mound this season. His injury status has clouded his pitching outlook for the foreseeable future, but Balelo said Ohtani intends to continue hitting next season even if he has a second Tommy John surgery.

Ohtani delayed his first Tommy John surgery until after the 2018 regular season and returned as a hitter on May 7 the following year. Ohtani hit .286 with 18 home runs that season, the fewest of his career in a 162-game season.

“I do know this: no matter what timetable we’re dealing with and when we get this done, Shohei is going to be in somebody’s lineup next year DHing when the bell rings,” Balelo said. “We know that.”

Ohtani is set to be a free agent after this season and was expected to command the largest contract in major league history as a premier slugger and ace-caliber pitcher all in one. Whether he will still receive a record-breaking contract in light of his second UCL tear is in question, but Balelo said that’s not his or Ohtani’s focus right now.

“We’ll tackle free agency when it comes,” Balelo said. “I’m not worried about free agency.”

The post Agent: Shohei Ohtani Intends To Play In 2024, Continue As Two-Way Player Despite UCL Tear appeared first on College Baseball, MLB Draft, Prospects - Baseball America.

Baseball architecture and ballpark aesthetic were transformed. Retro design touches were in. “Modern” multi-purpose, artificial-surface stadiums of the 1970s and ’80s were out.

Camden Yards was so revolutionary that even a brand-new facility like the new Comiskey Park, which the White Sox debuted in 1991, felt outdated.

Every MLB team saw the need to create their own version of Camden Yards— and many did. In the 15 years between 1992 and 2006, a total of 14 new ballparks opened, nearly all of them with borrowed ideas from Camden Yards.

That building spree was nearly unprecedented in MLB history. In the 17 years since then, just seven MLB ballparks have been built. Only the Braves and Rangers have opened new parks in the past decade.

It’s hard to find an independent economist who will agree that publicly funded stadiums drive larger revenue gains than the stadium costs themselves. Still, the sales pitch of the value of a publicly funded stadium has proved effective time and time again for baseball teams, in part because it appealed to the team’s fans.

It was clear that the fan experience at a brand-new facility like Camden Yards was preferable to attending games at Veterans Stadium or Candlestick Park or Three Rivers Stadium.

As we head into the mid 2020s, what is apparent is that the opening of Truist Park in Atlanta may prove in the long run to be as significant to MLB owners as the unveiling of Camden Yards.

When the Braves opened Truist in 2017, it had many of the clever touches that are hallmarks of modern stadium design, including a group seating area that looks through the fence in right field, a restaurant that ties into the right-field seats and plenty of enticing areas for groups to mingle in the upper deck.
None of that explains the growing influence of the Braves’ new ballpark. Other MLB owners don’t look enviously at any feature inside Truist Park. They want their own versions of The Battery, the mixed-used development that surrounds Truist.

As part of the deal to entice the Braves to leave downtown Atlanta, Cobb County offered the rights to develop the land around the ballpark. The Braves’ park is surrounded by shops, restaurants, a hotel, apartments, office space and a concert hall.

In 2022, the Braves brought in $53 million in revenue, according to financial filings, from the mixed-use development. They are on track to better that number in 2023.

Becoming a real estate developer in addition to baseball franchise owner means the Braves have added a significant revenue source that is not subject to the fluctuations that are part of being a seasonal baseball business. Those revenues are also not subject to revenue sharing. If the Braves are ever sold, The Battery could significantly boost the team’s price.

For an MLB team, it’s a truly win-win addition to a club’s portfolio.

The Rangers’ new ballpark, Globe Life Field, also includes more than $1 billion in mixed-use development with a hotel, convention center, apartments and offices. Now, other teams want their own versions of what the Braves have.

This is what we’re seeing in Baltimore right now. The Orioles’ lease at Camden Yards expires at the end of the year. As of late August, the Orioles have been unwilling to sign an extension

What Orioles managing partner John Angelos wants in Baltimore isn’t a new ballpark. Even 31 years after Camden Yards opened, the park remains a classic. It could use some tweaks to bring it into the 2020s, but the overall stadium experience remains excellent.

Angelos wants to be able to develop land around the ballpark and reap the revenue benefits that come from being a real-estate developer.

In Kansas City, the Royals are also looking to develop a new ballpark. While Kauffman Stadium is now among the older facilities in MLB, the push for a $2 billion development is as much about the real estate implications as the ballpark itself. In fact, half of that $2 billion price tag is ticketed for the development.

In its sales pitch, the Royals argue that those additional revenue sources will help the team be able to spend more competitively.

“I think in our economic system . . . new facilities provide a ball club with revenue-generation opportunities that simply don’t exist in older footprints,” MLB commissioner Rob Manfred told the The Kansas City Star.

That’s a much more difficult sales pitch. Replacing Memorial Stadium with Camden Yards brought a clear and dramatic improvement in the fan experience. It could be debated if that was worth the cost to taxpayers, but the argument was that the team and fans would both benefit from the new stadium.

Saying that a baseball team needs the land around the ballpark for a viable real-estate development shifts that argument much further toward MLB ownership and away from any interest of the fans. Does a fan’s trip to the ballpark improve in any way if the restaurant they eat at before the game sends its rent check to the team instead of someone else?

Angelos in an interview with the The New York Times’ Tyler Kepner said that developing revenue sources like that are the logical way the Orioles can compete financially and retain their homegrown stars.

The pitch to Royals fans also revolves in part about the promise that a new stadium and the real-estate revenue from around it will allow the team to spend its way to greater success.

Will it? There are no guarantees.

But we can guarantee that the Royals and Orioles won’t be the last teams to try to land their own versions of The Battery.

The post The New Trendsetters In Major League Baseball appeared first on College Baseball, MLB Draft, Prospects - Baseball America.

Season-long NL favorite Corbin Carroll has slowed a bit and hit .264 with five home runs since the All-Star Break. Early AL favorite Josh Jung suffered a fractured thumb on Aug. 6 and may be out for the year, although he will try to make a late-season comeback. Midseason comet Elly De La Cruz is batting .179 with a 39% strikeout rate since the All-Star Break as the league has adjusted to him and flamethrowing righthander Eury Perez spent a month down in Double-A as the Marlins sought to manage his workload.

With those developments, both Rookie of the Year races are yet to be decided. While some favorites have emerged, the situation is fluid, and there is a chance the races won’t be decided until the season’s final week.

Here is a look at where the Rookie of the Year races stand now. All statistics are through August 29.

AMERICAN LEAGUE

1. Masataka Yoshida, OF, Red Sox

Josh Jung’s thumb injury has thrown the AL Rookie of the Year race wide open. So far, Yoshida is the player best positioned to take advantage. The Japanese import leads all qualified rookies with a .295 batting average, holds the AL rookie lead in hits and doubles and will soon surpass Jung for the lead in total bases. If he can reverse his recent slump (.218/.243/.300 in his last 29 games), he’ll be in good shape to hold off what has become a crowded AL field.

2. Josh Jung, 3B, Rangers

Even with his injury, Jung’s season remains one of the best in the class. The 25-year-old third baseman hit .274/.323/.489 with 22 home runs and 67 RBIs in 109 games before going down. Despite the fact he hasn’t played a game since Aug. 6, he is still tied for the AL rookie lead in home runs, leads in RBIs and ranks second in runs scored. If he is able to successfully return before the end of the season and produce, he still has a chance to take the Rookie of the Year award.

3. Triston Casas, 1B, Red Sox

The hulking first baseman has been overshadowed by other rookies on his own team (Yoshida) and in his division (Gunnar Henderson), but his production has been every bit as good. Among rookies who have played at least 100 games, Casas ranks second behind only Carroll with an .847 OPS. His 21 home runs are just one back of the AL rookie lead and he has been one of baseball’s best hitters in the second half. Since the All-Star Break, Casas is batting .323 with a 1.081 OPS, the fourth-highest OPS in the majors.

ON THE CUSP

Gunnar Henderson, 3B, Orioles

Henderson continues to shake off his slow start and has put himself firmly in the ROY mix with his hot summer performance. He is tied for the AL rookie lead with 22 home runs, ranks second with 76 runs scored and is third with 48 extra-base hits. He still sits outside the top five among qualified AL rookies in all three slash line categories (.251/.329/.477) and his .806 OPS ranks sixth, but he’s trending upward and could push his way up with a hot final month.

WORTH NOTING

Yainer Diaz, C, Astros; Edouard Julien, 2B, Twins; Tanner Bibee, RHP, Guardians

There probably isn’t enough time left in the season for Diaz, Julien or Bibee to overtake the ROY leaders, but all have been sensational since their callups. Julien is batting .285/.378/.474 and owns the highest OPS (.852) of any AL rookie with at least 80 games played. Diaz is batting .282/.303/.526 with 19 home runs and 49 RBIs in only 87 games and has thrown out 35% of attempted basestealers behind the plate. Bibee has emerged as the Guardians’ latest homegrown pitching success story and is 10-3, 3.17 with 117 strikeouts and 37 walks in 119.2 innings. All will receive ROY votes, and with more time, any of them could have risen to the top of the field.

SEASONS TO RECOGNIZE

J.P. France, RHP, Astros – 10-5, 3.49, 116 IP, 86 K, 34 BB, 1.29 WHIP

Bryce Miller, RHP, Mariners – 8-4, 3.90, 101.1 IP, 95 K, 21 BB, 1.04 WHIP

Logan Allen, LHP, Guardians – 6-7, 3.61, 107.1. IP, 102 K, 41 BB, 1.35 WHIP

Tyler Holton, RHP, Tigers – 46 G, 2.11 ERA, 61 K, 17 BB, 0.88 WHIP, .179 opp. BA

Zack Gelof, 2B, Athletics – .269/.335/.551, 10 HR, 21 RBI, 9 SB

NATIONAL LEAGUE

1. Corbin Carroll, OF, D-backs

Even amidst a minor second half slump, Carroll remains the top rookie in the game. The 23-year-old outfielder leads all qualified rookies with an .884 OPS and holds the ML rookie lead in runs (96), triples (8), home runs (23), extra-base hits (56) and total bases (238). As long as he holds steady, the National League Rookie of the Year Award will be his.

2. Kodai Senga, RHP, Mets

As the Mets season has spiraled, Senga has emerged as a stabilizing force. The Japanese import has quietly been one of baseball’s best pitchers since the middle of June and overall is 10-7, 3.17 in 24 starts with an ML-rookie high 164 strikeouts. He leads all rookies in strikeouts and innings pitched, is tied for the rookie lead in wins and owns the lowest opponent average (.210) of any rookie who has pitched at least 80 innings. It’s not just among rookies he’s been impressive—his ERA is seventh-lowest in the majors.

3. Matt McLain, SS, Reds

Elly De La Cruz gets most of the attention, but it’s McLain who has been the best of the Reds midseason callups. The 2021 first-round pick leads all qualified NL rookies with a .290 batting average, is second only to Carroll with an .864 OPS and ranks among the top five among NL rookies in hits, runs, doubles, triples, home runs and RBIs despite playing only 89 games. To add a cherry on top, he’s been an above-average defender at both shortstop and second base.

ON THE CUSP

Spencer Steer, 1B/3B/OF, Reds

Without much fanfare, Steer continues to be one of the best rookies in the National League. The 25-year-old leads all NL rookies in hits, doubles and RBIs, ranks second behind only Carroll in extra-base hits and total bases and ranks fourth with an .807 OPS. He’s done it all while playing at least 30 games at first base, third base and left field, providing a valuable blend of offensive production and defensive versatility.

WORTH NOTING

Nolan Jones, OF, Rockies; Eury Perez, RHP, Marlins; Francisco Alvarez, C, Mets

Jones has quietly been one of the season’s best midseason callups and is batting .271/.353/.488 with 13 home runs, 39 RBIs and eight stolen bases in 76 games while showing one of the strongest arms in the game. Perez has been the game’s most dominant rookie pitcher when he’s been on the mound but has pitched only 74 innings. He is 5-4, 2.68 with a 1.04 WHIP and .202 opponent average. Alvarez’s .213/.286/.434 batting line isn’t overly exceptional, but he’s tied for second among NL rookies with 21 homers and been excellent defensively behind the plate.

SEASONS TO RECOGNIZE

Andrew Abbott, LHP, Reds – 8-4, 3.35, 88.2 IP, 99 K, 34 BB, 1.22 WHIP, .227 opp BA.

James Outman, OF, Dodgers – .254/.358/.438, 17 HR, 59 RBI, 14 SB

Elly De La Cruz, SS, Reds – .241/.296/.435, 11 HR, 34 RBI, 22 SB

Bobby Miller, RHP, Dodgers – 8-3, 4.00, 87.2 IP, 79 K, 25 BB, 1.19 WHIP, .236 opp BA

Jordan Walker, OF, Cardinals – .258/.328/.411, 11 HR, 36 RBI

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While he may continue to hit as a designated hitter and continue to have a chance to hit 50 home runs, the greatest two-way season in MLB history has now ended.

So let’s honor today what he’s already done this year. Even as we all watch Ohtani do something that was believed to be impossible, it’s hard to fully comprehend just how unique and special he’s been. Over the past three seasons, Ohtani has managed to be one of the best hitters and pitchers in baseball at the same time.

That’s never happened before. The obvious and pretty much only MLB player who can compare to Ohtani is Babe Ruth, who was a two-way player more than a century ago. Even that comparison is difficult for many reasons. Ruth played in an age where there was no designated hitter. If he was going to hit in any other role than pinch hitting, he had to take his tired arm to left field or first base.

Of course, there are many other complicating factors on Ohtani’s side as well. He plays in an era of not only integrated baseball, but in a time where baseball is truly a worldwide game and where the best players from literally everywhere come to the U.S. to play. He also has to deal with East Coast-West Coast travel, night games and a flurry of other factors that would have seemed absurd in Ruth’s day.

But more importantly for the purposes of today’s story, I’m not sure if most, even diehard baseball fans, are aware of how brief Ruth’s two-way career was. From 1914-1917, Ruth was a pitcher. He was an excellent one who led the league in ERA and starts in 1916 and complete games in 1917. He did pinch hit sporadically, but during those four years, Ruth’s success as a hitter came in games where he was pitching. He did not take the field at any position other than pitcher (or pinch-hitter) in those four seasons.

And from 1920 on, Ruth was an outfielder. He made just four pitching appearances through the remaining 16 seasons of his MLB career.

So when we talk about Ruth as a two-way player, we’re only talking about 1918 and 1919.

Actually, we’re talking about parts of the 1918 season and parts of the 1919 season.

We’re actually talking about four and a half months over those two seasons where he was a full-time pitcher and a full-time position player at the same time.

We will again note the difficulty of being a two-way player in an era long before there were designated hitters. It’s worth acknowledging.

In April 1918, Ruth was still a pitcher/pinch-hitter. It was in early May of that year that he went to first base for the first time in his MLB career. Ruth homered as a pitcher on May 4, then as a first baseman on May 6 and May 7. From that point on, Ruth began to shift to becoming a position player. The Red Sox realized that as good a pitcher as he was, he might be an even better hitter.

As Ruth’s success as a hitter grew, his appearances as a pitcher diminished. Ruth threw 61.2 innings from the start of the season until May 15. He then made only five more pitching appearances over the rest of May, June and July.

With a pennant and a spot in the World Series on the line, Ruth did incredible double-duty in August. He made eight starts that month, throwing 73 innings in a truly heroic and impressive feat. He won six of his eight starts that month, while also playing regularly in the field (he hit .252/.423/.359 that month with six doubles and no home runs).

In the 1918 World Series, Ruth was a pitcher. He picked up two wins with a 1.06 ERA, but his only appearances as a position player were when he moved to left field in the ninth inning of his second series start and his entry as a defensive replacement in the deciding Game 6. Every one of his at-bats in the World Series came as a pitcher.

In 1919, the story was a similar one. Ruth didn’t make an appearance as a pitcher in April. He was a regular member of the pitching rotation from May-July, while also serving as a position player, but he made just one pitching appearance in August and two in September. Over Ruth’s career he had four and a half months (first half of May 1918, August 1918, May 1919, June 1919, July 1919) where he was both a full-time pitcher and a full-time hitter at the same time.

None of this diminishes what Ruth did. He showed a player could be both one of the best pitchers and hitters in the majors at the same time.

But it does emphasize even further just how special the past three years of Shohei Ohtani have been. For the past three seasons, Ohtani has been both an exceptional pitcher and one of the best hitters in baseball at the same time.

From the start of the 2021 season until now, here’s where Ohtani ranks.

Hitting Stats

Home Runs
1. Aaron Judge, 128
2. Shohei Ohtani, 124

Triples
1. Shohei Ohtani, 21

Total Bases
1. Shohei Ohtani, 932

Runs
1. Freddie Freeman, 339
4. Shohei Ohtani, 290

Slugging Pct
1. Aaron Judge, .621
2. Shohei Ohtani, .586

Walks
1. Juan Soto, 386
3. Shohei Ohtani, 246

Stolen Bases
1. Ronald Acuna, 104
17. Shohei Ohtani, 54

Pitching Stats

Wins
1. Julio Urias, 48
10. Shohei Ohtani, 34

ERA (min. 350 IP)
1. Max Fried, 2.75
5. Shohei Ohtani, 2.84

Strikeouts
1. Gerrit Cole, 670
10. Shohei Ohtani, 542

Strikeouts/9 innings
1. Blake Snell, 11.85
2. Shohei Ohtani, 11.39

WHIP
1. Max Scherzer, 0.96
8. Shohei Ohtani, 1.05

Hopefully we have many more years of seeing Ohtani do both, but we should truly appreciate what we just witnessed. It’s truly unprecedented, and has shown us that what was thought to be impossible was obtainable.

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Johan Rojas, OF, Phillies: Rojas went 2-for-4 with a triple, two RBIs and a run scored to lead the Phillies to a 10-4 victory over the Giants. Rojas’ triple was the first of his career and it drove in a pair to help blow the game open in the seventh.  

Zack Gelof, 2B, Athletics: Gelof hit his ninth home run of the year in the A’s 6-4 win over the Royals. Gelof is now batting .304 with nine homers and a .994 OPS in 32 games with the A’s since being called up.

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