Another phenom joining packed NL ROY race
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Now it’s Nick Senzel’s turn.
It's a magical moment for Reds fans, who’ve discussed, debated, and most of all, awaited the arrival of their No. 1 prospect for nearly three years. He was projected to be a cornerstone-type player from the moment the Reds made him the No. 2 overall pick of the 2016 Draft, and nothing they’ve seen from him in 239 Minor League games has changed that assessment.
Here’s a line from MLB Pipeline’s report on him:
He makes consistent hard contact, doesn't strike out a lot and draws walks, which points to a future of hitting over .300 and perhaps competing for batting titles.
Injuries delayed Senzel's debut a bit, but those will all be forgotten when the 23-year-old sprints out to center field at Great American Ball Park for the Giants vs. Reds game tonight at 7:10 p.m. ET. Best of all, everyone gets a chance to watch, with it being MLB.TV’s free game of the day.
• Mayo: Reasons to be excited about Senzel
Senzel’s first Major League game follows other top prospects in bringing their talent, energy and enthusiasm to the sport’s highest level. Padres shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. and White Sox outfielder Eloy Jiménez were in Opening Day lineups, and last week the Blue Jays summoned third baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. -- MLB Pipeline’s overall No. 1 prospect.
Collectively, they represent four of the top five prospects on the Top 100 list, with others dotted across MLB rosters and leaderboards. If you’re wondering how playing less than a full Major League season will impact their Rookie of the Year chances, the answer is it probably won’t.
• FAQ: How will Reds use Senzel?
Shortstop Carlos Correa was the 2015 American League Rookie of the Year Award winner despite not joining the Astros until June 8 of that season. Bryce Harper and Mike Trout won the NL and AL awards in 2012 despite missing almost a month, and last year’s NL ROY, Atlanta’s Ronald Acuna Jr., missed the Braves’ first 22 games.
Acuna made up for lost time by collecting 13 hits in his first eight games. Likewise, short stints in the Minors didn’t keep Dodgers first baseman Cody Bellinger (2017) or Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant (2015) from claiming ROY titles.
As Senzel joins this year's NL competition, here are the guys he is up against:
1. Pete Alonso, 1B, Mets (9 HR, 1.005 OPS): The NL Rookie of the Month for April is the NL frontrunner at this point, displaying a skillset that's pretty close to complete. If the Mets return to the playoffs, Alonso could end up being a contender for the NL Most Valuable Player Award.
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2. Christian Walker, 1B, D-backs (7 HR, .985 OPS): The 28-year-old debuted in 2014, but he still has rookie eligibility. It’s been a few years since Walker was a top prospect with the Orioles, but he has finally gotten a chance to get consistent at-bats and is making the most of it in helping the D-backs to a surprising start.
3. Alex Verdugo, OF, Dodgers (4 HR, .985 OPS): Verdugo's biggest challenge may be getting playing time on one of baseball’s deepest teams. He started just one of the Dodgers' first seven games, but has made the most of almost every opportunity. A.J. Pollock’s recent injury will open up playing time for Verdugo and help his ROY case.
4. Fernando Tatis Jr., SS, Padres (6 HR, .910 OPS): He’s still a lot of people’s pick for NL ROY honors despite being sidelined with a hamstring injury. In 27 games, the 20-year-old has been even better than advertised.
5. Victor Robles, CF, Nationals (5 HR, 7 SB, .790 OPS): Replacing Harper might be a burden for some, but not for this 21-year-old, who has shown he can impact games in center field, on the bases and in the batter’s box. His teammate Juan Soto finished second in NL ROY voting in 2018, and Robles is on his way to a high finish as well.
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6. Chris Paddack, RHP, Padres (1.91 ERA, 0.697 WHIP): Paddack was so good in Spring Training that he pitched his way into the Padres’ rotation, and now he might be their ace. He’s allowed allowed as many as three earned runs in a game only once this season, and one or zero runs four times. He’s a reminder that polished pitching -- in this case, a 94-mph fastball and excellent changeup -- translates smoothly from the Minors to the Majors.
7. Mike Soroka, RHP, Braves (1.62 ERA, 11.3 K/9): He was sidelined by shoulder soreness until the Braves' 18th game of the season, but has been outstanding in three starts, allowing one earned run in every game. Soroka's game is built around power, featuring a 93-mph fastball and a tremendous slider. His changeup is a work in progress.