Margot, Renfroe to vie for Rookie of the Year

March 29th, 2017

PEORIA, Ariz. -- knows a thing or two about what a Rookie of the Year Award winner looks like. He took home that very hardware with Tampa Bay in 2013, after all.
To his left in the Padres' clubhouse, Myers sees two prime candidates: and .
"Both of them are talented enough to win Rookie of the Year," Myers said. "I would love for them to do that. That'd be really cool for the team, for them and for the city. Any time I can help them with something, I will, but I think they have the talent to do it on their own."
The National League is loaded with talented youngsters who could vie for top rookie status. Atlanta's Dansby Swanson and Pittsburgh's are just two premier options.
But the Padres believe Margot (MLBPipeline.com's No. 23 overall prospect) and Renfroe (No. 42) stack up with the game's best. They won't keep their prospect status for long. Renfroe is in line for the starting right-field job in San Diego. Margot, meanwhile, is battling for his roster spot in center or left. But he figures to see plenty of big league playing time, regardless of whether he breaks camp with the club.

"It's good to have another guy out there that you've played with before and you've come up through the system with, so you already have a good relationship," Renfroe said. "Obviously it really helps in the outfield. You know each other, you know how the other guy plays."
Padres fans, with one eye on the future, have fully embraced Margot and Renfroe. The pair received a standing ovation when they were introduced at last year's Futures Game. They were greeted with a similar reception upon their September callups. (Renfroe would quickly reward the home fans with one of the most prodigious homers in Petco Park history.)
"When we got there for the first time, everybody was thrilled to see us, and only good things were heard," Renfroe said. "It was awesome to see that support, and it's awesome to have a fanbase that appreciates you and loves you."
Both are coming off outstanding seasons at Triple-A. Margot batted .304 while swiping 30 bags and playing an elite center field. Renfroe, meanwhile, took home the Pacific Coast League MVP Award, while batting .306 with an .893 OPS and 30 dingers. In the process, the duo helped carry El Paso to a PCL championship.
In terms of their maturity, Myers feels as though both are further along than he was in 2013.
"Margot's way ahead of me, Renfroe the same way," Myers said. "I was young and stupid at one point. Those guys seem like they've got it together. I like their mindset, like the way they work. I like everything about them. I think they're going to be great players, and I already know they're winning players."

Given their recent success and their projected 2017 playing time, Margot and Renfroe are probably in the top half-dozen candidates to be the National League's top rookie.
"Cool, I guess," said an ever-unassuming Renfroe. "If you win a Rookie of the Year, that's a very honorable thing to do. ... It's obviously not the one thing either of us is focusing on. But if you're presented that, it means you had a good season, so that'd be really cool."