With the 2019 season of Major League Baseball finally underway, baseball addicts are now trying to predict the winners of the various important awards that come at the end of the season: Cy Young, for pitchers, Gold Gloves for each position, MVP for both leagues, and Rookie of the Year for each league.
David Adler and some 50 experts from MLB.com have looked at the candidates for Rookie of the Year. First on their list is Vladimir Guerrero, Jr., a third baseman for the Toronto Blue Jays. He is perhaps the most anxiously awaited prospect in years, and is currently out of action with a strained oblique muscle. However, the 20-year old power hitter is the odds-on favorite for the award in the American League.
But then there is Eloy Jimenez, who plays in the outfield for the Chicago White Sox, and who has just received a US$43 million, six-year extension to his contract, even though he has yet to play in the Big Leagues. This contract could extend to eight years and US$75 million if certain goals are met. He is only 22 years old.
Over in the National League, another Dominican, Fernando Tatis, III, the second highest prospect in all of baseball, showed off his talent during Spring Training. At just 20, he was the favorite of the experts at MLB.com. He and Manny Machado will be in the outfield for San Diego this year.
And another Dominican, Victor Robles, will be in the outfield for the Washington Nationals. He had his “cup of coffee” in the big leagues last September when he batted.288/348/525 and had 3 stolen bases and 3 homers during his short stay with the major league club. This year he is slated to be the center fielder for Washington at just 21 years of age.
Read more:
MLB
Diario Libre
1 April 2019