Predicting the 2019 Season: The Rookies of the Year

Honestly, as a self-professed Prospect Humper, I think this award is the most fun to watch for, and to predict. The American League and National League Rookie of the Year Awards! Who will be the next Miguel Andujar (because we know Shohei Ohtani did not deserve the award) or Ronald Acuna in 2019?

In the American League, I think it would be silly for anyone to pick against Vladimir Guerrero Jr. of the Toronto Blue Jays. I know that’s the general consensus and the safe pick, but this kid is uber-talented and will get every opportunity to make it at the MLB level this season. Toronto may opt to start Vlad Jr. in the Minor Leagues to start the season, and to manipulate his service time, but once that deadline clock runs out you can guarantee that he will be with the big-league club. Vlad Jr., unlike Andujar last season, has the ability to learn the position on the fly as well given that he is on a losing team that can afford to take their time and be patient with their young stud. Andujar had to hit his way onto the team and into the spotlight, and he did just that in 2018. Vlad Jr. will do that very same thing here in 2019.

Now while I went with the safe pick in the American League, I cannot do the same in the National League. I think many are picking Victor Robles of the Washington Nationals, but I am going to go with Fernando Tatis Jr. of the San Diego Padres. Why is this a bold pick and not a safe pick? Well, Tatis has never played above Double-A ball during his professional career and may end up spending half the season in the minor leagues. You know what I say to that? So what? Tatis Jr. has destroyed Double-A pitching and destroyed Dominican Winter League pitching this season as well. His bat is ready, and the Padres are ready to call him up and let him learn at the MLB level alongside Manny Machado sooner rather than later. You don’t sign a guy like Machado for 10-years to take your time with guys like Tatis in Triple-A. If he produces, and history says that he will, he will be in San Diego by mid-to-late June in my opinion.