NL Rookie of the Year Candidates
The Five Best in the National League in the 2007 Baseball Season
1. Ryan Braun, Milwaukee Brewers (.324 BA, 34 HR, 97 RBI)
Up until the last few weeks of the 2007 season, Ryan Braun was the clear front-runner for the National League Rookie of the Year. At the close of the year, he led all first year N.L. players in batting average and home runs, and he was a key component of a surprise Milwaukee Brewers ball club that, although still very young, stayed in the thick of the race for the National League Central crown until the final weekend of the 2007 season. However, because the Brew Crew failed to make the postseason, Braun may end up losing out to the next guy on this list.
2. Troy Tulowitzki, Colorado Rockies (.295, 24 HR, 99 RBI)
Tulowitzki claims that when he was growing up, his favorite player was Derek Jeter. It's hard to believe that Jeter has been around long enough to receive that honor. But the Yankee shortstop should be proud that he inspired one of the best roookies in baseball to become a shortstop who is good enough to have exceeded almost all of Jeter's 1996 Rookie of the Year numbers. Tulowitzki led all Major League rookies in Runs Batted In with 99, the last of which came in the Rockies 163rd game of the season, a 9-8 win in the instant classic of a one game playoff against the San Diego Padres for the National League wild card.
3. Hunter Pence, Houston Astros (.322 BA, 17 HR, 69 RBI)
Hunter Pence brought a whole lot of spirit, energy, and hope to a franchise that has fallen pretty far over the past two years. The 2005 National League champions may have finished 16 games under .500 and in fourth place, but the team might be able to rebound pretty soon because of Hunter.
The kid was a hitting machine from the moment he was brought up to the Majors on April 28th. Once the front-runner for this award, Hunter's injuries -- along with the play of Braun and Tulowitzki -- have knocked him off the top perch.
4. Tim Lincecum, San Francisco Giants (7-4, 4.00 ERA, 150 Ks)
Watching Tim Lincecum pitch is a lot like seeing a medieval catapult in action. The 170-pound pitcher whips his body in such a fast and smooth motion, and with such precise, controlled ferocity that his fastball routinely tops 95 mph. That heater has led him to 7 wins and 5 losses, more than one strikeout per inning and a solid ERA for a rookie. Although he is a legitimate contender, Tim probably won't overcome the likes of Tulowitzki and Braun. Nevertheless, with Lincecum and Barry Zito, the Giants have two solid starters that could anchor their pitching rotation for years to come.
5. Josh Hamilton, Cincinnati Reds (.292 BA, 19 HR, 47 RBI)
After one of the most famous, and infamous, minor league sagas in history, Josh Hamilton seems to have overcome his demons and is having a great rookie year, batting .292 with 19 home runs and 47 RBI in just 80 games.
This is the same guy who was the Number One Overall Pick by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in 1999. He also won two separate Minor League Player of the Year awards. But Hamilton battled serious drug problems that forced him out of baseball altogether in February of 2004.
Tampa Bay eventually gave up on Hamilton, leaving him unprotected for the 2006 Rule 5 Draft. The Cincinnati Reds gave him one last shot when they selected him with the third overall pick, and Hamilton has responded. Still just 26 years old, Hamilton should have a long, happy career in baseball ahead of him.
Those are the five best first players in the National League. Now it's up to the voters to pick the top young colt. It clearly seems like a two horse race for the trophy between Tulowitzki and Braun.
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