Tracking Awards: 4/16

If the Season Ended Today (BEWARE SMALL SAMPLE SIZE)

AL MVP: Francisco Lindor (CLE): 4 HR, 8 RBI, .349 AVG, 1 SB, 218 wRC+.

Lindor is off to a torrid start, slashing .349/.431/.721 through 11 games with eight of his fifteen hits going for extra bases. He actually started the season with back to back hitless games, meaning he is slashing .405/.465/.838 with four home runs over his last nine games. His biggest game came on April 5th in Texas, when he blasted two home runs while adding a single and a walk and driving in five runs. Since that game, he's gotten a hit in each game and is showing no signs of slowing down.

NL MVP: Zack Cozart (CIN): 1 HR, 7 RBI, .485 AVG, 1 SB, 250 wRC+.

Across the state of Ohio, the Reds have surprised everybody by starting the season 8-4 through twelve games. They won't keep this pace up, but so far, Zack Cozart has been a huge part of making this team go. Appearing in ten of the twelve games, he is leading the major leagues with a .485 batting average as part of an insane .485/.538/.818 slash line, good for a 250 wRC+, the second highest in baseball behind only Eric Thames' 255. Cozart has picked up a hit in each game this season, and he has gotten on base at least twice in eight of his ten games. He may lack home run power, but he has spread his offense around by knocking ten singles, two doubles, three triples, and one home run, with the three triples being the most in the entire MLB.

AL Cy Young: James Paxton (SEA): 2-0, 0.00 ERA, 0.57 WHIP, 22/4 K/BB.

It came down to Paxton and Ervin Santana, but Paxton gets the edge due to the quality of competition he has faced. It's not just that he's the only pitcher yet to allow a run, it's who he has done it against. On April 5th, he started in Houston against arguably baseball's deepest offense, the Houston Astros. No worries, as he tossed six shutout innings on two hits and one walk, striking out five. Five days later, he squared up against that same potent Houston offense, and was even better: over seven shutout innings, he allowed just four hits and two walks while striking out eight. Against another strong offense, that of the Texas Rangers, on April 15th, it was more of the same: over eight shutout innings, he gave up just two hits and one walk while striking out nine. Overall, he has struck out 22 batters over 21 innings while allowing just 12 base runners and no runs. Do not underestimate a fully healthy James Paxton.

NL Cy Young: Noah Syndergaard (NYM): 1-0, 0.95 ERA, 0.84 WHIP, 20/0 K/BB.

It seemed like he was a top prospect forever, and suddenly, since mid-2015, Noah Syndergaard has been one of the very best starting pitchers in baseball. The flame-throwing right hander has met every lofty expectation so far this season. He is yet to allow a walk in 19 inning this season, with just two runs crossing the plate. He tossed six shutout innings against the Braves on Opening Day, allowing five hits and striking out seven. He followed that up with back to back strong starts against the Marlins, allowing one earned run in each while going seven and six innings, respectively. Overall, he has a 0.95 ERA, a 0.84 WHIP, and a beautiful 20/0 strikeout to walk ratio in 19 innings. Among MLB pitchers with more than 12 innings pitched this season, only he and Felix Hernandez (18.1 IP) are yet to allow a walk. 

AL Rookie of the Year: Mitch Haniger (SEA): 3 HR, 7 RBI, .292 AVG, 2 SB, 173 wRC+.

Mitch Haniger had a huge breakout season in the high minors in 2015, then reached the majors and slashed a respectable, if not spectacular, .229/.309/.404 over 34 games. He retains rookie eligibility in 2017, an he has been excellent through 12 games, slashing .292/.393/.542 with three home runs, three doubles, and even a pair of stolen bases for the Mariners. Known more for his power than for his on-base abilities, he has gotten on base in each of his twelve games this season and is currently riding a nine game hitting streak, over which he is slashing .361/.439/.667.

NL Rookie of the Year: Amir Garrett (CIN): 2-0, 1.42 ERA, 0.71 WHIP, 9/2 K/BB.

Zack Cozart hasn't been the only pleasant surprise in Cincinnati this year. Amir Garrett, the former NCAA basketball star over at St. John's, has gained steam as a prospect every year and got his chance out of spring training this year. He had to make his MLB debut against a tough Cardinals lineup in St. Louis, but he dominated them by tossing six shutout innings on two hits and two walks, striking out four. Up against another strong offense, that the Pirates, on April 12th, he allowed two earned runs over 6.2 innings on five hits and no walks, striking out five in Pittsburgh. Overall, he has a 1.42 ERA and a 0.71 WHIP, the latter of which is actually second in the National League to only Clayton Kershaw's 0.70 WHIP.