Dodgers News: Alex Verdugo Makes Top-5 MLB Rookies List
Alex Verdugo is having a great rookie season for the Dodgers. Former Dodgers first baseman, and 1992 NL Rookie of the Year Eric Karros recently listed the outfielder fifth on his top-5 MLB rookies list for Fox Sports.
POWER RANKINGS: Top 5 MLB Rookies according to Eric Karros
1. @Mets 1B Pete Alonso
2. @Braves RHP Mike Soroka
3. @RaysBaseball OF Brandon Lowe
4. @Braves OF Austin Riley
5. @Dodgers OF Alex Verdugo pic.twitter.com/iCOLaG7xLR— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) June 26, 2019
Karros on Verdugo.
What he does for this ball club, he adds something – a swagger – that it didn’t really have.
If Dugie getting his shot has felt like a long time coming, that’s because it has been a long time. Verdugo made his MLB debut back in 2017 as 21 year-old for a 15 game cup of coffee. He added another 37 games in 2018, but still just barely qualified for rookie status in 2019.
77 games into his official rookie campaign, “The Executioner” is batting .300 (71-237) with 7 home runs and 32 RBI, and has added exceptional defense in the outfield. He is fourth in wRC+ and fWAR among NL rookies. Moreover, he is first among all qualified rookies in K%, whiffing only 9.9%, which also paces the Dodgers. That 9.9% is also good for fifth in all of baseball, among qualified batters.
Most importantly, as Karros noted, he’s been a spark plug for this team. Both in the clubhouse, and in the lineup as he continues to make his way up in the batting order.
Vedugo is just nails. Moving him up in the batting order was long overdue. But it’s good to see the Dodgers are finally recognizing he needs to stay in the lineup as much as possible. Now if they would just TRADE Pollock and let Pederson stay in the outfield………….
Verdugo deserves the accolades. I am very impressed with this Dodgers’ Rookie….sometimes I have to remember that he is a “Rookie.” Verdugo is a reliable and talented team player with (just enough) swag that appears to be having fun. Most importantly, he is oftentimes able to come through with that clutch hit. We are fortunate to have Verdugo in our line-up….
My loyalty to all things Dodger Blue has led to a certain bias toward ALL things Blue. Verdugo is my choice for the ROY/2019 award. Yes, there are other players who are also having excellent seasons, but because I see them only sporadically or not at all, I cannot compare AV to anyone else. I like Verdugo’s game : he is cerebral; a good team man; plays fine defense; is a situational hitter; and a fan favorite. I hereby cast one ROY vote for Mr. Alex Verdugo!!!! Go Blue!