3 bold predictions for the 2nd-half of the Reds 2023 season

2. Bold prediction for 2nd-half of Reds 2023 season: 4 players finish in Top 5 of NL Rookie of the Year voting.

In any other year, the Cincinnati Reds would have the odds-on favorite to win the National League Rookie of the Year. Unfortunately for a quartet of first-year players, Corbin Carroll is making a play for both the NL Rookie of the Year Award and the NL MVP.

But that doesn't mean that Cincinnati's rookie class will miss out all together on recognition when the awards are announced. Elly De La Cruz, Spencer Steer, Matt McLain, and Andrew Abbott will all place among the Top 5 in the NL Rookie of the Year voting.

That would be quite the feat, but a deeper dive into the rookie stats would show just how dominant the Reds group of first-year players has been. Among all rookies with 30 or more games played, De La Cruz, McLain, and Steer rank among the Top 5 in OPS.

Only Corbin Carroll and Francisco Alvarez have more home runs than Spencer Steer. Both Steer and McLain are among the Top 5 in doubles among NL rookies this season. Steer leads all National League rookies with 51 RBIs, and in 56 fewer games, Elly De La Cruz is just 10 stolen bases behind Carroll.

On the pitching side of things, several Reds hurlers have made their MLB debut in 2023, but no one has been more dominant than Andrew Abbott. The left-hander, in just seven starts, already ranks seventh in strikeouts among rookies, and his minuscule ERA of 2.38 is second to only Eury Perez of the Miami Marlins among first-year pitchers with at least five starts.

It would take an overwhelming effort on the part of Elly De La Cruz, Matt McLain, or Spencer Steer to overcome Corbin Carroll, but these Cincinnati Reds players could finish 2-3-4-5 in the NL Rookie of the Year voting.