Kris Bryant and Addison Russell have chance to win Rookie of the Year

SHARE Kris Bryant and Addison Russell have chance to win Rookie of the Year
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The Cubs have called up two rookies this season, and both are in line for a chance to win the National League Rookie of the Year award.

Yahoo! sports writer Jeff Passan thinks this 2015 rookie class is one of the deepest that he can remember, which makes it hard to determine a winner this early.

The Yahoo! writer said Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant is the best rookie in the National League, but he might not win the award despite posting historical numbers.

Kris Bryant might not win, either. Seeing as he’s practically a shoo-in to play in the All-Star Game this season, and that it’s well within reach for him to post the 13th .300/.400/.500 season by a rookie in history, that is rather incredible. Currently, Bryant is hitting .301/.409/.492. The dozen in the club that have preceded him: Albert Pujols, the only one in the past 37 years, along with Mitchell Page, Fred Lynn, Minnie Minoso, Ted Williams, Johnny Mize, George Watkins, Paul Waner, Harry Rice, Kiki Cuyler, Benny Kauff and Shoeless Joe Jackson. So, four Hall of Famers, one who should be in and another who will be in. Nice company. Once Bryant’s power stroke gets going – yes, a guy slugging around .500 still hasn’t tapped even close into his power – Bryant’s full menace will reveal itself. He’s still the favorite to be the best rookie in the class, even if…

Passan continues to say, even if Dodgers outfielder Joc Pederson wins the award in the National League this season.

Cubs second baseman Addison Russell has played in only 46 games this season, but still having one of the better starts for a rookie. He’s hitting .247 with 17 RBI and 19 runs-scored. The rookie also is second on the Cubs with 14 doubles.

Addison Russell, one of the great shortstop prospects, needed to slide over to second base. The thinking is Russell eventually will transition back there, though that thought existed – and perished – with Manny Machado winning a Gold Glove at third base in his age-20 season. Russell hasn’t been Pederson or Bryant. Hell, he hasn’t been Gallo or Maikel Franco or Chi Chi Gonzalez or Lance McCullers Jr. This rookie class is so good that someone is bound to be left out.

Only one of them can win the award, but Passan thinks neither Bryant or Russell will win. This doesn’t mean these Cubs rookies aren’t having successful season.

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