Mets' Nolan McLean is a favorite to bring home some valuable hardware

[ASFN Admin]

You must be registered for see images attach

Mets' Nolan McLean is a favorite to bring home some valuable hardware originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Major League Baseball has seen a handful of rookies emerge this season who look like future stars.

Given the star power permeating the American and National Leagues, the Rookie of the Year races will be as contested as the National League Cy Young Award race. With so many rookies deserving, only one can win the award.

New York Mets right-hander Nolan McLean is the favorite to win the National League Rookie of the Year Award​

In a poll conducted by MLB.com of 32 experts, the New York Mets’ Nolan McLean has a strong chance to win the National League Rookie of the Year Award. McLean came in third in the poll with 94 total vote points and received six first-place votes.

More MLB News:Tigers' Kevin McGonigle has the best chance to win the AL ROTY Award

"McLean led the NL rookie class in the first poll, but drops two spots this time," wrote MLB.com's Jason Foster. "He's still plenty good, however. The righty's 82 strikeouts are easily tops among NL rookies, as is his .202 opponents' average, while his 1.11 WHIP was just a tick off the group lead entering Monday. He's coming off consecutive starts allowing just one earned run."

McLean's season totals don't scream Rookie of the Year (3-4 with a 3.98 ERA and 1.11 WHIP), but this is due to a poor showing in May. In six starts, the 24-year-old had a 2-2 record with a 6.10 ERA, seven hit batters and 14 walks in 31.0 innings.

Despite his struggles, McLean is leading all qualified rookie pitchers in the National League in strikeouts (82), batting average against (.202) and is second to Washington Nationals left-hander Foster Griffin in WHIP (1.10). McLean will have a hard time overcoming St. Louis Cardinals infielder JJ Wetherholt (first) and Cincinnati Reds infielder Sal Stewart (second), who play every day and are ahead of him in the pool.

However, if he looks more like the pitcher he was in April (2.37 ERA with a .152 batting average against in 30.1 innings), he could overtake them.

More MLB News:​

• Cubs' three-time All-Star gives blunt critique on his play
• Phillies are predicted to part ways with one of two bench players
• Royals' Bobby Witt Jr. provides a sense of relief after knee injury
• Padres' Manny Machado doesn't mince his words for the team's poor play
• The Phillies adding Mike Trout would be great, but it seems unlikely

Continue reading...