Pirates' Konnor Griffin is a favorite to bring home some valuable hardware

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Pirates' Konnor Griffin 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.

Pittsburgh Pirates Konnor Griffin is the favorite to win the National League Rookie of the Year Award​

In a poll conducted by MLB.com of 32 experts, Pittsburgh Pirates rookie Konnor Griffin finished fourth in the poll behind New York Mets right-hander Nolan McLean (third), Cincinnati Reds infielder Sal Stewart (second) and St. Louis Cardinals infielder JJ Wetherholt (first). The 20-year-old received 70 total vote points and three first-place votes, while Wetherholt received 120 total vote points and 13 first-place votes.

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"Griffin, who also placed fourth in the first ROY poll, was plugging right along as a productive hitter for the Pirates before a forearm strain sidelined him at the end of May," wrote MLB.com's Jason Foster. "He had been heating up, too, hitting .321 over his last 14 games before the injury. Griffin's .270 average leads NL rookies with at least 150 plate appearances, while his 14 stolen bases are most among all MLB rookies."

Griffin has performed well this season, batting .270 (second among qualified rookies in the National League), is the leader in stolen bases (14) and is tied with Philadelphia Phillies center fielder Justin Crawford for the lead in triples (two).

Even though Griffin has had success, his chances to win the Rookie of the Year Award are fading away as he sits on the injured list with a right forearm strain. With no timetable for return, players like Wetherholt, Stewart and McLean will run away with their leads.

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