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4 surprising rookies who are lighting MLB on fire

Jennifer Buchanan / USA TODAY Sports

The first three weeks of the 2017 Major League Baseball season have come and gone, and while American League Rookie of the Year favorite Andrew Benintendi is tearing the cover off the ball to the tune of a .347/.415/.444 slash line, a number of other youngsters in their first big-league seasons are surprisingly taking the game by storm.

Who are these kids? Where did they come from?

Let's take a look at four surprising rookies who are lighting MLB on fire.

Matt Davidson

Age: 26 B/T: R/R
Position: Third base
Drafted 35th overall by Arizona in 2009

Prior to the 2017 season, Davidson had gotten a taste of big-league action in 2013 and 2016 - a combined 32 games - but this year he's found his groove for the rebuilding White Sox. Acquired from the Diamondbacks in 2013 for Addison Reed, Davidson is hitting .368/.375/.789 with four home runs, and his 14 RBIs are tied for the team lead with Avisail Garcia. One thing working against the youngster, though, is the presence of Todd Frazier and his $12-million salary, which could limit Davidson's playing time.

Antonio Senzatela

Age: 22 B/T: R/R
Position: Pitcher
Signed as an amateur free agent by Colorado in 2011

One of the biggest surprises of the Rockies' hot start to the season is the effectiveness of their starting rotation, even with ace Jon Gray and four-year vet Chad Bettis out of action. A lot of that has to do with Senzatela, who is a perfect 3-0 with a 2.08 ERA through four starts. The Venezuelan rookie has gone seven innings in three of his four starts and has earned wins over the San Francisco Giants in his last two outings.

Mitch Haniger

Age: 26 B/T: R/R
Position: Outfielder
Drafted 38th overall by Milwaukee in 2012

What may be even more surprising than Haniger's actual performance to begin the season (.321/.430/.590 in 78 at-bats) is that before breaking out with the Seattle Mariners, he had been traded twice. Haniger was dealt from the Milwaukee Brewers to the Diamondbacks as part of a deal for Gerardo Parra in 2014, and was an additional piece in the Jean Segura-Taijuan Walker trade this past offseason. Jerry Dipoto is looking like a genius right now, with Haniger sporting a 1.020 OPS in his first 20 games.

Amir Garrett

Age: 24 B/T: R/L
Position: Pitcher
Drafted 685th overall by Cincinnati in 2011

Garrett could have pursued a career in professional basketball after being named a four-star recruit and playing for St. John's University, but he instead chose baseball. Good choice so far. The strapping 6-foot-5 southpaw had looked unhittable through his first three starts in the bigs, posting a 1.83 ERA with 21 strikeouts in 19 2/3 innings before the Brewers figured him out on Monday. While his 94-mph heater is tough to deal with, his changeup and slider have been filthy. Prior to his first bad performance Monday, Garrett had allowed just 14 hits, with only 34.7 percent of them coming on hard contact. If Garrett can shake off Monday's rough start, the Reds might have a star in the making.

(Photos courtesy: Action Images)

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