AL Rookie of the Year Power Rankings: Abreu smashing records with historic season
Every week until the end of the season, we'll take a look at the top first-year players in the American League and size up their candidacy for the Rookie of the Year.
AL Rookie of the Year Power Rankings
| Rank | Player | Team | Prev. Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jose Abreu | White Sox | 1 |
Abreu's game-tying home run on Saturday put the 27-year-old among the game's elite. The blast enshrined the Cuban as the fourth player all-time - and first since Albert Pujols in 2001 - to hit at least 30 doubles, 30 home runs and 100 RBI in their rookie season.
While Abreu hasn't smashed the ball out of the park the way he did to start the season - he belted 27 home runs in his first 73 games - he arguably has become a more complete hitter. Since July 1, Abreu is slashing .361/.438/.560 with 10 home runs and 39 RBIs.
| Rank | Player | Team | Prev. Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Matt Shoemaker | Angels | 2 |
Angels manager Mike Scioscia credited Shoemaker for "saving our season," a credit to the right-hander's performance following season-ending injuries to both Tyler Skaggs and Garrett Richards.
Since the pair went down, Shoemaker owns a 6-0 record to go with a 1.13 ERA and 31 strike outs in 40 innings.
The 27-year-old currently sits second in the AL with 16 wins, though a mild oblique strain will cost him his next start.
| Rank | Player | Team | Prev. Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | Dellin Betances | Yankees | 3 |
Betances has gotten more than 50 percent of batters out in 2014 via the K (132 of 263 outs) and broke Mariano Rivera's team record of 130 strikeouts in a season as a reliever on Wednesday.
The 26-year-old, who owns a ridiculous rate of 13.6 strikeouts per nine innings, has allowed just two runs over his last 24 innings, while holding opponents to a .157 average.
| Rank | Player | Team | Prev. Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | Masahiro Tanaka | Yankees | 4 |
Tanaka finally appears poised to make a return to the mound after being sidelined since July 8.
The right-hander is tentatively slated to start Sunday against the Toronto Blue Jays, but the standings will likely determine whether or not manager Joe Girardi risks sending his $155-million arm to the mound.
Tanaka is third among AL rookies with 12 wins despite making just 18 starts.
| Rank | Player | Team | Prev. Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | Yordano Ventura | Royals | N/R |
A forgettable week for Blue Jays pitcher Marcus Stroman has him replaced in the rankings by another right-hander wearing blue and white.
Ventura has thrust himself into contention after going 4-1 with a 1.95 ERA over his last five starts for the Royals and now sits second among AL rookies in wins with 13.
The hard-throwing righty set a Royals' rookie record with his 10th straight quality start on Wednesday, an outing that saw him throw 74 fastballs to White Sox hitters at an average speed of 98 mph.