Rookie of the Year rankings: Yoshida, Jung mashing; Carroll vs. Outman

Welcome to the first edition of theScore's 2023 Rookie of the Year rankings, where we pick five top candidates from each league. Odds courtesy Barstool Sportsbook and theScore Bet.

American League

5. Yennier Cano, Orioles

Relievers don't usually get much recognition for individual awards because they don't have as much impact as position players or starting pitchers. However, Cano has been almost perfect this year - literally. The Orioles right-hander has allowed just one hit, and he's plunked one batter over 10 appearances. Opposing hitters have a minuscule .028 batting average against the 29-year-old. The sample size is still small, but Cano looks like he could become one of the most dominant setup men in baseball behind Felix Bautista in Baltimore.

4. Anthony Volpe, Yankees

Volpe received plenty of hype when he made the Yankees out of spring training, and the former top prospect looks like he belongs in the majors. The 22-year-old shortstop has the third-most steals in baseball among rookies, and he's also accrued a solid 1.6 defensive rating, according to FanGraphs. Volpe has amassed the most fWAR among first-year players in the AL, but his overall slash line doesn't scream Rookie of the Year favorite just yet.

3. Masataka Yoshida, Red Sox

Yoshida has gone on a tear in the last few weeks that's resulted in his stock rising significantly. He's currently riding a 13-game hitting streak that has seen him put up eight multi-hit contests. The Red Sox outfielder now leads all qualified AL rookies with a .906 OPS, thanks to the hot stretch. He's also put up a 148 wRC+, which is second among first-year players in the junior circuit. Unfortunately, Yoshida's defense is keeping his fWAR down in relation to other rookies competing for the award. He currently sits with minus-4 in defensive runs saved.

2. Josh Jung, Rangers

The reigning AL Rookie of the Month leads all freshmen in homers and RBIs. He's also tied for third in hits and has the fourth-best slugging percentage among qualified rookies. The third baseman has already had several big moments for the Rangers, including his first career grand slam against the Yankees on Sunday and two separate multi-homer games. The 25-year-old still needs to improve his plate discipline. He's struck out 38 times to just seven walks.

1. Hunter Brown, Astros

The Astros just keep churning out quality starting pitchers. Houston's former top prospect has been the best hurler in the club's rotation so far. Brown's production has also helped the team recover from the loss of Justin Verlander. The right-hander has logged the most amount of innings pitched, is first in strikeouts, and is tops among all freshmen in fWAR. He's also third in ERA and fourth in opponents' batting average among qualified rookies.

National League

5. Brett Baty, Mets

The sample size is very small for Baty, so the jury is still out on if the prized prospect can sustain this type of production for a long period of time. However, he's torn the cover off the ball since his promotion in mid-April. It's taken the 23-year-old just 14 games to get into the top five in fWAR among rookies in the NL. He also owns a 139 wRC+, which is second only to James Outman. Baty should be on this list for the rest of the season if he stays in the majors.

4. Blake Sabol, Giants

The Giants catcher has come out of nowhere with a solid start to the season and his big-league career after a blazing spring that saw him post a 1.105 OPS over 20 Cactus League contests. Sabol's five round-trippers rank second among rookies in the NL, and his .758 OPS ranks eighth. The 25-year-old Sabol has accrued three DRS behind the plate. The development has been a nice surprise since the position has been a black hole for the club after the retirement of Buster Posey.

3. Miguel Vargas, Dodgers

The Dodgers' minor-league system continues to pump life into the major-league club. Vargas found a more prominent role on the team after Gavin Lux went down in the spring with a season-ending injury, and the 23-year-old hasn't looked out of place. He's got the third-best on-base percentage among qualified NL rookies and is tied with Carroll for the lead with eight doubles. Vargas has also walked 18 times to just 22 strikeouts.

2. Corbin Carroll, Diamondbacks

Carroll was the NL Rookie of the Year favorite heading into the 2023 campaign, and he's certainly delivered on the lofty expectations. The D-Backs outfielder is either first or second in almost every significant offensive stat among first-year players. The 22-year-old is arguably the fastest player in baseball, ranking in the 100th percentile in sprint speed. Carroll would be the overwhelming favorite to win if it wasn't for a surprising Dodgers candidate.

1. James Outman, Dodgers

Outman was rewarded for his monster start to the season with NL Rookie of the Month honors for April. The 25-year-old leads all NL freshmen in homers, runs, RBIs, OBP, slugging, and OPS. He's also recorded the best wRC+ (163) and fWAR. Outman's speed has been on display, too. He's stolen four bases and recorded three triples already. L.A.'s vaunted system looks like it has produced another gem just as critics circled the team's outfield depth as an issue heading into 2023.