Storyline: MLB rookies stole the show during MLB’s opening week of play. Will they continue the torrid pace?
It’s the opening week in baseball and, so far, it looks like 2016 will be the Year of the Rookie. If you got excited about last year’s rookies, then be prepared for even more excitement!
Trevor Story of the Colorado Rockies (photo, purplerow.com)
2016 rookies have taken the league by storm. The guy who has generated the most buzz is Trevor Story of the Colorado Rockies. Story is off to a historic start, hitting .368 with 6 homers and 11 RBIs in his first four games. It doesn’t appear that the team is missing his Rockies’ predecessor, Jose Reyes.
But Story isn’t the only rookie putting up big numbers. Joey Rickard of the Orioles is also making waves. Rickard had a great Spring Training, which made it almost impossible for the Orioles to keep him off of the Opening Day roster. And the O’s made the right move. Rickard has registered a hit in each if his first four games and launched a home run, too.
And there’s more! On Friday night, rookie Trevor Brown of the San Francisco Giants hit a game-winning home run against the LA Dodgers.
Rookie pitchers have also made an impact. The Los Angeles Dodgers have not just one, but two, rookie pitchers off to great starts. Japanese newcomer, Kenta Maeda, pitched 6 2/3 innings of shutout ball in his first career start. He also showed that he can rake, hitting a homer in his debut.
Ross Stripling of the LA Dodgers (photo, dodgers.mlblogs.com)
Not to be outdone, rookie hurler, Ross Stripling, pitched 7 1/3 innings of no-hit baseball in his MLB debut. How amazing is that for a guy who had never taken the mound in a MLB regular-season game! If these guys solidify themselves behind Clayton Kershaw, then the Dodgers are certainly World Series contenders.
In a word, this year’s crop of newcomers is spectacular.
I personally think it’s good for the game because rookies bring flare and vibe to the diamond. That can attract new fans, which is a main goal of any sport.
If last year’s rookies were any indication of how much newcomers can impact the game, then we’re in for a double treat this year.
