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Los Angeles Dodgers’ Joc Pederson Should Be Considered Top NL Rookie

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Joc Pederson LA Dodgers National League Rookie of the Year

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Most people hadn’t heard of the Los Angeles Dodgers young outfielder prior to the start of the season. All the focus was on Chicago Cubs young phenom Kris Bryant, but at this point it’s Joc Pederson who should be considered as the National League’s top rookie.

While the average is a little low, currently sitting in the high .260s, Pederson’s power statistics are off the charts. The 23-year-old has homered five times in five games, including smashing the year’s longest home run at a whopping 480-feet. His NL second-best 17 home runs leave him tied with Miami Marlins powerhouse Giancarlo Stanton, and just behind Washington Nationals reemerged slugger Bryce Harper’s 18 jacks. Those are some big names to be mentioned with.

Through this point in the season, Bryant and Pederson are the clear front-runners for NL Rookie of the Year. Odds are those two names aren’t leaving the top of the list for the entire season. One reason that puts Pederson ahead of Bryant a quarter way through is the fact that he’s hit ten more home runs. Ten massive home runs. More importantly, while Bryant has a very respectable OPS of .841, Pederson currently totes an OPS of nearly one hundred points higher. His .930 OPS ranks him fifth in the entire National League.

While offense gets the most credit, Pederson’s defensive skills at this point exceed Bryant’s. His four assists to only one error isn’t to be scoffed at, especially for a player who was not seen as a top-ten fielder for his position. The kid can go and get the ball with ease.

There’s a lot of season left to be played. Both of the young guns have very small sample sizes and both have been impressive, but right now it’s the big picture. With nearly identical averages and RBI counts, Pederson’s slight edge defensively and greater power numbers put him at the top of the pack.

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