Top 10 MLB Rookie Rankings 2023-2024

Ranking the best rookies in baseball right now in the MLB Rookie Rankings for the 2023 MLB Season as Gunnar Henderson leads the way

By admin | May 16, 2023

MLB Rookie of the Year 2023

The last stretch run of the 2023 MLB season has arrived as MLB teams fight for playoff spots and MLB players continue to add to their MLB resumes. This includes the next wave of young MLB rookies who have made their way to their respective MLB teams this season while playing a key role on their rosters. As you look around at the Top 10 MLB Rookie Rankings 2023-2024 list is loaded with a ton of talent across both the American League and National League. One of those top MLB rookies from the 2023 MLB season is the Baltimore Orioles infielder Gunnar Henderson.

Gunnar Henderson is one of the many bright spots for the Orioles. Anchoring down within an Orioles roster who is headed to the 2023 MLB playoffs. Entering the final few weeks of the MLB regular season, Henderson who has played both shortstop and third base is a front runner to take home the American League Rookie of the Year Award.

Meanwhile Corbin Carroll of the Arizona Diamondbacks and Elly De La Cruz of the Cincinnati Reds join the Orioles rookie among the list of the best MLB rookies this season. Other top MLB rookies include starting pitcher Kodai Senga of the New York Mets and third baseman Josh Jung of the Texas Rangers. Here is a look at the Top 10 MLB Rookie Rankings 2023-2024.

Honorable Mention

Grayson Rodriguez

Team: Baltimore Orioles

Position: Starting Pitcher

Previous Ranking: Unranked

Another MLB rookie making a strong push to rank among the best rookies in baseball is the Baltimore Orioles Grayson Rodriguez. As the baby birds and the youth rush has pushed the Orioles into a playoff caliber team this season, Rodriguez has been one of the bright rookies on the team while joining potential AL Rookie of the Year Gunnar Henderson as key contributors all season.

The Orioles starter has pitched to a 6-4 record on the year while striking out 117 batters and posting a 4.53 earned run average.

However, over the second half of the season Rodriguez has ranked among the best rookie pitchers in baseball while allowing two or fewer runs in seven starts with at least five innings pitched and pitching to a 2.59 earned run average since his return in July.

James Outman

Team: Los Angeles Dodgers

Position: Center Fielder

Previous Ranking: #10

Just missing the Top 10 MLB Rookies 2023-2024 Rankings list is the Los Angeles Dodgers second baseman James Outman. The 26 year old second baseman who is in his first full season with the Dodgers after appearing in four games at the end of the 2022 MLB season last year.

The 26 year old outfielder is currently hitting .243 on the season with 21 home runs and 66 runs batted in while posting a .779 OPS mark

Currently Outman ranks eighth in home runs and seventh in runs batted in among the top MLB rookies during the 2023 MLB season.

Top 10 MLB Rookie Rankings

10. Royce Lewis

Team: Minnesota Twins

Position: Third Baseman

Previous Ranking: Unranked

Coming in at number 10 on the Top 10 MLB Rookies 2023-2024 Rankings is the Minnesota Twins rookie third baseman Royce Lewis. Lewis is one MLB rookie who has gone under the radar outside of Minnesota along with the Twins fan base.

Nonetheless it is hard to look past the performance of Lewis this season as he put together a strong season at the plate.

Since arriving at the big leagues this season Lewis is hitting .309 on the season with 67 total hits including seven doubles, 15 home runs while driving in 52 runs while appearing in just 58 total games. A full season at the plate may have had Lewis in the running for the AL Rookie of the Year Award.

9. J.P. France

Team: Houston Astros

Position: Starting Pitcher

Previous Ranking: Unranked

Another unknown MLB rookie entering the season who put together a strong season is the Houston Astros starter J.P. France. France has turned into a solid starting pitcher among the Astros rotation this season while pitching to a 3.84 earned run average over 131.1 innings of work this season.

The Astros starter ranks among the top MLB rookie leaders 2023 list in multiple pitching statistics including total wins with 11 as well as inning pitched (131.1) and strikeouts recorded (96).

The strong rookie performance currently has played a key role in the Astros push to take home the AL West title and a spot in the MLB playoffs.

8. Triston Casas

Team: Boston Red Sox

Position: First Baseman

Previous Ranking: Unranked

Over the years the Boston Red Sox continue to turn out top tier talented rookies including this year’s AL Rookie of the Year candidate Triston Casas. Casas ranks among the top young first baseman in all of baseball while also ranking among the best rookies in baseball in most offensive statistics.

The 23 year old first baseman is just one of many young talented MLB rookies under the age of 25 putting together big seasons this year. Across 429 at bats through September 20th, 2023, Casas is currently hitting .263 on the season with 24 home runs and 65 runs batted in.

Overall, the Red Sox rookie is ranked third among rookies in home runs, eighth in runs batted in as well as 11th in doubles with 22.

7. Tanner Bibee

Team: Cleveland Guardians

Position: Starting Pitcher

Previous Ranking: Honorable Mention

Joining both J.P. France and Kodai Senga among the best rookie pitchers over the 2023 MLB season is the Cleveland Guardians Tanner Bibee. Bibee has been a bright spot among the Guardians pitching rotation all season while posting strong numbers in his first MLB season.

Currently Bibee has pitched to a 2.98 earned run average over his first 25 starts of the season while recording 141 strikeouts while posting a 3.6 Wins Above Replacement (WAR) mark.

Among qualified rookies the Guardians young starter ranks tied for third in wins with 10 and second in earned run average (2.98) among rookie starters with at least 20 games started this season.

6. Spencer Steer

Team: Pittsburgh Pirates

Position: First Baseman

Previous Ranking: 6

While most of the hype and attention has been on Elly De La Cruz of the Cincinnati Reds, another Reds rookie Spencer Steer is also well worth mentioning and consideration for the National League Rookie of the Year Award.

The Reds power hitting rookie first baseman currently sits among the league leaders among rookies in multiple statistics including ranking seventh in home runs with 22, second in doubles with 33, and first with 82 runs batted in.

The future looks bright for the Reds who have multiple young players who have the potential to turn in to MLB All-Stars all within the next few MLB seasons.

5. Kodai Senga

Team: New York Mets

Position: Starting Pitcher

Previous Ranking: #8

Rounding out the Top 5 on the Top 10 MLB Rookies 2023-2024 Rankings is the New York Mets rookie Kodai Senga. While Senga is older than your typical rookie in baseball it is his first season pitching in the MLB after signing with the Mets during the off-season.

Senga who put together a strong career pitching within the Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) league turned that success into a big MLB contract while also putting together a strong first season within Major League Baseball.

Overall, on the year Senga has pitched to a 12-7 record for the Mets while pitching to a 2.96 earned run average and striking out 194 total batters.

4. Josh Jung

Team: Texas Rangers

Position: Third Baseman

Previous Ranking: #2

Prior to suffering a thumb injury, the Texas Rangers third baseman Josh Jung was in route to possibly taking home the AL Rookie of the Year Award. Despite a setback however, Jung has returned to the Rangers lineup while continuing to produce at a high level among the best rookies in baseball.

Jung, who made the AL All-Star team this season in his first full season in the Majors, is putting together a strong first full season. Over 441 at bats this season Jung has picked up 122 total hits including 24 doubles and 23 home runs while also adding 70 runs batted in and 122 total hits.

A strong finish to the 2023 MLB season could have Jung chasing other top AL rookies for the AL Rookie of the Year Award.

3. Elly De La Cruz

Team: Cincinnati Reds

Position: Third Baseman

Previous Ranking: Unranked

The Elly De La Cruz hype train has been marvelous for the game of baseball all season while the Cincinnati Reds third baseman has put energy within the organization and the fan base.

De La Cruz has all the tools to be a top tier player in baseball for many years to come while being a game changer at the plate, in the field as well as on the base paths. Despite appearing in just 90 games this season, the Reds rookie has picked up 14 doubles, six triples, 11 home runs and 36 runs batted in over just 355 at bats.

In addition, De La Cruz has recorded 29 stolen bases while also hitting for the cycle all during his rookie season. A full season of De La Cruz will deliver some fireworks for the game of baseball.

2. Corbin Carroll

Team: Arizona Diamondbacks

Position: Left Fielder

Previous Ranking: #1

The Arizona Diamondbacks center field has put together a strong MLB resume across his first full season while playing himself potentially into the National League Rookie of the Year Award.

Carroll continues to rank among the leaders of all the rookies in a wide range of offensive statistics including home runs, doubles, runs batted in, hits, and stolen bases. Currently the Diamondbacks outfielder is hitting .286 on the season with 227 doubles, nine triples, 25 home runs and 73 runs batted in.

Furthermore, the speedy center fielder has posted 50 stolen bases while scoring 109 runs while helping the Diamondbacks fight for an NL Wild Card spot.

1. Gunnar Henderson

Team: Baltimore Orioles

Position: Third Baseman & Shortstop

Previous Ranking: 5

In at number one is the Baltimore Orioles infielder Gunnar Henderson. He has played both shortstop and third base at times this season. Henderson has been brilliant both at the plate and in the field while producing fireworks all season long.

Currently Henderson is the front runner for the AL Rookie of the Year. He’s continuing to be a young leader on an Orioles team fighting for an AL East division title.

The O’s infielder has put together a highlight reel of defensive gems all season at both shortstop and third base. Meanwhile at the plate Henderson has picked up 27 doubles, nine triples, and 27 home runs while driving in 80 runs on the year.

How would you rank these players in the 2023 MLB season? Rank below to be added in the MLB Rookie Power Rankings.