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Baltimore Orioles infielder Gunnar Henderson. Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

Making their case: AL Rookie of the Year edition

By Michael Carpenter | Last updated 11/13/23

After adding an incentive to encourage teams to promote their top prospects to the majors, 2023 saw an explosion of players making their debuts, leading to rookie classes deeper than in years past.
With the finalists for the 2023 American League Rookie of the Year now set, let's take a look at each player's case for the award.

Tanner Bibee, Cleveland Guardians, pitcher

2023 stats: 10-4, 2.98 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, 141 SO in 142 innings pitched

A member of a promising young Cleveland Guardians rotation that featured two other rookies, Bibee has been lights out since being drafted in 2021.

Making only three starts in Triple-A this season, Bibee made his MLB debut against the Colorado Rockies, going five and two-third innings while allowing only one run and striking out eight.

It was a sign of things to come. He finished with 10 wins while helping pace the Guardians rotation with his 2.98 ERA, which would have been good for a tie for fifth place if he qualified.

Tanner Bibee finishes his season with a 2.98 ERA, 10 wins, and 141 K.

He becomes the 1st CLE rookie with a sub-3.00 ERA, 10+ wins, and 140+ K in nearly 50 years:

Tanner Bibee (2023)
Dennis Eckersley (1975)
Herb Score (1955)
Allie Reynolds (1943)pic.twitter.com/aF5E6OYzM3
— Cleveland Stats (@CLE_STATS) September 18, 2023

While he has a great resume to win the award, it will be tough to beat out some of his competition and is likely he comes home empty-handed.

Triston Casas, Boston Red Sox, first base

2023 stats: .263/.367/.490, 24 HR, 65 RBI, 66 R in 132 games played

After struggling through 76 at-bats in his first taste of the MLB in 2022, Casas continued his cold streak into the 2023 season, starting off the year batting below .200.

But after a few adjustments and some renewed confidence in himself, it's safe to say that is no longer the case.

Slugging 24 home runs and driving in 65 runs for the Red Sox, Casas was one of the few bright spots on a disappointing team and looks like a building block for the future.

Fans got a glimpse of how dominant he can be during a hot streak in July, during which he slashed .348/.442/.758 with 12 XBH and 13 RBI.

Triston Casas has been named a finalist for AL Rookie of the Year.

132 Games - .263/.367/.490/.856 - 24 HR - 21 2B - 65 RBI - 129 OPS+

Here’s every single homer he hit in 2023

pic.twitter.com/Wz44kf6V0e
— Tyler Milliken ⚾️ (@tylermilliken_) November 6, 2023

Casas has virtually no chance to win, but can look at this as recognition of the work he put in to turn around his rookie campaign.

Gunnar Henderson, Baltimore Orioles, shortstop

2023 stats: .255/.325/.489, 28 HR, 82 RBI, 100 R, 10 SB in 150 games played

Opening the year as the favorite to win the Rookie of the Year Award, Henderson was outstanding in his rookie year. He won a Silver Slugger and helped lead the Orioles to their first postseason appearance since 2016.

Owner of one of the sweetest left-handed swings in baseball, Henderson struggled through the first few months of 2023.

Slashing .201/.332/.370 with only 14 XBH in his first 50 games, Henderson rebounded with a .276/.322/.535 slash line with 52 XBH over the last 100 games of the season.

Gunnar Henderson joins some elite company.

Here's every hitter who has won a Silver Slugger Award as a rookie: pic.twitter.com/vKluunGKlT
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) November 9, 2023

Henderson is the favorite to bring home the award and is likely to add to his trophy cabinet.

The AL Rookie of the Year will be announced live on MLB Network at 6 p.m. ET on Nov. 13.

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