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We’ve spent the last two years saying goodbye to legends like Mariano Rivera and Derek Jeter, but it seems as if the future of Major League Baseball is in good hands still. You’ve got Mike Trout and Bryce Harper leading the way, of course, but even with their youth, at this point they’re veterans. Behind them, though, introduced this season, is a slate of rookies who are helping to power the present and future of the game. They aren’t the only rookies succeeding, but they’re the ones making the most noise just days before MLB’s draft.
Joc Pederson, drafted in the 11th round in 2010, has 17 homers and has tied a Dodgers’ record by homering in five consecutive games. He’s batting .267/.393/.606, and the 23-year-old has made last summer’s debut struggles a distant memory. Joey Gallo, just 21 and drafted 39th overall three Junes ago, debuted on Tuesday and already has two homers in the bigs, including an upper-deck shot from Wednesday. He’ll struggle eventually, as there is a lot of swing-and-miss in his game, but the Rangers will take this shot in the arm while Adrian Beltre is on the DL. It’s been 43 games since 2013’s second-overall pick Kris Bryant debuted, and he’s batting .270/.382/.459 with seven homers: one wonders what the third-place Cubs’ record would be if he had been called up sooner.
It’s not all hitters or drafted players making an impact. International free agent Eduardo Rodriguez, just 22 years old and signed in 2010, debuted for the Red Sox last week in what was supposed to be a spot start, but he dominated so thoroughly they decided to give him another. Through those two starts, he’s allowed one run while striking out a batter per inning, while only walking two. He’ll take his lumps eventually -- he’s not as smooth out of the stretch as he is the windup -- but he’ll get his chance to take them, since the Sox can’t afford to send him back to Triple-A.
- The introduction of young talent like Joey Gallo creates the happiest of baseball fantasies, while on the other side of things, David Wright’s back injury is a serious downer for the imagination.
- The Mariners acquired Mark Trumbo, which might be one of the most Jack Z moves ever.
- Could Cole Hamels help the Red Sox? Of course, he’d help anyone. But the Red Sox are already wasting the ace they have, and until they start scoring runs like they should, then Hamels isn’t any kind of answer.
- Josh Hamilton’s return has been a happy, productive one, but now it’s delayed once more, as he’s hit the DL with a hamstring strain.
- Justin Upton, Alex Gordon, Jacoby Ellsbury, Ryan Braun, Andrew McCutchen, Troy Tulowitzki, and Ryan Zimmerman were all drafted in 2005’s first round, and MLB put together an oral history of the before, during, and after of that moment in time.
- The Padres could be buyers at the trade deadline. They could be sellers. They could be both!
- The Braves want bullpen upgrades, but they aren’t interested in giving up anything of value for them.
- MLB admitted they botched a call during Tuesday’s Royals game, which doesn’t do anything to help the Royals, really, except let Ned Yost walk around going, “I knew it!”
- Wednesday was the six-year anniversary of the Nate McLouth trade between the Braves and Pirates, which got our Braves‘ and Pirates’ sites talking about the Nate McLouth trade, six years later.
- What’s the matter with Robinson Cano? It’s year two of his mega-deal with the Mariners, and he’s batting .244/.286/.330, at a cost of $24 million.
- Hector Olivera will make his pro debut on Thursday with Double-A Tulsa, meaning he’s not all that far from the Dodgers already.
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