St. Louis Cardinals: Three Rookie of the Year candidates for 2020

PHOENIX, ARIZONA - SEPTEMBER 25: Randy Arozarena #66 of the St. Louis Cardinals safely steals home against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the fourth inning of the MLB game at Chase Field on September 25, 2019 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Jennifer Stewart/Getty Images)
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - SEPTEMBER 25: Randy Arozarena #66 of the St. Louis Cardinals safely steals home against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the fourth inning of the MLB game at Chase Field on September 25, 2019 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Jennifer Stewart/Getty Images) /
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St. Louis Cardinals
CLEVELAND, OHIO – JULY 07: Dylan Carlson #8 of the Nationals League team runs out an RBI single during the forth inning against the American league team during the All-Stars Futures Game at Progressive Field on July 07, 2019 in Cleveland, Ohio. The American and National League teams tied 2-2. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) /

Dylan Carlson, OF

Man, we really need some new Dylan Carlson pictures. Of the three players in this article, the clear favorite of anyone to break out and establish himself in the league in 2020 is Dylan Carlson. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again and again: Dylan Carlson should be the starting left fielder on Opening Day 2020.

Some experts say that Carlson won’t make it into the league until mid-year or even September of 2020, but I think that would be a waste. The Cardinals’ number one prospect has nothing left to prove at AAA.

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Starting the 2020 season in AA, Carlson, hit a .281/.364/.518 slash line with 21 homers and 18 steals in 108 games at the age of 20. This almost-20/20 AA stint led to Carlson being promoted to AAA for the final 18 games of the season where he got even hotter and had a 1.098 OPS with five homers, four RBIs, and two steals in the final 79 plate-appearances of his 2019 season.

Carlson played all positions in the outfield in 2019 and even made himself serviceable at center field after being drafted as a first baseman/corner outfielder. He is the highest rising prospect almost in all of baseball after the year he just turned in as Carlson begun the 2019 season ranked outside MLB’s top 100 prospects and now sits at #24.

Carlson’s work ethic and baseball IQ is responsible for this jump and the switch hitter earned a trip to the 2019 Futures Game as well.

Given the depth of Carlson’s talent at so many different areas, he would be my first pick for the player to break out in 2019 and compete for the Rookie of the Year award.

Next. Andrew Knizner needs more playing time. dark

Any of these three players have the chance to be long term MLB contributors, but they will only be a rookie once. Carlson might be everyone’s first guess to have any chance at a Rookie of the Year award, but if Arozarena or Helsley get ample opportunity, they shouldn’t be counted out either.