First impressions are far from everything. No MLB rookie should start writing his Hall of Fame speech after one impressive month.
Patience, however, is a difficult virtue to master early in the season, when successes and failures stand out like giant pimples. Combine the tendency to overreact to April numbers with human instinct to judge someone immediately, and neophytes are especially susceptible to spawning overzealous reactions.
Some fresh faces will enjoy a productive season and career. Others may become a footnote by July if they can’t adapt to the opposition’s adjustments. It’s ultimately too early to know what will become of any first-year players. But since when has that stopped anyone from trying to figure it out?
To stay focused on the true newcomers, let’s look beyond Corey Seager and Steven Matz, who still have rookie eligibility despite debuting last season and participating in the postseason. And while the sample sizes are small for everyone, one start apiece isn’t enough to analyze premier pitching prospects Blake Snell and Jose Berrios.
The following rookies, a majority of whom hail from the National League, have defied all reasonable expectations by starting their MLB careers in outstanding fashion. Let’s dissect the top starts to determine who’s for real.