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Player of the series: Alex Verdugo

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Verdugo goes 7-for-14 with two home runs at Coors Field

By craigminami
MLB: Los Angeles Dodgers at Colorado Rockies Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

The player of the series against the Rockies is Dodger outfielder Alex Verdugo. Verdugo started the first three games of the series and he went 7-for-14 with two home runs and a walk. He also scored five runs and drove in four runs.

Verdugo carries a .311/.360/.506 stat line in 278 plate appearances into July. He did go nearly two months with only one home run between April 25th and June 21st. However, he hit two home runs last weekend against the Rockies at Dodger Stadium and he repeated that this past weekend at Coors Field.

Verdugo also has 3.0 bWAR as he begins July. Currently, he is in select company as an LA Dodger Rookie who has 3.0 or more bWAR.

LA Dodger Rookies with 3.0+ WAR

Player PA WAR/pos Year▲ Age G AB R H HR RBI BB SO BA OBP SLG
Player PA WAR/pos Year▲ Age G AB R H HR RBI BB SO BA OBP SLG
Jim Lefebvre 631 4.6 1965 23 157 544 57 136 12 69 71 92 .250 .337 .369
Ted Sizemore 650 4.2 1969 24 159 590 69 160 4 46 45 40 .271 .328 .342
Billy Grabarkewitz 640 6.5 1970 24 156 529 92 153 17 84 95 149 .289 .399 .454
Ron Cey 595 4.0 1973 25 152 507 60 124 15 80 74 77 .245 .338 .385
Davey Lopes 615 3.5 1973 28 142 535 77 147 6 37 62 77 .275 .352 .351
Steve Sax 699 3.3 1982 22 150 638 88 180 4 47 49 53 .282 .335 .359
Mike Piazza 602 7.0 1993 24 149 547 81 174 35 112 46 86 .318 .370 .561
Yasiel Puig 432 4.7 2013 22 104 382 66 122 19 42 36 97 .319 .391 .534
Corey Seager 687 5.9 2016 22 157 627 105 193 26 72 54 133 .308 .365 .512
Cody Bellinger 548 4.2 2017 21 132 480 87 128 39 97 64 146 .267 .352 .581
Alex Verdugo 278 3.0 2019 23 80 251 32 78 9 37 20 27 .311 .360 .506

Verdugo may find his path to that award more difficult because of the outstanding seasons being put together by three other young NL position player rookies in 2019.

NL Rookies with 2.4+ bWAR 

Player PA WAR/pos Age G R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB IBB SO SB CS BA OBP SLG
Player PA WAR/pos Age G R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB IBB SO SB CS BA OBP SLG
Pete Alonso 350 3.5 24 83 53 84 18 2 28 62 35 0 88 1 0 .278 .371 .629
Alex Verdugo 278 3.0 23 80 32 78 18 2 9 37 20 1 27 4 0 .311 .360 .506
Fernando Tatis Jr. 200 2.8 20 47 39 59 9 4 11 28 19 0 58 12 3 .335 .405 .619
Bryan Reynolds 222 2.4 24 59 34 71 17 2 6 28 19 0 47 0 1 .357 .419 .553

Verdugo is the only one performing at this level while also being a member of a first place team. It is certainly possible that this season will only be the third season in National League history (since 1876) when the National League had three rookie position players with a 4.0 or higher bWAR.

  • In 1964, Richie Allen, Rico Carty and Jim Ray Hart were the players with Allen’s 8.8 bWAR season leading to his Rookie of the Year award
  • In 2015, Kris Bryant, Matt Duffy and Odúbel Herrera all had bWARs that were 4.0 or higher. Bryant would be named Rookie of the Year as he had 6.1 bWAR for the Cubs that season

The American League has had only three seasons in their history, dating back to 1901, where they had three rookie position players with 4.0 or higher bWAR.

Verdugo and the rest of his teammates will have Monday off as they get ready for their last home stand before the All-Star break.

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