The Cleveland Guardians have a legitimate AL Rookie of the Year candidate, though it might not be the one many fans and analysts expected. While Chase DeLauter and Travis Bazzana have performed well making their debuts in the lineup, returning pitcher Parker Messick has emerged as one of the best starters in the league.
Messick gained a lot of valuable experience last season, when he was promoted in August to help out the rotation during the pennant race. But because he did not pitch in more than 50 innings, he was able to maintain his rookie status for the 2026 campaign.
The 25-year-old left-hander is taking full advantage of the opportunity, and the young Guardians pitcher has moved up from fifth to third in MLB.com’s latest Rookie of the Year poll.
“Messick entered the week leading AL rookies in wins (six), innings (75) and strikeouts (78), and was second in ERA (2.40) and WHIP (1.07). The lefty has allowed three earned runs or fewer in every start but one and has seven starts in which he allowed one or no earned runs. He jumps two spots in the rankings this month after debuting at No. 5 in the first poll,” Jason Foster wrote.
The poll, which is the second of the season, is conducted among 32 MLB.com experts and is based not only on results to date but on projections for the remainder of the season. The 5-4-3-2-1 voting system mimics the actual process for determining the postseason award.
Messick is behind only Detroit Tigers infielder Kevin McGonigle and Chicago White Sox first baseman Munetaka Murakami. There is a chance Messick can move up in the upcoming polls as Murakami is currently sidelined by a hamstring injury.
That could also provide an opportunity for Bazzana, who is fourth in the poll, just four voting points behind his teammate Messick. That’s even though the second baseman did not make his MLB debut until April 28, but he has done enough to move past DeLauter, who has fallen out of the top five after ranking third in the first poll, which was released in May.
As for Messick, he is also making a strong case to earn his first AL All-Star Game selection. His ERA is third in the league overall, and his WHIP ranks eighth.
He will get his next chance to make an impression when he takes the mound on Wednesday in the series finale against the New York Yankees at Progressive Field.
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