It’s August, and the races for individual awards are starting to take shape.
Most Valuable Players, Cy Youngs, Managers, and Rookies of the Year: nothing is set in stone, and there is still time to make a real difference and earn stats and wins.
Most specialized sites are sleeping on a Cleveland Guardians reliever in the AL Rookie of the Year race.
People are focused on Colton Cowser, Luis Gil, Wyatt Langford, or Austin Wells, but Cade Smith should have as much of a case as anyone in the junior circuit.
Rookie of the Year push begins … now.#ForTheLand | @PDRofCLEWest pic.twitter.com/EsBUO0v3lt
— Cleveland Guardians (@CleGuardians) August 8, 2024
Smith has an elite 2.14 ERA in 54.2 innings pitched for Cleveland this year and has been the fireman who puts out fires whenever manager Stephen Vogt has needed one.
With 76 strikeouts and a 0.93 WHIP, few relievers in the American League have been as dominant as him.
The best thing about Smith’s season has definitely been his consistency.
His highest ERA over a full month is 3.00, back in April.
With one of the most underrated fastballs in the game, Smith consistently overpowers hitters.
As the graph that the Guardians prepared states, 83 percent of his heaters have traveled at 95 mph or more.
Velocity is Smith’s greatest attribute, but he also has elite command.
The righty has conceded only one home run all year, which is a big part of the reason behind his success.
With some of the names in the AL Rookie of the Year race failing to offer consistent production, there could be a path for Smith to get into the conversation.
It’s difficult for a reliever to win the AL ROY: the last one to do it is Milwaukee Brewers’ Devin Williams in 2020.
Smith, however, has a very solid case that can definitely improve if he can get his ERA under 2.00.
NEXT: Former Guardians Star Will Take Over As White Sox Manager
