Dustin Ackley and 2011 rookies

By Gary Hill

It is likely that Dustin Ackley will be featured in the starting lineup for the Mariners Friday night at Safeco Field. The struggles for the second overall pick in the 2009 draft reached a point where a demotion was necessary. I strongly urge you to take a look at this piece from Shannon Drayer regarding his return.

It is interesting to take a look at the eight players who finished with votes in the 2011 Rookie of the Year Award voting. It has been a less than smooth road for nearly the entire group.

1. Jeremy Hellickson

Vote points: 102; First-place votes: 17
2011 stats: 13-10, 2.95 ERA, 29 GS, 189 IP, 117 K, 72 BB

Hellickson followed up his Rookie of the Year campaign with a decent 2012. His ERA was only slightly elevated (3.10) and he gave Tampa 177 innings. His strikeout rate was again low (124) and his walk rate was above average, but the surface results remain strong. His luck has turned so far in 2013 (6-3, 5.11 ERA). Tampa Bay has handed him the fifth-best run support in baseball, which has kept his record reasonable, but his surface numbers have taken a hit.

WAR the last three seasons: 3.8/3.2/0.2

2. Mark Trumbo

Vote points: 63; First-place votes: 5
2011 stats: .254/.291/.477, 29 HR, 87 RBI

Trumbo jacked 32 homers in his second full season and nearly reached 100 RBIs (95). He is again providing thump this season with 17 homers. He does not hit for a high average or walk very often at all.

WAR the last three seasons: 2.0/2.9/1.5

3. Eric Hosmer

Vote points: 38; First-place votes: 4
2011 stats: .293/.334/.465, 19 HR, 78 RBI

Hosmer burst onto the scene in early May of 2011 and nearly captured ROY. He has frustrated Kansas City fans by not taking the next step with a slash line of .232/.304/359 last season. His average is up this year, but his power has been zapped.

WAR the last three seasons: 1.6/-0.3/1.6

4. Ivan Nova

Vote points: 30; First-place votes: 1
2011 stats: 16-4, 3.70 ERA, 165 IP, 98 K, 57 BB

Nova has struggled in a big way since his rookie season. His ERA ballooned to over 5.00 last seasons and he has only been able to take the ball in five starts this year.

WAR the last three seasons: 3.4/0.6/0.1

5. Michael Pineda

Vote points: 11; First-place votes: 0
2011 stats: 9-10, 3.74 ERA, 171 IP, 173 K, 55 BB

Pineda had an excellent rookie year where he flashed top-of-the-order potential. A trade to the Yankees followed by an injury has kept him off the field since.

WAR the last three seasons: 2.3/NA/NA

6. Dustin Ackley

Vote points: 6; First-place votes: 0
2011 stats: .273/.348/.417, 6 HR, 36 RBI

Ackley has struggled in the two seasons since 2011 with his OPS heading downhill (.766/.622/.516.) His struggled resulted in a trip to the minors.

WAR the last three seasons: 3.7/2.8/0.1

7. Desmond Jennings

Vote points: 1; First-place votes: 0
2011 stats: .259/.356/.449, 10 HR, 25 RBI

Jennings supposed to fill the shoes of Carl Crawford, but expectations have not been met as of yet.

WAR the last three seasons: 2.4/3.3/1.2

7. Jordan Walden

Vote points: 1; First-place votes: 0
2011 stats: 5-5, 2.98 ERA, 32 SV, 60 IP, 67 K, 26 BB

Walden took over as the closer in 2011, but he could not hold down the job. The Angels eventually traded him away to the Braves before the 2013 season.

WAR the last three seasons: 0.8/0.3/0.7