A's Burns Finds Himself Atop A.L. Rookies
In a year filled with baseball's top prospects making an impact at the major league level, Oakland Athletics outfielder Billy Burns may just be one of the front-runners for American League Rookie of the Year.
Coming into the season, most people outside of the Athletics organization and fan base did not know who Burns was.
He wasn't a top prospect. He didn't light up the minor leagues. He wasn't even in the plans for Oakland entering Spring Training this year.
The production the center fielder has given the Athletics was a definite surprise, but much needed.
The A's original plan for the outfield was to have Coco Crisp in left, Craig Gentry in center, Josh Reddick in right, and Sam Fuld as the fourth outfielder.
With the injury to Crisp, and the atrocious performance by Gentry, it allowed Burns the opportunity to play every day.
Not only has Burns taken advantage of the opportunity, but he currently has himself in the rookie of the year conversation.
He leads all MLB rookies in hits(82) and stolen bases(17). Burns has also been plastered all over top play highlights with his diving, jumping, flying and lunging catches.
As of right now, it is a two person race for A.L. ROY between Burns and Houston Astros mega-prospect Carlos Correa.
Correa is currently hitting .279 with 7 home runs and 19 RBI. Those numbers aren't staggering, but when you consider he has only played in 32 games and is just 20 years old, there's no doubt he will only get better.
Correa has all the hype. He is one of baseball's top prospects. As of right now, the award is his to lose and that's without even knowing what his production will be in the second half.
The hype around this player alone will win him the award.
There are only a few ways which Burns can take the award away from the young shortstop.
1. Correa has the worst second half imaginable and Burns continues to play the way he has.
2. Burns leads the Athletics from the bottom to the top of the division as Correa and the Astros fall out of first.
Both seem improbable.
Even if Burns doesn't win the award, the fact that he is even in the conversation is an accomplishment.
This has been the year of young stars, and the A's may just have one flying unnoticed by the rest of the league.