Why Kevin McGonigle's Rookie Season is HISTORIC + MLB'S Next Wave of Stars
Kevin McGonigle isn't just running away with the American League Rookie of the Year race — he's already playing like one of the best players in baseball. DVR, Eno Sarris and Jed Lowrie take a deep dive into McGonigle, JJ Wetherholt and an incredibly deep 2026 MLB rookie class to determine which young stars have the skills to sustain their early success.
On the National League side, JJ Wetherholt has emerged as another remarkably polished young hitter. The guys compare Wetherholt and McGonigle's swings, plate approaches, defense and power potential — including why Wetherholt's deeper contact point could leave him with more untapped power as he develops.
The rookie conversation doesn't stop there. Munetaka Murakami presents a fascinating power-versus-strikeout dilemma, while Konnor Griffin, Carson Benge and Sal Stewart offer very different combinations of tools, plate discipline, defense and long-term upside. Griffin's elite physical tools in particular make him one of the most intriguing young players to watch heading toward 2027.
Plus: Shohei Ohtani and Pete Crow-Armstrong continue their nightly NL MVP battle, Fernando Tatis Jr. makes one of the catches of the year, and the Brewers hang 22 runs on the Mariners.
First Pitch Arizona: https://www.baseballhq.com/pricing/first-pitch-arizona-2026
Follow DVR on Bluesky: @DVR.bsky.social
Follow Eno on Bluesky: @enosarris.bsky.social
e-mail: ratesandbarrels@gmail.com
Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/FyBa9f3wFe
Subscribe to The Athletic: theathletic.com/ratesandbarrels
Hosts: Derek VanRiper & Eno Sarris
Contributor: Jed Lowrie
Executive Producer: McEnroe Francis
Editor: McEnroe Francis
Thumbnail Courtesy: Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images
00:00 MLB’s Loaded Rookie Class
02:14 Ohtani vs. PCA, Tatis’ Incredible Catch & Brewers Score 22
03:26 Kevin McGonigle’s Historic Rookie Season
12:42 Kevin McGonigle vs. JJ Wetherholt
22:35 Munetaka Murakami’s Extreme Power Profile
29:50 Konnor Griffin’s Superstar Upside
32:19 Carson Benge & Sal Stewart
38:22 Which Other Rookies Have Star Potential?
39:52 Rookies Flying Under the Radar
42:06 A.J. Ewing & George Lombard Jr.
49:01 Cole Carrigg
52:46 Sam Antonacci
56:56 Ryan Waldschmidt
1:00:41 What’s Going On With Travis Bazzana?
1:04:05 Which Rookie Baseball Cards Should You Buy?
#KevinMcGonigle #DetroitTigers #MLB #MLBRookies #RookieOfTheYear #Baseball #FantasyBaseball #RatesAndBarrels
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Kevin McGonigle isn't just running away with the American League Rookie of the Year race — he's already playing like one of the best players in baseball. DVR, Eno Sarris and Jed Lowrie take a deep dive into McGonigle, JJ Wetherholt and an incredibly deep 2026 MLB rookie class to determine which young stars have the skills to sustain their early success.
On the National League side, JJ Wetherholt has emerged as another remarkably polished young hitter. The guys compare Wetherholt and McGonigle's swings, plate approaches, defense and power potential — including why Wetherholt's deeper contact point could leave him with more untapped power as he develops.
The rookie conversation doesn't stop there. Munetaka Murakami presents a fascinating power-versus-strikeout dilemma, while Konnor Griffin, Carson Benge and Sal Stewart offer very different combinations of tools, plate discipline, defense and long-term upside. Griffin's elite physical tools in particular make him one of the most intriguing young players to watch heading toward 2027.
Plus: Shohei Ohtani and Pete Crow-Armstrong continue their nightly NL MVP battle, Fernando Tatis Jr. makes one of the catches of the year, and the Brewers hang 22 runs on the Mariners.
First Pitch Arizona: https://www.baseballhq.com/pricing/first-pitch-arizona-2026
Follow DVR on Bluesky: @DVR.bsky.social
Follow Eno on Bluesky: @enosarris.bsky.social
e-mail: ratesandbarrels@gmail.com
Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/FyBa9f3wFe
Subscribe to The Athletic: theathletic.com/ratesandbarrels
Hosts: Derek VanRiper & Eno Sarris
Contributor: Jed Lowrie
Executive Producer: McEnroe Francis
Editor: McEnroe Francis
Thumbnail Courtesy: Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images
00:00 MLB’s Loaded Rookie Class
02:14 Ohtani vs. PCA, Tatis’ Incredible Catch & Brewers Score 22
03:26 Kevin McGonigle’s Historic Rookie Season
12:42 Kevin McGonigle vs. JJ Wetherholt
22:35 Munetaka Murakami’s Extreme Power Profile
29:50 Konnor Griffin’s Superstar Upside
32:19 Carson Benge & Sal Stewart
38:22 Which Other Rookies Have Star Potential?
39:52 Rookies Flying Under the Radar
42:06 A.J. Ewing & George Lombard Jr.
49:01 Cole Carrigg
52:46 Sam Antonacci
56:56 Ryan Waldschmidt
1:00:41 What’s Going On With Travis Bazzana?
1:04:05 Which Rookie Baseball Cards Should You Buy?
#KevinMcGonigle #DetroitTigers #MLB #MLBRookies #RookieOfTheYear #Baseball #FantasyBaseball #RatesAndBarrels
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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