Pittsburgh Pirates: Jack Suwinski Among NL’s Best Rookies

While the 2022 season is just a little over two months old, Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Jack Suwinski is already making a case for National League Rookie of the Year

Prior to the start of the 2022 season there were plenty of bets being made that a player from the Pittsburgh Pirates would win National League Rookie of the Year. At one point shortstop prospect Oneil Cruz was the odds on favorite to win the award, and pitcher Roansy Contreras garnered plenty of NL Rookie of the Year buzz as well.

A little over two months into the season it appears the early leader for the award may indeed be a member of the Pittsburgh Pirates. However, that player is neither Cruz, who has yet to reach the majors this season, nor Contreras. Although, if Contreras continues to pitch the way he has he could enter the conversation. Instead, that player is outfielder Jack Suwinski.

Suwinski was acquired last summer in the Adam Frazier trade and was then added to the 40-man roster this offseason in order to protect him from the Rule 5 Draft. He was promoted to the majors in late April when both Bryan Reynolds and Cole Tucker landed on the COVID IL.

At the time of Suwinski’s promotion the plan likely was not for him to remain with the club long-term. Odds are the Pittsburgh Pirates intended to eventually option him back to the minors. To Suwinski’s credit he took the playing time he was given, performed well and made it impossible for him to be returned to the minors. Now, Suwinski finds himself as one of the early leaders for NL Rookie of the Year.

Through his first 128 plate appearances this season Suwinski has posted a 114 wRC+. This ranks 5th among NL rookies with at least 75 PAs this season. His 8 home runs lead all NL rookies and his fWAR of 0.8 ranks 3rd behind just Brendan Donovan of the Cardinals and Christopher Morel of the Cubs.

In addition to what he has done with his bat, Suwinski has been a plus defender for the Pirates. He has accumulated a +2 Defensive Runs Saved and a +1 Outs Above Average in right field. So he has not been a one trick pony.

There are also no signs of Suwinski slowing down. His 13.4% barrel rate ranks in the 88th percentile of baseball and his 38.1% hard hit rate is better than league average. In fact, there’s an argument to be made that Suwinski’s results will only continue to improve has his .267 batting average on balls in play is 33 points below league average.

This is not to say that Suwinski will win the NL Rookie of the Year Award. In fact, odds are, this will not happen. When you have rookies performing the way Donovan and Morel are on franchises like the Cardinals and Cubs, the national media will fall in love and they will be tough to beat. Plus, there are plenty of other players in the mix as well. That said, through the first two months of the season Suwinski is undoubtedly among the top contenders for the award.