MLB Rookie of the Year

2010 has blessed Major League Baseball with a memorable rookie class.

Fantasy owners in Dynasty and Keeper leagues were quite familiar with this cast of characters long before they arrived in the show.

In commemoration of their foresight, let's take a gander at the top 10 pitching keepers for 2011.

Check out our Positional Rookie List too!

In 2010, we've witnessed five no-hitters (two perfect games), it would be six (three perfect games) if you include the infamous Armando Galaragga blown call. It has been dubbed 1968 all over again, the Year of the Pitcher. It is a deserving name for this season but another phenomena has hit MLB, the emergence of countless NL rookies leading their teams as their present and future. 

The National League and American League Rookie of the Year Awards were handed out this afternoon, both of which had most baseball fans asking, "Who the heck is that?"

The National League honors went to Florida Marlin outfielder Chris Coghlan.

Coghlan hit .321 during his first season, with 162 hits, nine home runs, 47 driven in, and an .850 on-base plus slugging percentage in 504 at-bats.

The Florida native finished with 17 first-place votes.

Any other season, Atlanta Braves pitcher Tommy Hanson would be the top pitching candidate for National League Rookie of the Year.

But this year, he isn't likely to win the award. Why? Because he's going up against Philadelphia Phillies pitcher J.A. Happ, who, quite simply, isn't a rookie.

Perhaps the biggest factor impacting Hanson is that he only entered the scene for the final four months of the season. Happ pitched in 35 games. Hanson pitched in only 21.

Tommy Hanson won his 10th game yesterday, mowing down the Mets lineup. In a season full of breakout rookie starters, has he been the best?

First, to put how good this year’s class of rookie starters is in perspective, let’s look at some numbers:

Before the season started, most analysts were calling for David Price, Elvis Andrus, Matt Wieters, or Travis Snider to win the AL Rookie of the Year award.

Orioles' outfielder Nolan Reimold would probably be only the third Oriole considered, after super-prospect Wieters and Japanese import Koji Uehara. But after being called up to the majors on May 14, Reimold has quickly shown he is very capable of placing himself in the discussion.