Atlanta Braves Midseason Awards

ATLANTA, GA - JULY 11: Ozzie Albies #1 of the Atlanta Braves hits a solo home run in the sixth inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at SunTrust Park on July 11, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - JULY 11: Ozzie Albies #1 of the Atlanta Braves hits a solo home run in the sixth inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at SunTrust Park on July 11, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 5
Next
TORONTO, ON – JUNE 20: Shane Carle #51 of the Atlanta Braves delivers a pitch in the seventh inning during MLB game action against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on June 20, 2018, in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON – JUNE 20: Shane Carle #51 of the Atlanta Braves delivers a pitch in the seventh inning during MLB game action against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on June 20, 2018, in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images) /

Rookie of the Year: Shane Carle, RHP

How often is a non-closing relief pitcher a team’s rookie of the year? Not often.

Yet Shane Carle has been one of the few stable pitchers in a mediocre Braves’ bullpen. He looked nearly unhittable in April and June. Though he’s taken his lumps in May and July, Carle has continued to be a reliable reliever the Braves can turn to in close games.

While Carle doesn’t generate a ton of strikeouts (38 in 49 innings pitched), he doesn’t walk many guys either (18). Walks have in a problem for the majority of the Braves bullpen, so having an arm you can put out there who won’t walk guys every time out is a gift.

Thus far Carle has done a good job of getting hitters to hit the ball to his defense. He’s been especially effective against right-handed hitters, who only have a .215 batting average against him. He’s only surrendered two home runs, so hitters aren’t squaring him up well enough to do too much damage, even when he does surrender hits.

Carle’s dependability made him a pleasant surprise in the first half. Without his consistency, the Braves may not be in the position they are in now. Not bad for a 27-year-old in his first full year of big league action.

Honorable mention: Ronald Acuna Jr., OF