15. Elvis Andrus, Oakland Athletics/Chicago White Sox
Andrus was released by Oakland on Aug. 17 after voicing his displeasure with being benched to avoid a $15 million vesting option based on plate appearances. The White Sox scooped him up two days later as a replacement for the injured Tim Anderson, and he hit .271 with a 116 OPS+ in 43 games with the South Siders. All told, he had a 103 OPS+ and 3.1 WAR in 149 games, and he is now just three hits shy of 2,000 for his career.
14. Jorge Mateo, Baltimore Orioles
A top prospect in the Yankees' farm system once upon a time who was sent to Oakland in the Sonny Gray trade, Mateo bounced around a bit before finally getting a chance at an everyday job in Baltimore. His combination of speed (AL-leading 35 SB), power (45 XBH) and elite defense (14 DRS) helped offset his .221/.267/.379 batting line and made him a 3.4-WAR player in 2022.
13. Bobby Witt Jr., Kansas City Royals
A bit overshadowed by some of the other American League rookie standouts, Witt posted a 102 OPS+ with 31 doubles, 20 home runs, 80 RBI, 82 runs scored and 30 steals. His middling on-base percentage (.298 OBP) and brutal defensive metrics at shortstop (-19 DRS, -8.4 UZR/150) keep him from ranking any higher, but all signs still point to future stardom.
12. Amed Rosario, Cleveland Guardians
An underrated contributor on an upstart Cleveland team, Rosario hit .283/.312/.403 for a 106 OPS+ with 26 doubles, nine triples, 11 home runs, 71 RBI, 86 runs scored and 18 steals in a 4.2-WAR season. That said, his biggest improvements came on the defensive side as he went from a borderline liability in 2021 (-9 DRS, 1.6 UZR/150) to well-above average in 2022 (6 DRS, 7.0 UZR/150).
11. Nico Hoerner, Chicago Cubs
One of the few bright spots on a disappointing Cubs team, Hoerner hit .281/.327/.410 for a 107 OPS+ with 22 doubles, 10 home runs, 55 RBI, 60 runs scored and 20 steals. The 25-year-old was also a standout with the glove (11 DRS), though it's worth wondering if he'll be shifting to second base next year to pave the way for a high-profile free-agent signing.
