Twins' Simeon Woods Richardson, Braves' Spencer Schwellenbach and more under-the-radar MLB rookies to watch

The superstars get the headlines but these rookies are chugging along, helping their teams like seasoned vets

By R.J. Anderson Aug 4, 2024 at 11:48 am ET• 5 min read

Twins right-hander Simeon Woods Richardson got the nod on Sunday afternoon, and Minnesota closed out their season series against the Chicago White Sox with a sweep. The Twins, who now hold a 12-1 mark against the White Sox, liked their chances for reasons that are obvious and not. For the latter, consider how Minnesota has posted a higher winning percentage in games started by Woods Richardson than any other member of their rotation.

In this business, we refer to that as a "descriptive" stat rather than a "predictive" one. Still, it makes for a nifty introduction to noting how solid Woods Richardson has been for the Twins. In 18 starts, the 23-year-old has amassed a 3.74 ERA (111 ERA+) and a 2.79 strikeout-to-walk ratio. He ranks fourth on the staff in innings pitched and fifth in Wins Above Replacement, and it's fair to say he's stabilized the back of a rotation that's without Chris Paddack and that's had to rely on Louie Varland and David Festa.

Woods Richardson, originally obtained in the José Berríos trade, doesn't necessarily excel in any one way. He's not shown an elite ability to manage contact or miss bats, and he's not going to make any highlight reels with his absurd pitch quality. Nevertheless, Woods Richardson has been the kind of unsung contributor who teams need in order to keep their operation on schedule. 

With that in mind, we wanted to take a look at four other interesting rookies who might be flying under the radar. (Do note the players are presented in no particular order.)