Rookies to watch in 2023 MLB postseason

It'll be great to see stars like Ronald Acu?a Jr., Freddie Freeman, Mookie Betts and Randy Arozarena back in the postseason. But the playoffs are a stage for rising stars to make a name for themselves, too.

Some of the best rookies in baseball will be in the playoffs in their first full seasons -- just look at who's on the teams that have clinched already, and the contenders fighting for the remaining playoff spots.

Here are the rookies we want to watch this postseason.

Gunnar Henderson (3B/SS) and Grayson Rodriguez (RHP), Orioles

The Orioles' young stars have carried them to the top of the AL East. In the lineup, the 22-year-old Henderson has 27 home runs, an MLB-high nine triples and has been ripping the ball all year (92.3 mph exit velocity, 52.7% hard-hit rate). In the rotation, the 23-year-old Rodriguez has been dominating since the All-Star break (2.66 ERA, 68 strikeouts in the second half) with his overpowering stuff (97.4 mph fastball velocity).

Oh, and the O's have top hitting prospect Heston Kjerstad up in the big leagues now, too. If he slugs his way onto the postseason roster, that's one more star rookie to watch.

Corbin Carroll, OF, D-backs

The NL Rookie of the Year favorite has the D-backs in NL Wild Card position, and if he can get there, Arizona will have one of the most dynamic players in the postseason. Carroll is the first AL/NL rookie with a 25-homer, 50-steal season. And the 23-year-old is one of only nine members of the 25-50 club, period, along with Acu?a, Hanley Ram��rez, Barry Bonds, Rickey Henderson, Eric Davis, Ryne Sandberg, Joe Morgan and C��sar Cede?o.

James Outman (OF) and Bobby Miller (RHP), Dodgers

The Dodgers don't miss Cody Bellinger so much thanks to Outman, who's knocked 21 homers and stolen 15 bases for the NL West champs. The 26-year-old patrols center field in L.A. just like Bellinger -- Outman is tied for eighth-best among outfielders with +9 Outs Above Average this season.

Miller is one of the few sure things about the Dodgers' postseason pitching plans. The 24-year-old right-hander, who was the team's top pitching prospect entering the season, has come on strong in the second half. And it's always fun to watch a starter firing 99-plus mph fastballs in the playoffs.

Royce Lewis, 3B, Twins

Who isn't hoping that Mr. Grand Slam comes up with the bases loaded in the playoffs? Lewis has crushed a historic four grand slams this season -- all in an 18-game span. Add the grand slam he hit in his 12-game debut last season, and the 24-year-old Lewis already has five slams in his young career. He reached five career grand slams faster than any player in AL/NL history, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

Johan Rojas, CF, Phillies

Rojas is a human highlight reel in center field for the Phillies. The 23-year-old made his big league debut on July 15, and he's already become a top defensive outfielder thanks to his top-tier speed (Rojas' 29.4 ft/sec sprint speed ranks in the 96th percentile of MLB). He could easily make a game-changing play in a huge playoff moment for the defending NL champs.

Josh Jung (3B) and Evan Carter (OF), Rangers

The Rangers have two rookie stars: Jung, who's been a breakout player from the start of the season, and Carter, who's arrived at just the right time. The 25-year-old Jung has 23 home runs and was an All-Star in his first full season. And now the 21-year-old Carter is in the big leagues alongside him -- the No. 8 overall prospect in MLB is batting .314 with two homers and a 1.032 OPS through his first two weeks in the Majors as the Rangers fight for a playoff spot.

Davis Schneider, 2B/DH, Blue Jays

Schneider's first month or so in the big leagues was one of the hottest starts to a career �� ever. The 24-year-old rookie homered in his first career at-bat and batted .370 with eight home runs and a 1.315 OPS through his first 25 games. If Toronto can win a Wild Card spot, maybe Schneider gets hot again and sparks the Jays in the playoffs.

Bryce Miller, RHP, Mariners

The rookie power pitcher is part of the Mariners' "Dominate the Zone" rotation known for its fearlessness in attacking hitters, alongside Luis Castillo, George Kirby and Logan Gilbert. Miller's No. 1 pitch is an explosive rising four-seamer in the mid-to-upper 90s that's propelled the 25-year-old righty to a 3.88 ERA and 113 strikeouts in his 23 starts.

Eury Pérez, RHP, Marlins

When he's on -- like he was when he allowed one run total over a six-start stretch earlier this year -- P��rez is as lights-out as anybody. The 20-year-old, 6-foot-8 right-hander has electric stuff, with his fastball averaging 97.5 mph and his slider generating a 48% swing-and-miss rate. If the Marlins make it there, P��rez could be the best rookie pitcher in the playoffs.

Elly De La Cruz, SS/3B, Reds

De La Cruz might be scuffling down the stretch, but if he and the Reds can reach the playoffs, there are few players who have the talent to take over a game like him, let alone rookies. In his first season, De La Cruz has blasted 450-plus foot home runs, legged out sub-11-second triples, and even hit for the cycle. He's the fastest player in the Majors and has the strongest throwing arm of any infielder. That's the type of player that makes baseball worth watching.