Fairservice: Bright futures and shiny hardware for Myers and Fernandez

The Rookie of the Year award can occasionally be an exercise in searching out, rather than celebrating, a worthy candidate. The list of former winners is littered with one-offs and flame-outs among future Hall of Famers. 

Between Wil Myers and Jose Fernandez, it sure looks as though the class of 2013 has a bit of staying power. Fernandez famously shot to the big leagues at the tender age of 20, after pitching only in the low minors. Wil Myers was the odds-on favorite to take home the honor last year at this time, so well was he regarded as a minor leaguer. 

Fernandez was simply dominant, getting stronger as the season progressed, posting eye-popping numbers and lighting up radar guns at every turn. His numbers are stellar for a pitcher with any experience level, as his top three Cy Young finish indicates. 

Wil Myers was the steep price the Kansas City Royals paid to obtain the services of James Shields and he did not disappoint the eager Rays front office. After sitting in the minor leagues until his service time provided Tampa Bay an extra year of control, Myers produced consistently throughout the season, posting a .357 wOBA over 373 plate appearances. 

Myers was good in 2013, a better than league average outfielder on a playoff-calibre ballclub. Jose Fernandez was great, turning in one of the best rookie seasons in the last 40 years.  

The list shown above features some prominent names as well as some peculiar flameouts. While he might not post a season equal to his sparkling 2013, the 97 mph fastball and mind-bending curve of Jose Fernandez suggest a player whose best days are ahead, not behind.