Boston's Castillo looks like AL's top rookie this season
Jose Abreu all but wrapped up American League Rookie of the Year honors by June last year - and he was a deserving unanimous selection when the season ended.
This year, it looks like a much closer race is in store for AL first-year players.
Not one candidate jumps out and grabs you like Abreu. But there is plenty of young talent ready to debut, including White Sox starting pitcher Carlos Rodon.
Let's take a closer look at the rookie field, with the predicted order of finish:
Rusney Castillo, Red Sox
Boston is loaded with outfielders, so Castillo is likely going to open the season with Class AAA Pawtucket.
The center fielder won't be in the minor leagues for long.
Signed to a seven-year, $72.45 million contract, Castillo took a similar path to the big leagues as Abreu.
Before agreeing to the big deal with Boston in August, Castillo was a star in Cuba's top league, Serie Nacional.
Like Abreu, he has much more polish than your average rookie and the skill set to match.
Castillo, who was sidelined earlier in spring training with an oblique strain, is not a big, strong power hitter like Abreu.
But the 27-year-old outfielder has all five tools and is expected to be a big part of the Red Sox' resurgence this year.
Daniel Norris, Blue Jays
One of several talented youngsters in Toronto, Norris is best known for roaming the country and living in a Volkswagen van during the off-season.
The carefree lifestyle made for interesting reading, but Norris will make his real name in the Jays' starting rotation.
The left-hander had a strong spring with Toronto after combining to go 12-2 with a 2.53 ERA in 26 games at Class AA and AAA last season.
Norris joined the Blue Jays in September for a brief look and had trouble throwing strikes, but the 21-year-old pitcher is expected to get much better with age.
Carlos Rodon, White Sox
Like most top prospects, he is starting the season in the minor leagues to delay the service-time clock.
But Rodon can actually use a little more time down on the farm after pitching just 24⅔ innings in the minors in 2014.
The No. 3 overall pick in last year's draft, Rodon showed he is ready for the major leagues during a 4-inning Cactus League start against the Royals last week.
Leaning on his superior slider and fastball that consistently hits 95 mph, Rodon had 9 strikeouts over 4 scoreless innings.
The changeup remains a work in progress, but Rodon is getting better with the pitch and could be in the Sox' rotation later this month.
Honorable mention:
Steven Souza takes over in right field for Tampa Bay after being acquired in a December trade from the Nationals.
While spending most of last season with Class AAA Syracuse, Souza hit .350 with 18 home runs and 75 RBI.
Aaron Sanchez is another top prospect for the Blue Jays who is getting a shot at the major-league level this season.
In 33 innings as a relief pitcher with Toronto in the second half of 2014, the right-hander proved he belonged with a 1.09 ERA and 27 strikeouts in 33 innings.
This year, the 22-year-old Sanchez is in the starting rotation. Along with Norris, the Jays have a promising young duo.