Yahoo Sports national MLB insider Russell Dorsey looks at the race for this year's award - which has been dominated by talk of Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes - and explains why the Padres outfielder has a stronger case for the honor.

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There may not be a more interesting race to watch down the stretch than the battle for the NL rookie of the year award.

Paul Skeens has dominated in his first season for the Pittsburgh Pirates, but the player who's been able to stay stride for stride with Skeins and in recent months, step ahead of him for the NL rookie of the year is Padre center fielder Jackson Merrill.

No one knew what to expect when the 21 year old outfielder won the Padre center field job out of spring training and moving from shortstop to center field, there was obviously gonna be a learning curve but Merrill hasn't skipped a beat and in fact, he's taken his game to another level.

Merrill leads all rookies in nearly every offensive category and F four and over the last two months, he's been the Padres hottest hitter including huge hits and big moments.

Merrill currently has six game tying or go ahead homers in the eighth inning or later and been the exact person.

The Padres wound up in a big spot.

The Padres have had a resurgence in the second half and have the second best record in baseball since the all star break.

A lot of that has to do with their 21 year old outfielder who's helped carry their offense at times while they got it figured out.

Now the Padres look like a team that nobody wants to face in.

October.

Paul Skeens has done nothing wrong.

He's dominated and been one of the best stories in all of major league baseball this season, but Jackson Merrill has not only been the Padres best player, he's been a big reason.

They're gonna get to the postseason.

And for that reason, he should be an L rookie of the year.

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