Tribe sparkplug Naquin deserving of ROY nod

CHICAGO — Has a Rookie of the Year ever hit eighth?

Tyler Naquin does, but you can’t judge his value to the first-place Indians by Terry Francona’s lineup card. He hit .341 in April, began to mix in some power in June and has emerged as a key player down the stretch.

“Well, he’s got a nine-hundred OPS,” Francona said Monday. “That’s pretty significant.”

Naquin actually carried a .928 OPS into a four-game series against the White Sox. He’s become a Pick to Click in an open-for-debate American League Rookie of the Year race.

Michael Fulmer was a strong favorite not too long ago, but the Tigers’ right-hander with the killer changeup has seemed to hit a wall since mid-August, creating room for other candidates to creep into the picture. He’ll still be tough to beat, but other players have started to step forward.

Gary Sanchez?

He might be worth a spot on the 10-player MVP ballot if the Yankees go from a sell-off to the playoffs, but it doesn’t seem like two months should make a Rookie of the Year season.

The list of candidates with tenure includes Nomar Mazara, Max Kepler and Edwin Diaz, the bat-defying Mariners closer. But don’t overlook how Naquin is emerging from the shadows into the role of viable alternative as the Indians’ primary center fielder.

By owning right-handed pitchers, the 2012 first-round pick from Texas A&M has become a core piece of the Indians’ lineup, which has become the biggest reason that Cleveland seems headed …

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