Which of 4 major sports do rookies make most early impact?

[Unocal 76]

In sports, we see great rookie talents show their talent early, but in which of the 4 major sports do you see impact rookies really doing it the most?

Personally, I think it's baseball.

For instance, the rookies of the year- Carlos Correa and Kris Bryant- played a big role in their teams making surprise playoff runs.

You rarely see rookies in the other sports in the playoffs, but in baseball, it's easier IMHO.

In football, save for Luck/RGIII in 2012, how often do have we seen big-time rookies in the postseason right out of the gate? Ditto basketball or hockey.

Porzingis and Anthony-Towns are doing wonders this season, but it's highly unlikely they're gonna make the postseason in year #1.

[Deleted]

I think it has to be the NBA. Out of those four sports, basketball is by far where one player makes the biggest difference.

[Kevin Hamilton]

Basketball easily. It's why 'One and done' is a thing. Rookie baseball players probably at least logged some minor league time.

Further, in the NBA, guys can and have come right outta high school and made an impact. You're never gonna see that anywhere else.

[fw91]

there's a reason why the NFL and NBA drafts get a lot of coverage

[Deleted]

Basketball. One really good player can make a shit team into a playoff team.

[Red Impact]

I don't know about hockey, because I don't follow that sport. Of the remaining three, NBA and it's not even close. There are only 5 NBA players per team on the court at once, and they play both directions, so the impact is naturally going to be more pronounce than in MLB or NFL.

Most rookies don't even play in the big leagues when they're first drafted. If they do, even if they are fantastic, they're one tiny part of a massive team. An ace rookie pitcher will play in a fraction of the games. An ace baseman or catcher will only hit a fraction of their times at plate. That's the game.

The NFL is most the same way. QB's have the most impact, and most rookies don't do well enough their rookie season to make an impact (it doesn't help that the best rookies tend to go to the worst teams, but even then there's a huge jump in talent to the NFL from college).

In the NBA, one player can turn a team into a playoff team. They won't win a championship, but a great player can make them a playoff contender.

[Can you afford to pay me, Gah]

NBA I think has the most impact out of the gate. NFL is second because really the drafted player is right on the team. NHL they draft 18 year olds but they play in the minors and the same with MLB guys. The top rookies come out of the system because they dominated the minors.

The NFL is you make the team or your practice squad or cut. NBA you play what expected or your gone. Hockey you really have to find the stud it seems. It is far and between when there becomes a lot of hype on a player before a debut. Sidney Crosby was the last guy I recall having a ton of hype.

MLB you get the hyped guys most after having crazy Minor league stats or a top player from out of country. When you at the starts like Mike Trout for example, he wasn't hyped but can to the big leagues and turn heads. Pujols was the same way nobody knew he was the stud before hand outside really the Cardinals.

[kingoftheindies]

Basketball, but basketball also tends to have the laziest scouts as well.

[Deleted]

NHL. In your second season you could lead the league in points and win MVP.

[sfvega]

The answer is basketball and then football. Basketball rookies come in every year and change the make-up of an entire team. Football has more impact rookies than any sport, but that has to do with the numbers game. NHL rooks are usually unimpressive. My Blues have a great rookie in Robby Fabbri, and he's only putting up 3rd line numbers. Baseball is definitely down there with hockey. The great rookie seasons are few and far between, and they use silly rules for rookie qualifying. Matt Duffy, for instance, was 2nd in the NL in ROTY and played 34 games in 2014. It also is a slower development than any other sport. A lot of guys don't come up until they're 23/24/25. Where as NBA rooks are normally 19-21, NFL are 21-23, NHL are usually 20-23.