Rookies continue to make substantial contributions in the Majors, it just doesn’t happen to be the same crop of them who commanded the spotlight earlier in the season. As a result, nine of the best newcomers vaulted onto the latest edition of MLB Pipeline’s Rookie Hot List after not being ranked in the May edition.

Each month, MLB.com looks at which rookies performed best over the past 30 days. This isn’t a prediction of which players will take home Rookie of the Year honors — it’s merely a reflection of how the top prospects have played during this period of time.

In a recent poll. All-Stars Shota Imanaga and Jackson Merrill once again cracked the top five for National League Rookie of the Year, but in this recent stretch of games — July 1 to Aug. 5 — slight falls in overall production dropped them off this month’s list. Imanaga struck out 34 batters and walked just three, but his ERA rose to a still-respectable 3.16 across five starts. Merrill hit seven doubles, but he also posted a .668 OPS over 25 games.

On the subject of All-Stars and Rookie of the Year candidates, Mason Miller only made four appearances in this stretch, yielding two runs in four innings, before heading to the injured list July 25 with a broken left hand. Luis Gil — who cracked the last edition — worked through a rough June, sporting a 3.33 ERA across his past five starts, but he also fell off this month’s list.

And although batting .323 with a .853 OPS across his past 24 games, Chourio just missed the cut. The 20-year-old has developed well as a big leaguer over the past two months, but his overall offensive production wound up below other batters for the time span.

Lest we wait much longer, let’s take a look at the hottest rookies since July 1 (all stats through Monday).

1. Paul Skenes, RHP, PIT (previously unranked): From starting the All-Star Game for the National League to continuing a dominant rookie campaign, Skenes flew up the hot list after having just two big league starts under his belt last go-around. The 2023 first overall pick posted a 1.87 ERA — the best among rookie starting pitchers with at least 16 innings in this stretch — and an 0.80 WHIP across his past five starts for the Pirates, collecting 37 strikeouts in 33 2/3 innings.

2. Tyler Fitzgerald, SS, SF (previously unranked): Fitzgerald joined elite company Monday by becoming the fourth shortstop to hit 11 (or more) homers in a 17-game span in AL/NL history since 1901, joining Trea Turner (2023), Troy Tulowitzki (2010) and Alex Rodríguez (2002). The last Giants batter to collect 11 long balls in a 17-game stretch was Barry Bonds, who did it from July 2-24, 2003. The reigning NL Rookie of the Month has been otherworldly offensively, slashing .343/.403/.886 with 15 extra-base hits and 20 RBIs in his past 20 games.

3. Colt Keith, 2B, DET (previously unranked): Putting a sluggish first three months of the campaign behind him, Keith turned up offensively. In 29 games, the left-handed-hitting infielder posted a .573 slugging percentage and a .958 OPS while smashing seven homers, collecting 17 RBIs and drawing 14 walks for the Tigers. He also earned American League Rookie of the Month honors for July.

4. Austin Wells, C, NYY (previously unranked): As the lone backstop represented, the Yankees’ 2020 first-rounder has surged offensively with increased playing time in the Bronx. While Jose Trevino nurses a left quad strain on the 10-day injured list, Wells has slashed .299/.404/.532 with seven extra-base knocks, 15 RBIs and 14 walks in his past 25 games.

5. Colton Cowser, OF, BAL (previously unranked): Although he fell off the May edition of the Rookie Hot Sheet, Cowser has been one of the most consistent rookie hitters in 2024. The left-handed-hitting outfielder batted .333 in his past 25 games for the Orioles, taking the home run lead among rookie batters by launching four dingers for a total of 16.

• Subscribe to the MLB Pipeline Newsletter

6. Wilyer Abreu, OF, BOS (previous rank: 5): Acquired in the Christian Vazquez trade in 2022, Abreu has turned into a consistent offensive contributor over the past year for the Red Sox. The lefty sported a .627 slugging percentage across his past 25 games after returning from a right ankle sprain at the end of June. Defensively, the 25-year-old has six Defensive Runs Saved in right field in 2024.

7. Spencer Schwellenbach, RHP, ATL (previously unranked): As the second starting pitcher to crack the list, Schwellenbach has stepped up for an injured Braves rotation. The 24-year-old struck out 33 batters while issuing just one walk over 33 innings spanning five starts. His outright dominant stretch with a 2.45 ERA and a rookie starter’s best 0.79 WHIP slotted him behind a group of sluggers, but the 2021 second-rounder’s efficiency shouldn’t be overlooked.

8. Nolan Schanuel, 1B, LAA (previously unranked): One of two Angels to check in on the list, Schanuel has impressed in the plate discipline department. The fast-rising 2023 first-rounder — who made his Major League debut last August — picked up 20 walks while striking out 17 times and amassing an .879 OPS in 29 games.

9. Hayden Birdsong, RHP, SF (previously unranked): At 22 years old, Birdsong established himself in the Giants rotation for six starts, five in this recent span. Before being optioned for a second time following a doubleheader start July 28, the righty fired 25 2/3 innings with a 2.52 ERA and 33 strikeouts across his last five outings. Birdsong was recalled again from Single-A San Jose on Tuesday.

10. Ben Joyce, RHP, LAA (previously unranked): Lighting up the radar gun at Tennessee in 2022, Joyce caught a lot of attention for his 100 mph fastball. After ulnar neuritis sidelined him for much of the 2023 campaign, the towering right-hander has found himself in the back end of the Angels bullpen a year later. Joyce hasn’t allowed an earned run across his past 11 appearances, striking out 11 in 13 1/3 innings while reaching 104.7 mph en route to his first big league save Saturday.