*Photo from the Tampa Bay Times*
The first big domino of awards season has fallen in baseball. Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Randy Arozarena and Cincinnati Reds 2B Jonathan India have won the AL and NL Rookie of the Year for the 2021 season, as awarded by the BBWAA on Monday night.
Arozarena collected 124 points in the voting stage, getting 22 of 30 first place votes, 4 second place votes, and two 3rd place votes. In second place with 63 points was Houston Astros rookie Luis Garcia, who got two first place votes, 15 second place votes, and 8 3rd place votes. In 3rd was Arozarena's teammate Wander Franco, who got two first place votes, 5 second place, and 5 3rd place. Finishing in 4th place was Texas Rangers OF Adolis Garcia and Cleveland Guardians RHP Emmanuel Clase.
Despite having played in the 2019 and 2020 regular season and postseason, Arozarena maintained his rookie status for the 2021 season, his second with the Rays. Arozarena hit to a .274 average with an .815 OPS, hitting 20 home runs and driving in 69 runs, stealing 20 bases in a 20-20 season. He was also a gold glove finalist for left field, which ultimately went to Andrew Benintendi.
By winning the rookie of the year, Arozarena became the 6th player from Cuba to win rookie of the year. The most recent winner was Yordan Alvarez in 2019, who was preceded by Jose Abreu, Jose Fernandez, Jose Canseco, and Tony Oliva. He's also the 4th Rays player to win the award, joining Wil Myers, Jeremy Hellickson, and Evan Longoria.
The NL race wasn't nearly as close as the AL one, which also wasn't close. India received 29 of the 30 first place votes available, racking up 148 points in the voting. Marlins starting pitcher Trevor Rogers received the other first place vote, while getting 26 votes for second place, and 3 for 3rd place, finishing with 86 points. Cardinals OF Dylan Carlson got 3 second place votes and 13 votes for 3rd place.
With the award, India became the first NL second baseman to win rookie of the year since Steve Sax won it in 1982. He also became the 8th Reds player to win rookie of the year, and the first since Scott Williamson in 1999. India was drafted 5th overall in 2018 by the Reds.
Comments
Post a Comment