MLB: Should There Be Separate Rookie of the Year Awards for Hitters and Pitchers?
By Jason Reed
After the results of the MLB Rookie of the Year voting, the discussion of separate awards for pitchers and position players is prevalent.
Corey Seager and Michael Fulmer took home the honors of being Rookies of the Year in each league. Both men showcased a phenomenal 2016, with Seager in the running for MVP and Fulmer right outside of Cy Young discussion. In this instance, both a position player and a pitcher took home the honors, something that has happened three times since the turn of the decade. However, some fans believe Gary Sanchez was snubbed of the award, which poses the question: should both pitchers and position players have a Rookie of the Year award?
If MLB were to go this route it would mirror that of other sports. The NFL has both an offensive and defensive award, and the NBA has an all-rookie team. Separating the award would further help recognize players that contributed to their team. Despite only playing 53 games, Sanchez slugged 20 homers and batted .299. He led the “Baby Bombers” back into playoff contention; after his debut the Yankees had the fifth best record in the AL. However, his September was lackluster. Although he slugged nine homers, Sanchez’s batting average for the month was .225. Despite this, the argument is still made that Sanchez should have taken home the honor over Fulmer.
Fulmer, on the other hand, crafted a consistently productive 2016. Yes, his numbers at the end of the season took a hit after he posted a 3.94 earned run average in the second half. Fulmer, though, managed to always put his ball club in a decent position to win ball games, and was present for the entirety of the 2016 season, not two months. But like Sanchez, his numbers flared up at the end of the season. This comparison draws out the pros and cons of separating the Rookie of the Year award.