Trout, Harper Named Rookies of the Year

Two of the biggest prospects to take the field in the past few seasons can now call themselves Rookie of the Year Award winners, as the BBWAA announced Monday evening that Mike Trout and Bryce Harper have won the award in the AL and NL, respectively. Both players were heavily favored to win in their respective leagues, so to some the announcement was a mere formality.

(Image Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-US PRESSWIRE)

Trout is coming off a year which is widely considered to be one of the greatest rookie seasons in baseball history. He batted .326/.399/.564 in 639 plate appearances on the year, adding 27 doubles, 30 HR, and 83 RBI to go along with a league leading 129 runs and 49 stolen bases – a season strong enough to place him firmly in discussions for the AL MVP Award as well (which will be announced later this week). After joining the Angels’ lineup in early May, Trout rapidly became one of the most watched players in all of baseball over the remainder of the season, as much for his offensive output as well as the steady string of highlight reel defensive plays.

Oakland’s Yoenis Cespedes, Texas’ Yu Darvish, Baltimore’s Wei-Yin Chen, and Oakland’s Jarrod Parker rounded out the voting in the AL.

Harper, meanwhile, had one of the top seasons by a teenager in the past 100 years. He hit .270/.340/.477 over 597 plate appearances once he arrived in Washington mid-May. He’d also hit 26 doubles, 22 HR, and 59 RBI and add similar defensive spectacles in both center and right field. Some questioned the timing of his debut in the Nationals lineup, openly wondering if he had been recalled too early, but Harper quickly quieted most of his critics with his steady play and all out efforts across the diamond.

Arizona’s Wade Miley came in second in NL voting, followed by Cincinnati’s Todd Frazier, Colorado’s Wilin Rosario, Milwaukee’s Norichika Aoki, San Diego’s Yonder Alonso, St. Louis’ Matt Carpenter, and Colorado’s Jordan Pacheco.