MLB 2016 Awards: My IBWAA Ballot
By Matt Veasey
AL ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
The easy winners continued for me with my choice for the American League Rookie of the Year as right-handed pitcher Michael Fulmer of the Detroit Tigers.
The 23-year-old Fulmer was selected by the New York Mets at 44th overall in the 2011 MLB Amateur Draft, and was sent to Detroit at the 2015 trade deadline as the key piece in the Yoenis Cespedes deal.
Fulmer received his call to the big leagues at the very end of April, making his debut a winning one on April 29 over the Twins in Minnesota.
For the season, Fulmer went 11-7 over 26 starts. He allowed 136 hits in 159 innings with a 132/42 K:BB ratio while registering a 3.06 ERA and 1.119 WHIP against the tough DH-bolstered lineups in the junior circuit.
My runner-up was Gary Sanchez, the 23-year-old New York Yankees catcher who crushed 20 home runs, had 42 RBI, and hit .299 over just 229 plate appearances.
Third place went to Texas Rangers outfielder Nomar Mazara, who at 21 years of age hit 20 homers for the AL West champions.
MY BALLOT: 1 – Michael Fulmer (DET), 2 – Gary Sanchez (NYY), 3 – Nomar Mazara (TEX)