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Top 10 Rookie of the Year performances in the 2000s

By Ryota Nishino

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - AUGUST 03: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Aaron Judge of the Yankees in action. He is a former MLB rookie of the year. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - AUGUST 03: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Aaron Judge of the Yankees in action. He is a former MLB rookie of the year. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /
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Ichiro Suzuki of the Seattle Mariners watches his hit.
DIGITAL IMAGE Mandatory Credit: Ronald Martinez/ALLSPORT /

There have been some outstanding Rookie of the Year performances in the MLB since 2000, but there are 10 particular performances that stand out.

Since the 2000s, we have witnessed some outstanding rookies perform and go on to win the Rookie of the Year Award. But which rookie seasons were the best of the best? Here is the top 10 Rookie of the Year Award-winning performances starting with the top of the top.

No. 1: Ichiro Suzuki – 2001 Seattle Mariners

Although I may be a little biased here as a Mariners fan, there is no denying that Ichiro’s rookie season is at least in the top three. Ichiro Suzuki joined the Seattle Mariners in 2001, and he remains one of two MLB players to win the Rookie of the Year and Most Valuable Player Award in the same season. During his AL Rookie of the Year season, Ichiro also won his first of many Gold Glove Awards, Silver Slugger Awards, and All-Star selections. If these stats do not speak for themselves, let’s look at his stats.

In 2001, Ichiro had an offensive WAR of 6.2, and a defensive WAR of 1.0. The Mariners outfielder led the league with 56 stolen bases, a .350 batting average, and 242 hits. As the Mariners leadoff hitter, he also helped the Mariners win 116 games during the regular season. This remains the most wins in a 162 game season.

Ichiro also posted a 126 OPS+, .457 slugging, eight home runs, and drove in 69 runs. Ichiro is one of the best Seattle Mariners players ever to play and one of the greatest outfielders in MLB history. With his historic rookie season, he continued to produce year after year compiling 10 All-Star selections, 10 Gold Gloves, three Silver Sluggers, MVP, Rookie of the Year, a two-time batting title, and All-Star MVP. He might be another unanimous Hall of Fame inductee soon enough.

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