No. 6: Jose Abreu – 2014 Chicago White Sox
My sixth best Rookie of the Year performance after the 2000s is Jose Abreu in 2014. He played his first season in the MLB as a 27-year-old and has been a consistent producer ever since. Abreu recently won his first AL MVP and was even considered for the MVP Award in his rookie season. The first baseman posted a .317 average, .581 slugging (led league), 173 OPS+ (led league), 36 home runs, and 107 RBIs.
Abreu was also a 2014 All-Star, a Silver Slugger Award winner, and finished fourth in MVP voting. The White Sox slugger also had a 6.8 offensive WAR, and -2 defensive WAR. After wowing White Sox fans in his first season, he has become one of the most consistent hitters in the MLB. He turns 34-years-old next January and has been selected as an All-Star player three times, won three Silver Sluggers, and won 2020 MVP during his White Sox career.
The White Sox have not had a solid first baseman since Paul Konerko, and Abreu has supplied that. In seven seasons, Abreu has a career .294 average, .520 slugging, and 136 OPS+. He is close to reaching the 200 home run mark and is near 700 RBIs. In the 2020 regular season, Abreu led the league in hits, RBIs, sluggings, and total bases. Abreu will look to lead the team on another postseason run with his young sluggers.