The Baseball Writers’ Association of America announced it’s 2018 Jackie Robinson Rookie of the Year Award winners for the National and American Leagues on Monday evening, kicking off MLB’s annual awards season.
Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim took home the AL honors. The two-way star from Japan took MLB by storm this season, despite missing a portion of the year due to UCL damage (Tommy John surgery, Oct 1).
The 24-year old outfielder hit .285/.361/.564 with 22 home runs, 61 runs batted in, a .390 weighted on-base average, 152 weighted runs created plus rating, and 152 OPS+ in 104 games (367 plate appearances).
On the mound, Ohtani pitched to a 4-2 record in ten starts with a 3.31 earned-run average, 3.57 fielding independent pitching rating, and 1.161 WHIP, with 63 strikeouts, 22 walks, and a 126 ERA+.
Ohtani was up against two New York Yankees neophytes, third baseman Miguel Andujar and middle-infielder Gleyber Torres.
Andujar, 23, slashed .297/.328/.527 with 27 homers, 92 RBI, a .361 wOBA, 128 wRC+, and 126 OPS+ in 149 games played. He tied a 33-year-old AL rookie-record with 47 doubles (Fred Lynn, Red Sox, 1975).
Torres, 21, hit .271/.340/.480 with 24 home runs, 77 RBI, a .349 wOBA, 120 wRC+, and 118 OPS+ in 123 games, playing mostly second base (109 games) and some shortstop (21 games).
Ronald Acuna Jr. of the Atlanta Braves won the NL hardware, beating out Juan Soto of the Washington Nationals and Walker Buehler of the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Acuna, 20, slashed .293/.366/.552 in 111 games (487 plate appearances), with 26 home runs, 64 RBI, a 144 OPS+, .388 wOBA, and 143 wRC+ for the NL East champion Braves.
The 20-year-old Soto hit .292/.406/.517 with 22 homers, 70 RBI, a .392 wOBA, 146 wRC+, and 142 OPS+ in 116 games for the Nats. Buehler, 24, went 8-5 in 24 starts (137.1 innings) with a 2.62 ERA, 3.04 FIP, 3.21 xFIP, and 0.961 WHIP, with 151 strikeouts, 37 walks, and a 148 ERA+ for the NL West champs.
New York Mets second baseman Jeff McNeil received one third-place vote after hitting .329/.381/.471 with 21 extra-base hits, a .368 wOBA, 137 wRC+, and 140 OPS+ in 248 plate appearances.
The BBWAA will announce their AL and NL Manager of the Year Award winners on Tuesday at 6 PM EST (MLB Network). Keep it locked onto MMO for all award week results/recaps and breaking offseason news!
