Major League Baseball Rookie of the Year Award

In Major League Baseball, the Rookie of the Year Award is given each year to one player from each league as voted on by the Baseball Writers Association of America (BBWAA). The award was start in 1940 by the Chicago chapter of the BBWAA. They selected a winner every year from 1940 through 1946. The award became national in 1947; Jackie Robinson, the Brooklyn Dodgers' first baseman, won the first award. One award was presented for both leagues in 1947 and 1948; since 1949, the honor has been given to one player each in the National and American League. At first, the award was known as the J. Louis Comiskey Memorial Award, named after the Chicago White Sox owner of the 1930s. The award was renamed the Jackie Robinson Award in July 1987, 40 years after Jackie Robinson broke the baseball color line.

Jackie Robinson, the first winner in 1947. The award was later named after Robinson

Of the 128 players named Rookie of the Year, 19 have been selected for the National Baseball Hall of Fame—Jackie Robinson, seven American League players, and eleven others from the National League. The award has been shared twice: once by Butch Metzger and Pat Zachry of the National League in 1976; and once by John Castino and Alfredo Griffin of the American League in 1979. Members of the Brooklyn and Los Angeles Dodgers have won the most awards of any team (with 16). This is twice the total of the New York Yankees (eight), who have won the most in the American League. Fred Lynn and Ichiro Suzuki are the only two players who have been named Rookie of the Year and Most Valuable Player in the same year. Fernando Valenzuela is the only player to have won Rookie of the Year and the Cy Young Award in the same year. Sam Jethroe is the oldest player to have won the award, at age 32, 33 days older than 2000 winner Kazuhiro Sasaki (also 32). Michael Harris III of the Atlanta Braves and Julio Rodríguez of the Seattle Mariners are the 2022 winners.

Qualifications and voting

Hideo Nomo won in 1995, the first of several players to win with past baseball experience in Nippon Professional Baseball.

From 1947 through 1956, each BBWAA voter had their own rules for decide who was a rookie. In 1957, the BBWAA first defined the term as someone with fewer than 75 at bats or 45 innings pitched in any Major League season before the current season. This guideline was later changed to 90 at bats, 45 innings pitched, or 45 days on a Major League roster before September 1 of the last year. The current rule is 130 at bats, 50 innings pitched or 45 days on the active roster of a Major League club (except for time in military service or on the disabled list) before September 1 was first used in 1971. Since 1980, each voter names three rookies: a first-place choice is given five points, a second-place choice three points, and a third-place choice one point. The award goes to the player who receives the most total points. Edinson Volquez received three second-place votes in 2008 even though he was not a rookie under the award's definition.

Some baseball writers have criticized the voting in recent years because several players who played in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) have won the award. These winners include Hideo Nomo in 1995, Kazuhiro Sasaki in 2000, and Ichiro Suzuki in 2001. The current definition of rookie for the award is based only on Major League playing. Some writers feel that past NPB players are not true rookies because of their past professional playing. This issue came up in 2003 when Hideki Matsui lost the AL award to Ángel Berroa in a close vote. Jim Souhan of the Minneapolis Star Tribune said he did not think Matsui was a rookie in 2003 because "it would be an insult to the Japanese league to pretend that experience didn't count." The Japan Times had a story in 2007 on calling Daisuke Matsuzaka, Kei Igawa, and Hideki Okajima as rookies, saying "[t]hese guys aren't rookies." Past winners such as Jackie Robinson, Don Newcombe, and Sam Jethroe had professional experience in the Negro Leagues.

Winners

Key

Cal Ripken, Jr. won in 1982, and is one of 14 Hall of Famers to win Rookie of the Year honors.

Year	Links to the article about the corresponding Major League Baseball season
†	Member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
^	Denotes player who is still active
*	Denotes year in which the award was shared

Major Leagues combined (1947–48)

Year	Player	Team	Position	Selected statistics	Ref
1947	Jackie Robinson†	Brooklyn Dodgers	1B	.297 batting average 125 runs scored 29 stolen bases
1948	Alvin Dark	Boston Braves	SS	.322 batting average 3 home runs 48 runs batted in

American League winners (1949–present)

Evan Longoria, the 2008 AL winner

Dustin Pedroia, the 2007 AL winner

Justin Verlander, the 2006 AL winner

Year	Player	Team	Position	Selected statistics	Ref
1949	Roy Sievers	St. Louis Browns	OF	.306 batting average 16 home runs 91 runs batted in
1950	Walt Dropo	Boston Red Sox	1B	.322 batting average 34 home runs 144 runs batted in
1951	Gil McDougald	New York Yankees	3B	.306 batting average 14 home runs 63 runs batted in
1952	Harry Byrd	Philadelphia Athletics	P	3.31 earned run average 15 complete games 15–15 record in 37 appearances (28 games started)
1953	Harvey Kuenn	Detroit Tigers	SS	.308 batting average 94 runs scored 209 hits
1954	Bob Grim	New York Yankees	P	3.26 earned run average 199 innings pitched 20–6 record in 37 appearances (20 games started)
1955	Herb Score	Cleveland Indians	P	2.85 earned run average 227​1⁄3 innings pitched 16–10 record in 32 games started
1956	Luis Aparicio†	Chicago White Sox	SS	.266 batting average 21 stolen bases 69 runs scored
1957	Tony Kubek	New York Yankees	SS	.297 batting average 56 runs scored 39 runs batted in
1958	Albie Pearson	Washington Senators	OF	.275 batting average 3 home runs 63 runs scored
1959	Bob Allison	Washington Senators	OF	.261 batting average 30 home runs 85 runs batted in
1960	Ron Hansen	Baltimore Orioles	SS	.255 batting average 22 home runs 86 runs batted in
1961	Don Schwall	Boston Red Sox	P	3.22 earned run average 178​2⁄3 innings pitched 15–7 record in 25 games started
1962	Tom Tresh	New York Yankees	SS	.286 batting average 20 home runs 93 runs batted in
1963	Gary Peters	Chicago White Sox	P	2.33 earned run average 243 innings pitched 19–8 record in 41 appearances (30 games started)
1964	Tony Oliva	Minnesota Twins	OF	.323 batting average 32 home runs 94 runs batted in
1965	Curt Blefary	Baltimore Orioles	OF	.260 batting average 22 home runs 70 runs batted in
1966	Tommie Agee	Chicago White Sox	OF	.273 batting average 44 stolen bases 98 runs scored
1967	Rod Carew†	Minnesota Twins	2B	.292 batting average 8 home runs 66 runs scored
1968	Stan Bahnsen	New York Yankees	P	2.05 earned run average 267​1⁄3 innings pitched 17–12 record in 34 games started
1969	Lou Piniella	Kansas City Royals	OF	.282 batting average 11 home runs 68 runs batted in
1970	Thurman Munson	New York Yankees	C	.302 batting average 53 runs batted in 52% caught stealing percentage in the field
1971	Chris Chambliss	Cleveland Indians	1B	.275 batting average 9 home runs 48 runs batted in
1972	Carlton Fisk†	Boston Red Sox	C	.293 batting average 22 home runs 61 runs batted in
1973	Al Bumbry	Baltimore Orioles	OF	.337 batting average 11 triples 73 runs scored
1974	Mike Hargrove	Texas Rangers	1B	.323 batting average .395 on-base percentage 66 runs batted in
1975	Fred Lynn	Boston Red Sox	OF	.331 batting average 47 doubles 105 runs batted in
1976	Mark Fidrych	Detroit Tigers	P	2.34 earned run average 24 complete games 19–9 record in 29 games started
1977	Eddie Murray†	Baltimore Orioles	DH	.283 batting average 27 home runs 88 runs batted in
1978	Lou Whitaker	Detroit Tigers	2B	.285 batting average 3 home runs 58 runs batted in
1979*	John Castino	Minnesota Twins	3B	.285 batting average 8 triples 52 runs batted in
1979*	Alfredo Griffin	Toronto Blue Jays	SS	.287 batting average 10 triples 81 runs scored
1980	Joe Charboneau	Cleveland Indians	OF	.289 batting average 23 home runs 87 runs batted in
1981	Dave Righetti	New York Yankees	P	2.05 earned run average 105​1⁄3 innings pitched 8–4 record in 15 games started
1982	Cal Ripken, Jr.†	Baltimore Orioles	SS	.264 batting average 28 home runs 93 runs batted in
1983	Ron Kittle	Chicago White Sox	OF	.254 batting average 35 home runs 100 runs batted in
1984	Alvin Davis	Seattle Mariners	1B	.284 batting average 27 home runs 116 runs batted in
1985	Ozzie Guillén	Chicago White Sox	SS	.273 batting average 9 triples 71 runs scored
1986	José Canseco	Oakland Athletics	OF	.240 batting average 33 home runs 117 runs batted in
1987	Mark McGwire	Oakland Athletics	1B	.289 batting average 49 home runs 118 runs batted in
1988	Walt Weiss	Oakland Athletics	SS	.250 batting average 3 home runs 39 runs batted in
1989	Gregg Olson	Baltimore Orioles	P	1.69 earned run average 85 innings pitched 27 saves
1990	Sandy Alomar Jr	Cleveland Indians	C	.290 batting average 9 home runs 66 runs batted in
1991	Chuck Knoblauch	Minnesota Twins	2B	.281 batting average 25 stolen bases 78 runs scored
1992	Pat Listach	Milwaukee Brewers	SS	.290 batting average 54 stolen bases 93 runs scored
1993	Tim Salmon	California Angels	OF	.283 batting average 31 home runs 95 runs batted in
1994	Bob Hamelin	Kansas City Royals	DH	.282 batting average 24 home runs 65 runs batted in
1995	Marty Cordova	Minnesota Twins	OF	.277 batting average 24 home runs 84 runs batted in
1996	Derek Jeter^	New York Yankees	SS	.314 batting average 10 home runs 104 runs scored
1997	Nomar Garciaparra	Boston Red Sox	SS	.306 batting average 30 home runs 122 runs scored
1998	Ben Grieve	Oakland Athletics	OF	.288 batting average 18 home runs 89 runs batted in
1999	Carlos Beltrán^	Kansas City Royals	OF	.293 batting average 22 home runs 108 runs batted in
2000	Kazuhiro Sasaki	Seattle Mariners	P	3.16 earned run average 78 strikeouts 37 saves
2001	Ichiro Suzuki^	Seattle Mariners	OF	.350 batting average 56 stolen bases 127 runs scored
2002	Eric Hinske^	Toronto Blue Jays	3B	.279 batting average 24 home runs 84 runs batted in
2003	Ángel Berroa^	Kansas City Royals	SS	.287 batting average 21 stolen bases 92 runs scored
2004	Bobby Crosby^	Oakland Athletics	SS	.239 batting average 22 home runs 64 runs batted in
2005	Huston Street^	Oakland Athletics	P	1.72 earned run average 78​1⁄3 innings pitched 23 saves
2006	Justin Verlander^	Detroit Tigers	P	3.63 earned run average 186 innings pitched 17–9 record in 30 games started
2007	Dustin Pedroia^	Boston Red Sox	2B	.317 batting average 39 doubles 86 runs scored
2008	Evan Longoria^	Tampa Bay Rays	3B	.272 batting average 27 home runs 85 runs batted in
2009	Andrew Bailey^	Oakland Athletics	P	1.84 earned run average 83​1⁄3 innings pitched 26 saves
2010	Neftali Feliz^	Texas Rangers	P	2.73 earned run average 69​1⁄3 innings pitched 40 saves
2011	Jeremy Hellickson^	Tampa Bay Rays	P	2.95 earned run average 117 strikeouts 13–10 record in 29 games started
2012	Mike Trout^§	Los Angeles Angels	OF	.326 batting average 30 home runs 129 runs scored 49 stolen bases
2013	Wil Myers^	Tampa Bay Rays	OF	.293 batting average 13 home runs 53 runs batted in
2014	José Abreu^§	Chicago White Sox	1B	.317 batting average 36 home runs 107 runs batted in
2015	Carlos Correa^	Houston Astros	SS	.279 batting average 22 home runs 68 runs batted in
2016	Michael Fulmer^	Detroit Tigers	P	3.06 earned run average 132 strikeouts 11–7 record in 26 games started
2017	Aaron Judge^§	New York Yankees	OF	.284 batting average 52 home runs 114 runs batted in 128 runs scored
2018	Shohei Ohtani^	Los Angeles Angels	P/DH	.285 batting average 22 home runs 4–2 record in 11 games started 63 strikeouts
2019	Yordan Álvarez^§	Houston Astros	DH/OF	.313 batting average 27 home runs 78 runs batted in 58 runs scored
2020	Kyle Lewis^§	Seattle Mariners	OF	.267 batting average 11 home runs 28 runs batted in 37 runs scored
2021	Randy Arozarena^	Tampa Bay Rays	OF	.274 batting average 20 home runs 69 runs batted in 94 runs scored
2022	Julio Rodríguez^	Seattle Mariners	OF	.284 batting average 28 home runs 25 stolen bases 75 runs batted in 84 runs scored

National League winners (1949–present)

Geovany Soto, 2008 NL winner

Ryan Braun, 2007 NL winner

Ryan Howard, 2005 NL winner

Year	Player	Team	Position	Selected statistics	Ref
1949	Don Newcombe	Brooklyn Dodgers	P	3.17 earned run average 5 shutouts 17–8 record in 31 games started
1950	Sam Jethroe	Boston Braves	OF	.273 batting average 35 stolen bases 100 runs scored
1951	Willie Mays†	New York Giants	OF	.274 batting average 20 home runs 68 runs batted in
1952	Joe Black	Brooklyn Dodgers	P	2.15 earned run average 15 saves 15–4 record in 56 appearances
1953	Jim Gilliam	Brooklyn Dodgers	2B	.278 batting average 17 triples 125 runs scored
1954	Wally Moon	St. Louis Cardinals	OF	.304 batting average 12 home runs 106 runs scored
1955	Bill Virdon	St. Louis Cardinals	OF	.281 batting average 17 home runs 68 runs batted in
1956	Frank Robinson†	Cincinnati Reds	OF	.290 batting average 38 home runs 122 runs scored
1957	Jack Sanford	Philadelphia Phillies	P	3.08 earned run average 188 strikeouts 19–8 record in 33 games started
1958	Orlando Cepeda†	San Francisco Giants	1B	.312 batting average 25 home runs 96 runs batted in
1959	Willie McCovey†	San Francisco Giants	1B	.354 batting average 13 home runs 38 runs batted in
1960	Frank Howard	Los Angeles Dodgers	OF	.268 batting average 23 home runs 77 runs batted in
1961	Billy Williams†	Chicago Cubs	OF	.278 batting average 25 home runs 86 runs batted in
1962	Ken Hubbs	Chicago Cubs	2B	.260 batting average 90 runs scored Gold Glove Award
1963	Pete Rose	Cincinnati Reds	2B	.273 batting average 9 triples 101 runs scored
1964	Dick Allen	Philadelphia Phillies	3B	.318 batting average 13 triples 125 runs scored
1965	Jim Lefebvre	Los Angeles Dodgers	2B	.250 batting average 12 home runs 69 runs batted in
1966	Tommy Helms	Cincinnati Reds	2B	.284 batting average 9 home runs 72 runs scored
1967	Tom Seaver†	New York Mets	P	2.76 earned run average 251 innings pitched 16–13 record in 34 games started
1968	Johnny Bench†	Cincinnati Reds	C	.275 batting average 15 home runs 82 runs batted in
1969	Ted Sizemore	Los Angeles Dodgers	2B	.271 batting average 4 home runs 69 runs scored
1970	Carl Morton	Montreal Expos	P	3.60 earned run average 284​2⁄3 innings pitched 18–11 record in 43 appearances (37 games started)
1971	Earl Williams	Atlanta Braves	C	.260 batting average 33 home runs 87 runs batted in
1972	Jon Matlack	New York Mets	P	2.32 earned run average 244 innings pitched 15–10 record in 32 games started
1973	Gary Matthews	San Francisco Giants	OF	.300 batting average 12 home runs 74 runs scored
1974	Bake McBride	St. Louis Cardinals	OF	.309 batting average 30 stolen bases 81 runs scored
1975	John Montefusco	San Francisco Giants	P	2.88 earned run average 215 strikeouts 15–9 record on 34 games started
1976*	Butch Metzger	San Diego Padres	P	2.92 earned run average 16 saves 11–4 record in 77 appearances
1976*	Pat Zachry	Cincinnati Reds	P	2.74 earned run average 204 innings pitched 14–7 record in 38 appearances (28 games started)
1977	Andre Dawson†	Montreal Expos	OF	.282 batting average 19 home runs 65 runs batted in
1978	Bob Horner	Atlanta Braves	3B	.266 batting average 23 home runs 63 runs batted in
1979	Rick Sutcliffe	Los Angeles Dodgers	P	3.46 earned run average 242 innings pitched 17–10 record in 39 appearances (30 games started)
1980	Steve Howe	Los Angeles Dodgers	P	2.66 earned run average 84​2⁄3 innings pitched 17 saves
1981	Fernando Valenzuela	Los Angeles Dodgers	P	2.48 earned run average 8 shutouts 13–7 record in 25 games started
1982	Steve Sax	Los Angeles Dodgers	2B	.282 batting average 49 stolen bases 88 runs scored
1983	Darryl Strawberry	New York Mets	OF	.257 batting average 26 home runs 74 runs batted in
1984	Dwight Gooden	New York Mets	P	2.60 earned run average 276 strikeouts 17–9 record in 31 games started
1985	Vince Coleman	St. Louis Cardinals	OF	.267 batting average 110 stolen bases 107 runs scored
1986	Todd Worrell	St. Louis Cardinals	P	2.08 earned run average 103​2⁄3 innings pitched 36 saves
1987	Benito Santiago	San Diego Padres	C	.300 batting average 18 home runs 79 runs batted in
1988	Chris Sabo	Cincinnati Reds	3B	.271 batting average 46 stolen bases 74 runs scored
1989	Jerome Walton	Chicago Cubs	OF	.293 batting average 24 stolen bases 64 runs scored
1990	David Justice	Atlanta Braves	OF	.282 batting average 28 home runs 78 runs batted in
1991	Jeff Bagwell	Houston Astros	1B	.294 batting average 15 home runs 82 runs batted in
1992	Eric Karros	Los Angeles Dodgers	1B	.257 batting average 20 home runs 88 runs batted in
1993	Mike Piazza	Los Angeles Dodgers	C	.318 batting average 35 home runs 112 runs batted in
1994	Raúl Mondesí	Los Angeles Dodgers	OF	.306 batting average 16 home runs 56 runs batted in
1995	Hideo Nomo	Los Angeles Dodgers	P	2.54 earned run average 236 strikeouts 13–6 record in 28 games started
1996	Todd Hollandsworth	Los Angeles Dodgers	OF	.291 batting average 12 home runs 59 runs batted in
1997	Scott Rolen^	Philadelphia Phillies	3B	.283 batting average 21 home runs 92 runs batted in
1998	Kerry Wood^	Chicago Cubs	P	3.40 earned run average 233 strikeouts 13–6 record in 26 games started
1999	Scott Williamson^	Cincinnati Reds	P	2.41 earned run average 19 saves 12–7 record in 62 appearances
2000	Rafael Furcal^	Atlanta Braves	SS	.295 batting average 40 stolen bases 87 runs scored
2001	Albert Pujols^	St. Louis Cardinals	3B	.329 batting average 37 home runs 130 runs batted in
2002	Jason Jennings^	Colorado Rockies	P	4.52 earned run average 185​1⁄3 innings pitched 16–8 record in 32 games started
2003	Dontrelle Willis^	Florida Marlins	P	3.30 earned run average 160​2⁄3 innings pitched 14–6 record in 27 games started
2004	Jason Bay^	Pittsburgh Pirates	OF	.282 batting average 26 home runs 82 runs batted in
2005	Ryan Howard^	Philadelphia Phillies	1B	.288 batting average 22 home runs 63 runs batted in
2006	Hanley Ramirez^	Florida Marlins	SS	.292 batting average 51 stolen bases 119 runs scored
2007	Ryan Braun^	Milwaukee Brewers	3B	.324 batting average 34 home runs 97 runs batted in
2008	Geovany Soto^	Chicago Cubs	C	.285 batting average 23 home runs 86 runs batted in
2009	Chris Coghlan^	Florida Marlins	OF	.321 batting average 162 base hits 84 runs scored
2010	Buster Posey^	San Francisco Giants	C	.305 batting average 18 home runs 67 runs batted in
2011	Craig Kimbrel^§	Atlanta Braves	P	2.10 earned run average 127 strikeouts in 77 innings pitched 46 saves
2012	Bryce Harper^	Washington Nationals	OF	.270 batting average 22 home runs 59 runs batted in
2013	José Fernández^	Miami Marlins	P	2.19 earned run average 0.98 WHIP 12 wins
2014	Jacob deGrom^	New York Mets	P	2.69 earned run average 1.14 WHIP 9 wins
2015	Kris Bryant^§	Chicago Cubs	3B	.275 batting average 26 home runs 99 runs batted in
2016	Corey Seager^§	Los Angeles Dodgers	SS	.308 batting average 26 home runs 72 runs batted in
2017	Cody Bellinger^§	Los Angeles Dodgers	1B	.267 batting average 39 home runs 97 runs batted in
2018	Ronald Acuña Jr.^	Atlanta Braves	OF	.293 batting average 26 home runs 64 runs batted in
2019	Pete Alonso^	New York Mets	1B	.260 batting average 53 home runs+ 120 runs batted in 103 runs scored
2020	Devin Williams^	Milwaukee Brewers	P	0.33 earned run average 0.63 WHIP 53 strikeouts in 27 innings pitched
2021	Jonathan India^	Cincinnati Reds	3B	.269 batting average 21 home runs 69 runs batted in 98 runs scored
2022	Michael Harris II^	Atlanta Braves	OF	.297 batting average 19 home runs 64 runs batted in 75 runs scored

Related pages

• This Year in Baseball Awards Rookie of the Year
• Players Choice Awards Outstanding Rookie
• Baseball America Rookie of the Year
• The Sporting News Rookie of the Year Award
• Rookie of the Month
• Topps All-Star Rookie Teams
• Baseball awards
• Rookie of the Year Award (all sports)
• Rookie of the Year (movie)

References

General

• "Rookie of the Year winners". Major League Baseball. Retrieved 2009-09-10.
• "Rookie of the Year Awards & Rolaids Relief Award Winners". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved 2009-09-10.

Inline citations