Major League Baseball kicked off its annual awards week Monday night by announcing the Jackie Robinson Rookie of the Year Award winners in each league. (The Manager of the Year awards will be presented on Tuesday, the Cy Young Awards on Wednesday and the Most Valuable Players on Thursday.)
These awards are voted on by 30 members of the Baseball Writers Association of America (that's two each). Major League Baseball cities in each league). The votes were cast before the playoffs began, meaning only regular season votes counted.
Kurtz named AL Rookie of the Year
Athletics first baseman Nick Kurtz took home honors in the American League as the best teammate and best player in the Athletics. Jacob Wilson And Boston Red Sox outfielder Roman Anthony.
Kurtz, 22, hit .290/.383/.619 (173 OPS+) with 36 home runs and 86 runs scored in 117 games. Baseball Reference calculates his contribution to be approximately 5.4 wins above replacement. Kurtz led all qualifying rookies in home runs and slugging percentage.
Kurtz is the first Athletics player to win the Rookie of the Year award since Andrew Bailey in 2009. He is the first position player to do so since shortstop Bobby Crosby in 2004. Overall, Kurtz is the ninth player in the Athletics to ever win the award, although that count includes the franchise's time in Philadelphia and Oakland.
Wilson, 23, hit .311/.355/.444 (121 OPS+) with 13 home runs and five stolen bases in 125 games.
Anthony, 21, batted .292/.396/.463 (140 OPS+) with eight home runs and four stolen bases in 71 games.
