Superstar outfielders Julio Rodriguez, Michael Harris named top MLB rookies
21-year-old centre-fielders grab American League, National League honours
Seattle's Julio Rodriguez and Atlanta's Michael Harris II, a pair of 21-year-old centre-fielders, were voted rookies of the year on Monday.
Rodriguez hit .284 with 28 homers, 75 runs batted in and 25 stolen bases in helping the Mariners reach the post-season for the first time since 2001. He won the American League honour by receiving 29 of 30 first-place votes and one second for 148 points from a Baseball Writers' Association of America panel.
Harris batted .297 with 19 homers, 64 RBI and 20 steals after making his debut on May 28.
He was voted the National League award, getting 22 firsts and eight seconds for 134 points from a different BBWAA panel.
Baltimore catcher Adley Rutschman was second in the AL with 68 points, getting the other first-place vote, 18 seconds and nine thirds.
Cleveland left fielder Steven Kwan was third with 10 seconds and 14 thirds for 44 points. Kansas City infielder Bobby Witt Jr. had seven points, and Houston shortstop Jeremy Pena finished fifth with two points.
Voting was conducted before the postseason; Pena was voted MVP of the AL Championship Series and World Series.
Atlanta pitcher Spencer Strider was second with the other eight first-place votes on the NL side and 21 seconds for 103 points. Cardinals utilityman Brendan Donovan was third with 22 third-place votes and 22 points.
Rodriguez, the only rookie at this year's all-star game, became the fifth Seattle player to win the honour after first baseman Alvin Davis in 1984, right-handed reliever Kazuhiro Sasaki in 2000, right fielder Ichiro Suzuki in 2001 (when he also was voted MVP) and centre-fielder Kyle Lewis in 2020.
Harris is the seventh Atlanta player to win the award, joining catcher/infielder Earl Williams in 1971, third baseman Bob Horner in 1978, outfielder/first baseman David Justice in 1990, shortstop Rafael Fucal in 2000, reliever Craig Kimbrel in 2011 and outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. in 2018.
Rodriguez and the Mariners agreed in August to a 12-year, $209.3-million US contract starting next season that would be worth $469.6 million over 17 years if he wins two MVP awards.
