Carlos Correa, Kris Bryant take Rookie of the Year Honors

By Francisco Romero

Houston Astros’ shortstop Carlos Correa was named the American League Rookie of the Year and Chicago Cubs’ Kris Bryant the National League Rookie of the Year by The Baseball Writers Association of America (BBWAA).

Carlos Correa (Houston Astros):

Correa, who debuted on June 8 and was the youngest position player in the Majors this season, hit .279 (108×387) with 22 doubles, 22 home runs, 68 RBI, 14 stolen bases and an .857 OPS in his 99 games in 2015. Among AL rookies, Correa ranked first in home runs, slugging (.512) and OPS, while ranking second in RBI and on-base percentage (.345), and third in batting average (min. 400 PA). With 22 home runs this season, Correa set both the franchise rookie record for home runs and the franchise record for home runs by a shortstop.

Picture Courtesy: Houston Astros

The only rookie shortstop in Major League history to record more career homers than Correa prior to turning 21 was Alex Rodriguez (26HR). Correa also became one of 19 players in Major League history to record 22 homers before his age-21 season, a list that includes seven Hall of Famers.

Correa’s success continued into October, as he became the youngest player in American League history to record a multi-homer game in the postseason, which he did in Game 4 of the ALDS. He also joined Joe DiMaggio (1936) and Mickey Mantle (1952) as just the third player in Major League history age 21 or younger to hit third in the starting lineup of a postseason game.

Kris Bryant (Chicago Cubs):

Bryant is the first player in franchise history to earn unanimous Rookie of the Year honors and the sixth player in team history to win overall, the first since catcher Geovany Soto in 2008. Outfielder Billy Williams (1961), infielder Ken Hubbs (1962), outfielder Jerome Walton (1989) and right-handed pitcher Kerry Wood (1998) join Bryant and Soto as Rookies of the Year in club history.

The 23-year-old Bryant was a 2015 National League All-Star and led all major league rookies in several offensive categories, including 26 home runs (tied), 99 RBI, 31 doubles and 87 runs scored while placing second with 77 walks. Bryant is only the second player in major league history to reach those totals in homers, RBI, doubles, runs and walks in his rookie campaign, joining Boston’s Ted Williams in 1939. Bryant this year also set rookie franchise records in home runs, RBI, total bases (273) and extra-base hits (62).

Bryant became only the sixth rookie in franchise history to make the N.L. All-Star team, the first since both Soto and outfielder Kosuke Fukudome in 2008. Bryant was the club’s first rookie infielder to make the squad since second baseman Don Johnson in 1944 and the club’s first 23-year-old or younger third baseman to make the team since 23-year-old Ron Santo in 1963.