Judge, Bellinger are top rookies
The only major question was whether it would be unanimous – and it was.
Aaron Judge and Cody Bellinger are baseball’s rookies of the year for 2017 after their record-setting home run binges eliminated any reasonable competition for the honors. Judge led the American League with 52 homers, the most ever by a rookie. Bellinger hit 39 and had to settle for the National League’s rookie record.
Judge and Bellinger received every first-place vote available from the Baseball Writers’ Association of America. Judge became the first New York Yankees player to receive this award since Derek Jeter in 1996. Bellinger gave the Dodgers a record 18th rookie of the year winner.
Boston outfielder Andrew Benintendi finished second in the AL vote, followed by Baltimore slugger Trey Mancini. St. Louis infielder Paul DeJong was the NL runner-up, with Pittsburgh first baseman Josh Bell finishing third.
Judge also is a finalist for the MVP award. Ichiro Suzuki in 2001 and Fred Lynn in 1975 are the only players to win the AL MVP and rookie of the year awards in the same season.
Yost survives scare: Ned Yost spent Monday afternoon in a lounge chair at his farm just outside Atlanta, the pain from a shattered pelvis so unbearable that the only movement the Royals manager could make was to reposition.
Just over a week ago, the former Brewers manager was working in a hunting stand on his property when he reached to attach a safety line. The stand somehow collapsed and Yost fell about 20 feet to the ground, and the landing was so hard that he sustained a “massive fracture” to his pelvis and four broken ribs.
He also lost so much blood that surgeons later told him he nearly died.
Braves hire new GM: The Atlanta Braves have hired former Dodgers and Blue Jays executive Alex Anthopoulos as their general manager, giving the team a young but experienced leader to provide stability amid a crisis.
Anthopoulos also was named executive vice president in control of baseball operations.
The 40-year-old Anthopoulos succeeds John Coppolella, who was forced to resign on Oct. 2 after an ongoing investigation by Major League Baseball disclosed rule violations committed by the Braves in the international player market.
Beltran retires: Carlos Beltran is retiring at age 40 after winning his first World Series title in his 20th majorleague season.
The outfielder made the announcement Monday, 12 days after the Houston Astros beat the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 7 of the World Series.
Beltran is a nine-time all-star who won three Gold Gloves.