RUNAWAY ROOKIES OF THE YEAR
A standout on the mound and at the plate for the Los Angeles Angels, Shohei Ohtani was an overwhelming pick for American League Rookie of the Year after becoming the first player since Babe Ruth a century ago with 10 homers and four pitching wins in the same season. Atlanta Braves outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr., 20, was a runaway pick for the National League honour.
Ohtani, 24, received 25 first-place votes and four seconds for 137 points from the Baseball Writers’ Association of America. Ohtani was 4-2 with a 3.31 ERA and 63 strikeouts over 512/3 innings in 10 starts, limited by a torn elbow ligament that required surgery on Oct. 1 and likely will prevent him from pitching next year. He batted .285 with 22 homers and 61 RBI and a .925 OPS.
Acuna hit .293 with 26 homers, 64 RBI and 16 steals with a .917 OPS.