He had 150 points, well ahead of San Francisco third baseman Matt Duffy (70) and Pittsburgh infielder Jung Ho Kang (28).
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It’s wasn’t a big surprise or anything, but Chicago third baseman Kris Bryant was officially named the National League’s Rookie of the Year on Monday night. He made the 2015 National League All-Star team and led all MLB rookies in several important categories, including 26 home runs (tied), 99 runs batted in (RBIs), 31 doubles and 87 runs scored. 279 with 22 homers, 68 RBIs and 14 steals, helping the Astros make their first post-season appearance in a decade. “I certainly exceeded my expectations this year”.
Carlos Correa of the Houston Astros was named AL Rookie of the Year later Monday. Bryant led Major League Baseball rookies with a WAR of 6.5, according to FanGraphs.
As Baseball America’s No. 1 prospect heading into the season, Bryant did all this with a huge target on his back. “We kind of brought ourselves together and learned from one another, and it really made the learning curve a lot easier for us”.
Correa, 21, received 17 of 30 first place votes. He received 13 first place votes and finished a very close second in the voting. I started the year in Double-A.
If the entire league still wasn’t on alert regarding Correa’s status as an “elite” young player, it is now. Bryant is the Cubs’ sixth victor and first since catcher Geovany Soto in 2008.
Bryant and Correa each earned the major league minimum salary of $507,500.
Despite not being promoted to the Cubs from Triple-A Iowa until April 17, Bryant compiled arguably the most impressive season by a Cubs rookie in franchise rookie while quelling questions about his ability to play third base despite his 6-foot-5, 215-pound frame.
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Giants teammates and coaches recognized Duffy’s contributions in October by making him the first rookie to win the team’s Willie Mac Award, given annually to the Giants’ most inspirational player. “In high school I kind of got labeled like I didn’t really care about playing just because I was so relaxed out there, but that couldn’t be any further from the truth”.
