The Baseball Writers Association of America announced the Rookie of the Year Award tonight and Braves catcher Drake Baldwin won the National League award over second-place right-hander Cade Horton of the Cubs. Baldwin received 21 first-place votes and 183 points. Horton received the other nine first-place votes and a vote total of 139.
First baseman Nick Kurtz of the Athletics was the unanimous winner in the American League.
Baldwin was a rare bright spot for the Braves this year, hitting .274/.341/.469
over 124 games. Baldwin started the season with the Braves as well, so Atlanta will get an extra pick in next year’s MLB Draft.
Horton didn’t join the Cubs until May 10 and he struggled a bit for the first two months of his major league career. However, after the All-Star Break he not only was the best rookie pitcher in the majors, he was one of the best pitchers in the majors, period. For the year, Horton went 11-4 with a 2.67 ERA. However after the All-Star Break, Horton went 8-1 with a 1.03. He unfortunately missed the playoffs with a rib injury, which may have been the difference in the Division Series with the Brewers.
Because Horton finished second in Rookie of the Year balloting, he gets credit for a full year of service time, despite not joining the major league team until May.
Cubs third baseman Matt Shaw also received Rookie of the Year votes, getting one third-place vote and one fifth-place vote. That put him in a tie for ninth in the balloting.
Congratulations to Cade Horton and here’s wishing he wins Cy Young Awards in future years.
