Cubs’ Bryant unanimous pick as NL Rookie of the Year

Today, neither team could be any happier with its choice.

With the announcement of each league’s Most Valuable Player, Cy Young Award and Manager of the Year winners looming, Chicago Cubs’ third baseman Kris Bryant has been unanimously named the National League Rookie of the Year while Houston Astros’ shortstop Carlos Correa took home the American League trophy.

“I think we’re in very similar situations in that we’re surrounded by a lot of young guys”, Bryant said. This one is unfurled against a wall on the first-base side of the ballpark. Looking back on my minor league season (in 2014), I hit a lot of my home runs to right center and right field.

“Now we know what it’s like to play playoff baseball”. He also won the NL’s Rookie of the Month twice and made it to the 2015 All-Star Game.

Bryant received all 30 first-place votes for 150 points in balloting by the BBWAA. Both players were called up to the majors within a week of each other in June and both played in 99 games. 345 on-base percentage did the same.

Bryant, the Cubs’ sixth Rookie of the Year, hit. Bryant also hit 31 doubles, scored 86 runs and drew 77 walks. In September and October, when the Astros walked the tightrope between a trip to the postseason and disaster, Correa hit. They finished third in the AL Central at 81-80.

And the 6-4, 210-pound Correa put up offensive numbers that drew comparisons to Alex Rodriguez and Cal Ripken Jr. At 21, Correa is just scratching the surface.

“There’s certain things that happen to you in your life that define you as a player”, he said, recalling the “chip on my shoulder” he carried from those high school rivals.

He didn’t specify if that was the reason, but the Cubs didn’t mind Bryant carrying that extra fire inside him.

Bryant did his live shot for the Major League Baseball Network award show with a Boras Corp. logo in the background. He also stole 13 bases.

“It’s awesome. … Truly an honor”, said Bryant, the third baseman who debuted as the Cubs’ cleanup hitter on April 17 and finished as the No. 3 batter in a playoff lineup that carried the Cubs to 97 regular-season wins and a playoff ride to the National League Championship Series. You really want to help your team win in any way possible. “I definitely exceeded my own expectations”.