Kris Bryant named unanimous NL Rookie of the Year

Although neither man began Opening Day 2015 on the major league roster, Houston Astros shortstop Carlos Correa and Chicago Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant easily won AL & NL Rookie of the Year honors, respectively.

The RBI, doubles, runs scored and WAR (6.0) led all rookies, and he tied for the lead in home runs.

Correa received 17 first-place votes and 13 second-place votes, for a total of 124 points. San Francisco third baseman Matt Duffy was second with 70 points and Pittsburgh infielder Jung Ho Kang third with 28 points. “And that’s to win a World Series”. “And I sure hope to do that next season with the Cubs”. No one screwed this up: Kris Bryant is the National League Rookie of the Year.

The Cubs put it there when they drafted Bryant out of the University of San Diego with the second overall pick in 2013, right in the middle of a long-term rebuild for Theo Epstein’s front office and the Ricketts family that would focus on scouting and player development.

Bryant said he’d like to make more consistent contact to cut down on his league-leading 199 strikeouts, but overall couldn’t ask much more from a debut season in which he helped the Cubs reach the postseason for the first time since 2008.

“I play for the love of the game”, Bryant said. “And I certainly exceeded my expectations this year”.

“I just went out there, played as hard as I can with a little chip on my shoulder”. “He wants to be the best player in the game”.

“He means a lot to my baseball career”, Correa said. He also stole 13 bases in 17 attempts while providing very good defense at third base.

Bryant’s 26 homers surpassed Billy Williams’ rookie mark of 25 in 1961 – when Williams became the first Cubs player to win the BBWAA Rookie of the Year honor.

Seeking their first championship since 1908, the Cubs were swept by the NY Mets in the NLCS. Although Bryant’s. 275 batting average ranked ninth amongst National League rookies, his.

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.