March 28, 2024

Trout, Harper named MLB Rookies of the Year

NEW YORK (AP) — Mike Trout, the Los Angeles Angels’ 21-year-old center fielder, was a unanimous pick as the youngest winner of the American League Rookie of the Year award, and 20-year-old Washington Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper edged Arizona pitcher Wade Miley 112 points to 105 to become the second-youngest winner of the NL honor.

“It’s pretty neat,” said Trout, the son of former Minnesota minor leaguer Jeff Trout.

For the first time, players learned the voting results when they were announced on television.

Trout, who turned 21 on Aug. 7, received all 28 first-place votes from the AL panel of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America. He was the eighth unanimous AL pick and the first since Tampa Bay’s Evan Longoria in 2008.

There could be more to come, too. Trout is among five finalists for AL MVP and is considered the chief challenger to Triple Crown winner Miguel Cabrera for that award, which will be announced Thursday.