Winner: Dustin Pedroia, Red Sox -- Story | Voting Results
User Choice: Dustin Pedroia, Red Sox
Scott Miller's prediction: Dustin Pedroia, Red Sox.
He is on the verge of becoming a breakout star following his contributions to Boston winning its second World Series in four seasons, but Pedroia already was deserving of the AL rookie award based on his regular-season numbers. He was predictably overshadowed by Goliaths David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez, and he one day might be overshadowed by his fellow 2007 rookie, Jacoby Ellsbury, who might become the next Grady Sizemore. But Pedroia overcame a terribly slow start to hit over .300 and played solid defense all year at second base, and don't underestimate how much pressure he played under in Boston.
The candidates
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Jacoby Ellsbury, BOS |
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It’s hard to think of the center fielder as a rookie with all the attention he received on the 2007 championship team. Technically he’s still a rookie because his 2007 June 30 call-up limited him to 33 games and 116 at-bats, maintaining his rookie status. In 2008, his most notable accomplishment was his 50 stolen bases, third in the majors and first in the AL.
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| AB | AVG | R | HR | RBI | SB |
| 554 | .280 | 98 | 9 | 47 | 50 |
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Armando Galarraga, DET |
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The righty overcame Detroit’s underperformance this season with a breakout rookie year. His 13 wins not only led the Tigers, but he is the club's only pitcher with more than 13 starts to post a winning record. What’s even more impressive is the 26-year-old righty was acquired in February from the Rangers and opened the season at Triple-A. He only earned his spot in the rotation after Dontrelle Willis went on the DL.
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| IP | W-L | ERA | SV | BB | K |
| 178.2 | 13-7 | 3.73 | 0 | 61 | 126 |
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Evan Longoria, TB |
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Even before the season began there was talk of Longoria as a Rookie of the Year candidate. He certainly met, if not exceeded, these expectations and was catapult into the limelight by his talent and the Rays’ unbelievable run to the postseason. His 27 homers led all major league rookies, and he did this despite spending the first two weeks in the minors and missing most of September with a wrist injury.
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| AB | AVG | R | HR | RBI | SB |
| 448 | .272 | 67 | 27 | 85 | 7 |
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Alexei Ramirez, CHW |
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It took no time at all for Ramirez to settle into the majors after coming straight from Cuba. He played mostly at second base for the White Sox but he appeared six times in center field and twice at shortstop. He continued to come up big for the White Sox, including four grand slams on the season, a rookie record. His biggest hit of the year was the tiebreaking grand slam against Detroit to force the one-game tiebreaker that eventually landed the White Sox the AL Central title.
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| AB | AVG | R | HR | RBI | SB |
| 480 | .290 | 65 | 21 | 77 | 13 |
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Poll
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Who will be the AL Rookie of the Year?
| 17% | Delmon Young TB |
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| 7% | Brian Bannister KC |
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| 71% | Dustin Pedroia BOS |
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| 6% | Daisuke Matsuzaka BOS |
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| Total Votes: 17252 |
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| Past Results | | Year | Winner | | 2006 | Justin Verlander, Detroit | | 2005 | Houston Street, Oakland | | 2004 | Bobby Crosby, Oakland | | 2003 | Angel Berroa, Kansas City | | Complete list | |
