AL Rookie of the Year

CBSSports.com staff

Winner: Evan Longoria, Tampa Bay -- Story | Voting Results
User Choice: Evan Longoria
Danny Knobler's prediction: Evan Longoria.
It seems the Rays knew what they were doing when they used the third overall draft pick in 2006 on Longoria (after Luke Hochevar and Greg Reynolds went 1-2). It seems the Rays knew what they were doing when they signed Longoria to a six-year, $17.5 million contract after he had played just six big league games. It seems like manager Joe Maddon knew what he was doing when he made Longoria his cleanup hitter soon after the All-Star break. Now, unless a whole bunch of voters don't know what they're doing, Longoria will become the first Tampa Bay player to win a BBWAA award.

The candidates

Elvis Andrus, SS, Rangers

If Andrus wins the award, he would be the first Rangers player to win since Mike Hargrove in 1974. He was the highly-touted prospect with exceptional defense and arrived in the majors meeting all expectations. With a lackluster pitching staff, his defense helped keep the Rangers in contention. He also managed to be productive offensively and was able to steal 33 bases, tied with Cecil Espy's club record for rookies back in 1988.

AB	HR	AVG	RBI	R	SB
480	6	.267	40	72	33

	Jeff Niemann, SP, Rays
	He entered the season in competition for the fifth spot, but ended up leading the Rays in wins (13) and threw two complete-game shutouts. Instead David Price, the Rays' No. 1 pick in 2007, impacting the club in ’09 it was Niemann. The triple threat of Niemann, Price and Wade Davis leave the Rays’ loaded with young pitching talent.

IP	W-L	SV	ERA	Ks	BB
180.2	13-6	0	3.94	125	59

Rick Porcello, SP, Tigers

Tigers Manager Jim Leyland had enough confidence in his 20-year-old rookie starter that Porcello was tagged to pitch the AL tiebreaker where he performed like a seasoned veteran under the pressure. Like Niemann, Porcello was a surprise to make the rotation out of spring training and tallied 14 wins for the Tigers (second only to Justin Verlander’s 19). He finished the season as one of four pitchers to win 14 or more games 20 years old or younger.

IP	W-L	SV	ERA	Ks	BB
170.2	14-9	0	3.96	89	52

	Andrew Bailey, RP, Athletics
	Bailey managed to swipe the closers job from Brad Ziegler in the beginning of the season and the A’s never looked back. Bailey saved 26 games in 30 opportunities and kept his era below a 2.00. He was the only rookie on both All-Star rosters and he set a new club record for saves by a rookie – besting Huston Street’s 23 saves in 2005, the same season he was named AL Rookie of the Year.