Astros’ Àlvarez unanimous pick for AL Rookie of the Year
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Houston Astros’ Yuli Gurriel (10) celebrates with Yordan Alvarez past Washington Nationals catcher Yan Gomes after his home run during the second inning of Game 7 of the baseball World Series on Oct. 30 in Houston.
NEW YORK >> Yordan Àlvarez of the Houston Astros has been unanimously chosen AL Rookie of the Year.
The slugging designated hitter earned all 30 first-place votes in balloting by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America revealed Monday night. He’s the 24th unanimous pick. Mets slugger Pete Alonso could become the 25th when the NL prize is unveiled later today.
The 22-year-old from Cuba ranked second among AL rookies with 27 homers despite playing 87 games after debuting in June. He batted .313, drove in 78 runs and had a 1.067 OPS for the pennant-winning Astros. He struggled at times in the postseason, but that was after voting had concluded.
He’s the third Houston player to win the award, following teammate Carlos Correa in 2015 and Hall of Famer Jeff Bagwell in 1991.
Àlvarez easily beat out the other AL finalists, with Orioles left-hander John Means second and Rays infielder Brandon Lowe third.
