We just began a series that examines how the Rookies of the Year from each decade panned out. Naturally, after going from 2000-09 in the National League, we’ll stay in that decade and turn our attention to the AL…
2000 – Kazuhiro Sasaki, RP, Mariners:
- Sasaki was a star in his homeland of Japan before immigrating to the majors and signing with Seattle, where he continued to keep runs off the board at an impressive rate. The right-hander put up 62 2/3 innings of 3.16 ERA ball with 37 saves as a rookie. While Sasaki only played through 2003, he enjoyed a nice major league career in which he posted a 3.14 ERA with 9.75 K/9, 3.1 BB/9, 129 saves and two All-Star appearances over 223 1/3 frames.
2001 – Ichiro Suzuki, OF, Mariners:
- Back-to-back Mariners, both from Japan. Ichiro, who beat out then-Indian C.C. Sabathia for ROY honors, was among the driving forces on an incredible M’s team that won 116 regular-season games. Not only was he the top rookie in his first season, but the exhilarating Ichiro took home the MVP, won his first of two batting titles and made his first of 10 All-Star teams with a .350/.381/.457 line, 56 stolen bases and 6.0 fWAR. Ichiro didn’t spend his entire career in Seattle – he also was a Yankee and Marlin – but things came full-circle when he wrapped up his playing days as a Mariner in 2019. He should be a first-ballot Hall of Famer when the time comes.
2002 – Eric Hinske, 3B, Blue Jays:
- Hinske peaked in Year 1 with a .279/.365/.481 showing, 24 homers and 4.8 fWAR. He did play through 2013 with a few other teams, but he didn’t register especially valuable production after his first season. However, Hinske did end up as a .249/.332/.430 hitter with 137 HRs and 11.2 fWAR, so he had a better MLB career than most.
2003 – Angel Berroa, SS, Royals:
- Hideki Matsui, Rocco Baldelli and Mark Teixeira were also among the AL’s top rookies that year, but they all lost out to Berroa. Those three ultimately had far better overall careers than Berroa, though. While Berroa was a .287/.338/.451 batter who totaled 17 HRs, 21 steals and 2.7 fWAR in his rookie season, he never came close to matching that output again. Berroa, also a Dodger, Met and Yankee through 2009, was a minus-0.1 fWAR player for the rest of his career, and he said goodbye as a .258/.303/.374/ hitter.
2004 – Bobby Crosby, SS, Athletics:
- Another sign that ROY voting isn’t an indicator of long-term success: Zack Greinke finished fourth in that year’s balloting. Crosby was productive that season and the next, during which he combined for 6.4 fWAR, but was nowhere near as valuable thereafter. He posted a combined 0.1 fWAR with the A’s, Pirates and Diamondbacks into 2010, the last season he appeared in the majors.
2005 – Huston Street, RP, Athletics:
- The second consecutive winner for Oakland, Street beat out runner-up Robinson Cano by logging a sterling 1.72 ERA and converting 23 of 27 save opportunities. It was the beginning of a strong career for Street, who managed a 2.95 ERA with 324 saves from 2005-17 as an Athletic, Rockie, Padre and Angel. Notably, Street was part of the 2008 blockbuster that saw him, Carlos Gonzalez and Greg Smith go to Colorado in exchange for Matt Holliday.
2006 – Justin Verlander, SP, Tigers:
- Future Hall of Famer No. 2 on this list. The fireballing Verlander pitched to a 3.63 ERA across 186 innings in 2006, when the Tigers lost to the Cardinals in the World Series, yet his production has trended way upward since then. Now a member of the Astros, with whom he has won two pennants and a World Series, the 37-year-old is the owner of a 3.33 ERA with 9.07 K/9 and 2.57 BB/9 in 453 starts and just under 3,000 innings. Verlander’s an eight-time All-Star, someone who has pitched three no-hitters, won two AL Cy Youngs (including last season) and taken home an MVP. He’s also 27th all-time in pitcher fWAR (72.0).
2007 – Dustin Pedroia, 2B, Red Sox:
- Pedroia may also have a Hall of Fame case, though injuries have ruined a tremendous career over the past few seasons and could prevent the 36-year-old from making his way back to a major league diamond. Nevertheless, Pedroia will go down as one of the most accomplished Red Sox players ever. It all began in Year 1 with a .317/.380/.442 line and 3.7 fWAR. Pedroia was on his first of three World Series-winnings teams then. He’s also now a four-time All-Star, a four-time Gold Glover and a one-time MVP who has slashed .299/.365./439 with 140 homers, 138 steals and 46.6 fWAR in the bigs.
2008 – Evan Longoria, 3B, Rays:
- We’re on a good run now. Longoria batted .272/.343/.531 with 27 homers and 5.6 fWAR as a rookie to help the Rays to their only AL pennant. He’s now a franchise icon who largely thrived in Tampa Bay through 2017, though the team traded him to San Francisco after that. Longoria’s production has dropped off lately, but there’s no denying he has had a wonderful career. The 34-year-old is a three-time All-Star and a three-time Gold Glove winner who has batted .267/.335/.474 with 297 HRs and 51.1 fWAR.
2009 – Andrew Bailey, RP, Athletics:
- The decade concluded with three A’s winning this award. Bailey earned it with 83 1/3 innings of 1.84 ERA ball and 26 saves, and he continued to hold his own over the next couple years. However, injuries took their toll after that, and Oakland traded Bailey to Boston in 2011 in a deal that delivered Josh Reddick to the A’s. That worked out for the A’s, but Bailey wasn’t often healthy or effective as part of the Red Sox from 2012-13. He went on to pitch for Yankees, Angels and Phillies from 2015-17, though he also couldn’t revisit his A’s form with any of those teams. That said, Bailey had a more-than-respectable career, in which he logged a 3.12 ERA with 9.05, 2.99 BB/9 and 95 saves, and earned two All-Star nods.
Ichiro and Verlander….
Not Angel Berroa & Bobby Crosby?
Longo has had a really good career. I’d be interested in seeing if he stays around another 6 seasons and what he can do.
Hinske made (not won) 3 World Series in a row (Red Sox, Rays, Yankees) on 3 different teams.
So did Don Baylor (Red Sox, Twins, Athletics).
Anyone else do this ?
btw… Matsui totally jobbed in 2003 and it wasn’t close…
It was incredibly close, actually. Not every rookie can play for the Yankees.
I guess I shouldn’t be one to talk, I stand by Daniel Murphy getting robbed by Kris Bryant for 2016 NL MVP and that seems to be a hot take.
Murphy had an incredible season, but there was no way Bryant wasn’t going to win it. He had a worthy season with the added benefit of being not only being on the media darling Cubs, but being the face of the successful rebuild of the loveable losers.
I should say, I certainly didn’t find it egregious and absolutely knew that KB was gonna take it home. Murph also provided very little outside of the batter’s box that year. Still, tough to get past what he did with the stick.
Sorry but I still believe those who played and established themselves as stars in Japan were not “rookies”.
Voters decided to make it’s own rules only two years after Ichiro won the ROY. An unwritten rule made up by baseball writers to ensure Matsui would not win an award he deserved based on MLB rules. Another reason why the BBWAA should not have any voting rights, ranging from awards to the Hall of Fame.
Berroa had more home runs, better average, slugging and OPS than Matsui. Played a much more difficult defensive position. Matsui was a bad defensive outfielder. Hit in a lefthanded hitters ballpark.
Matsui had the worst WAR of anyone getting a ROY vote.
Maybe true for Matsui, but how do you explain Jose Abreu? Not really any different, no?
Or Ohtani, Cespedes in a lot of years.
A .789 to Matsui’s .788. Holy smokes Melchez, what a difference!!!
Matsui had over 30 more runs batted in (a stat that still matters, sorry Keith Law), more than double the walks, more hits, played in more meaningful games. The point I made, which you and others missed, was the BBWAA colluding together to penalize Matsui for playing in Japan using an unwritten rule to justify their vote. THAT was the problem, and they didn’t even try to hide that fact to the general public.
Matsui should have won AL ROY in 2003.
As a Yankee fan, I agree, but only because Ichiro won just 2 years prior. Ridiculous they changed the unwritten rules almost immediately, and robbed him. Different if Matsui entered the league a decade later, but this was nearly back to back.
Though my own opinion is that neither qualified as true rookies.
Yeah, there were quite a few Yankees that were on all three winners from 1998-2000. There are probably quite a few examples in oher three-peats like the 1972-74 Athletics and the other times the Yankees pulled it off (as part of a four-peat and even a five-peat at different points)..
I remember when a bunch of voters refused to consider Matsui because he was a professional in another league after both Ichiro and Sasaki won in previous years. Typical anti-yankee bias when it comes to major awards…
Jeter’s gold gloves say hi.
Not a anti-Yankee bias with those who didn’t vote for Ichiro.
That’s also why Ichiro didn’t quite win unanimously.
The players you mentioned both struggled to get ROY. The problem is not an anti-Yankee bias. It’s your inability to see outside your own world.
I think Verlander lost his guarantee to the HOF with the 2017 Astros, Ichiro will be first ballot with the largest crowd ever. I remember his rookie year with around 20 buses per game full of his Japanese following. He is God to them
I think Pedroia could be a borderline HOF-er once his career wraps up. He’s gotta be borderline.
That would make three HOFers on this list
Dude doesn’t even have 2000 hits and is a walking injury waiting to happen. Laughable that you even think he has a semblance of a chance at the hall lol
He has no chance for the Hall
Veteran’s Committee is Pedroia’s best shot. I won’t easily dismiss his chances because we’ve seen stranger things happen.
Pedrioia put up the exact same WAR from 2007 to 2013 alone than Harold Baines had in his entire 22-year career. So anything is possible.
Pedroia is Hall of Very good, not Hall of Fame.
Unless the “Today’s Game” committee votes him in one day I don’t see him getting in without a ticket
He had a chance a few years ago. It was an outside chance, but Machado more or less derailed his career permanently.
He’s a good bit off of HoF stats in every category, unfortunately. He’s a good guy, and I’d have him in my (more inclusive) hall of fame, but he won’t make Cooperstown.
I see him as a better Paul Konerko (being a white sox fan). I love Paulie, he’s certainly a massive part of White Sox lore, and he was the best player on our best teams and perhaps the most important player in our championship run; but he’s not making Cooperstown. Pedroia is no doubt better, due to his fielding, but he’s in that same boat – fan favorite and great player who’s overrated in his home town.
You know what would be a fun series.
Each teams best position since it’s inception. Which position has each team received the most war from and from who.
MLB.com did a similar series a few weeks ago, and each team beat writer produced a top-5 list at each position, it was really interesting. I especially enjoyed seeing some of the older teams that had all these great players in their history, have total blackholes at some positions.
Where’s the * after “and a World Series” in the Verlander part?
When discussing the “incredible” 2001 Mariners, let’s not forget they were roided-up and got thoroughly whipped in the playoffs. Not so incredible after all.
Other than maybe Bret Boone I don’t think anyone was anymore roided up than other teams and they lost because of 9/11.. they interviewed them and when they visited ground zero it took it out of them.
Edgar. That body wasn’t natural.
Edgar was a 175 lb singles hitter who struggled for years to make it out of the minor leagues.
So you agree then? Because Edgar sure as hell wasn’t 175 from 1995 onward. If you believe he was then I’ll just validate that Santa is real to spare your feelings.
Can’t tell if brucenewton believes Edgar took steroids to boost his power and free himself from the minors, but the “singles hitter who struggled for years” isn’t accurate.
First full minor league season, 21 years old, 303/414/490, 904 OPS, 49 XBH. That’s the Midwest League, usually a tough place to hit.
They jumped him to AA the next year and it wasn’t great, and it only a little better in 1968 when he repeated the level. Still, it was the Southern League, another hard place to hit.
1987, 24 years old, torches AAA with 329/434/473, He hit even better in 13 games with the big club, but it didn’t earn him a job.
1988, 25, not at all old for the league, destroys AAA again. Slugged 517,
Edgar Martinez “struggled” to get out of the minors because Seattle management was obtuse. Yeah, he was never a good fielder at 3b, but in 1988 the Mariners put Jim Presley and his 74 OPS+ out there for 150 games. Presley was also not a good fielder and the team finished in 7th place. Maybe, just maybe, you give the kid who tore the cover off the ball in Calgary an extended shot from the jump,
No team in history had as many players using ‘roids than that team, period. But there is always denial as it seems to work better than telling the truth.
I’m a hard-core Padres fan.
The 96-06 Padres teams would give the Soviet athletic program a run for its money in terms of steroid use. Starting position players, starting pitchers, relievers, utility players, it was rampant.
Oddly, Bret Boone seems to be one of the few who did NOT partake as a Padre. It seems as if his trouble finding a job after 2000 may have led him to the needle.
Revisionist history
That ALCS was a good series.
Mariners didn’t exactly get whipped.
A lot of clutch hits. That series could have went either way.
Regarding steroid/PED users
Done think they had more than the Yankees in 2001.
Verlander lost nothing. If he did, we need to do a full investigation on the Yankees because that is where Beltran came up with the idea. The Commish is a big Yankee fan so that will never happen. Love the fake outrage of Yankee fans. Such hypocrites.
Beltran’s job title in 2018 and 19 for the yanks was ‘video reviewer’. Cora gets investigated in 18 because he allowed Beltran to do his thing in 17. But the man responsible for it all gets a pass in ‘18. He suddenly grew a conscience? Complete joke is Manfred.
Really one of the most useless awards given in the sport. When guys like Angel Berroa, Andrew Bailey, Geovany Soto, and Chris Coghlan win the award, you know it doesn’t hold much merit in the long run. Amazing to think Coghlan beat out McCutchen for that award.
Why would you want it to predict future success? It works as a celebration of those players who immediately had a great year upon reaching MLB. That’s something worth acknowledging even for those players who were never that great ever again, but at least they had their season of fame.
Lol the last one to win is the pitching coach for the giants. Andrew Bailey
A’s with 3 and could have had double that. They had traded both Hinske and Berroa away before they made majors. Terrance Long should have won in 2000.
It is indeed fun to go back in MLB history and see the HoF RotY winners. One year stands out for myself with that being 1967 as Tom Seaver for the NL Mets and Rod Carew for the AL Twins were both Rookie of the Year and later voted into the MLB HoF. Two great players and better gentlemen can not be found.
Ichiro and Verlander are no doubt Hall of Famers (don’t even start with the cheating scandal crap with Verlander, it may affect Astros hitters when their time comes but it absolutely won’t affect pitchers). But Longoria has a case in his own right if he finishes his career strong. Right now, he’s not in, but he’s close enough that a couple more good seasons could push him over the edge.
Verlander should still be 1st ballot. you radical anti-Astros can pout all you want but it’s still true.
That is a good point. Sign stealing didn’t help pitchers and he’s always been good. Was better than Merritt Cole by 1 war.
Helped their individual win totals.
That is a good point. Sign stealing didn’t help pitchers and he’s always been good. Was better than Merritt Cole by 1 war.
,
Gerrit Cole. Typo
To me the blatant out in the open(in the dugout for god sakes)cheating they did is as bad as it comes. Steroids were terrible and definitely improved your stats, but they weren’t bending over the bench taking shots in between at bats. I’m not saying he is a terrible pitcher, I think he is one of the best especially after reviving his career as a Astro. But people with feels and opinions vote you in, and that can hurt him now.
I am extremely here for Bobby Crosby, who I always get confused with Khalil Greene.