New York (AFP) – Athletics first baseman Nick Kurtz and Atlanta Braves catcher Drake Baldwin were named Major League Baseball’s Rookies of the Year on Monday. Kurtz won all 30 first-place votes to capture the American League award unanimously, with A’s shortstop Jacob Wilson finishing second. This achievement made the team only the ninth in history to have the top two in rookie voting by a media panel.
The Athletics, known this year only by their nickname, moved from Oakland into a temporary home ballpark in Sacramento, California this season while a new stadium is being built for them in Las Vegas. Baldwin took the National League award with 21 first-place votes, with Chicago Cubs right-handed pitcher Cade Horton finishing second.
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In 117 games, Kurtz batted .290 and led all MLB rookies with 36 home runs, 86 runs batted in, and 90 runs scored. He missed time in May and June with a hip injury. The 22-year-old became the first A’s player to hit four homers in the same game on July 25 at Houston, making him the first player overall to achieve four homers, eight runs batted in, and six hits in the same contest. His 19 total bases matched an MLB one-game record.
Baldwin, 24, moved into a starting role when veteran Sean Murphy began the season on the injured list with a cracked rib. Baldwin hit .274 with 19 homers for the season. He drove in six runs on July 21 against San Francisco and went three for five with two homers on August 7 to ignite a comeback victory over Florida.
© 2024 AFP
