Randy Arozarena and Jonathan India Win Rookie of the Year Awards

They came into this season with wildly different levels of major league experience, but outfielder Randy Arozarena of the Tampa Bay Rays and second baseman Jonathan India of the Cincinnati Reds are leaving it the same way, with each being named the winner of his league’s Rookie of the Year Award on Monday.

The awards, which are given annually by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America, hardly came as a surprise: Arozarena (4.1) and India (3.9) were the top rookies in the majors in wins above replacement and each played a central role in his team’s success this year.

Arozarena, who led American League rookies in hits (145), runs (94), doubles (32), stolen bases (20) and on-base plus slugging percentage (.815) received 22 first-place votes, beating out his fellow finalists, pitcher Luis Garcia of the Houston Astros and shortstop Wander Franco of the Rays, each of whom received two. Adolis García of the Texas Rangers got three first-place votes but was not a finalist because Garcia and Franco received more second-place votes.

Article source: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/15/sports/baseball/arozarena-india-rookie-of-the-year.html