Alvarez, Alonso named top rookies

YORDAN Alvarez was named as 2019 MLB Rookie of the Year. AFP

NEW YORK (AFP) — Houston Astros slugger Yordan Alvarez and New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso, the season home run leader, were named as Major League Baseball’s (MLB) 2019 Rookies of the Year.

Alvarez took the American League (AL) award with a unanimous 30 first-place votes while Alonso garnered 29 of 30 in balloting by a media panel.

Alonso was the first rookie in history to lead the major leagues in home runs with 53, which also broke the season rookie homer record of 52 set last year by New York Yankees star Aaron Judge.

Alonso batted .260 with 120 runs batted in. The 24-year-old American hit 30 doubles as well as a club record for homers, shattering the old mark of 41 set by Todd Hundley in 1996 and matched by Carlos Beltran in 2006.

Alvarez smashed 23 homers in the minor leagues before being called up by the Astros on 9 June and becoming a major figure in their drive to the World Series, where they lost to Washington in seven games in the best-of-seven finals.

Alvarez hit .313 with 27 homers and 78 runs batted in over 87 MLB games to become Houston’s third Rookie of the Year after Jeff Bagwell in 1991, when the club was in the National League, and Carlos Correa in 2015 in the AL.

“What an incredible year and recognition for Alvarez,” Astros manager A.J. Hinch said. “He did everything we could have asked and more. His dynamic presence on our team is undeniable.”

“I’m proud of how he handled his transition to the big leagues, his immediate success, all the attention, and ultimately his actions as a teammate. A great and well-deserved honor.”

Alvarez set an MLB record with 51 runs batted in over his first 45 games and led all MLB rookies with 53 extra-base hits.