It’s award season in baseball. The Gold Gloves have been handed out. The Silver Sluggers have been handed out. And, on Monday, November 15, each league’s Rookie of the Year will be announced.
2010 A.L. Rookie Of The Year: Neftali Feliz Seems The Favorite
In the American League, the race is essentially between Detroit's Austin Jackson and Texas' Neftali Feliz. Jackson - a 23-year-old outfielder - batted .293 in his debut season, stealing 27 bases and scoring 103 runs while serving primarily as the Tigers' leadoff batter. He also played strong defense in center, and was a big reason why the Tigers were able to hang in the race for as long as they did.
Feliz, meanwhile, is the Rangers' 22-year-old closer with whom the country became more familiar during the playoffs. After getting his feet wet in 2009, Feliz was around from the beginning in 2010 and posted a 2.73 ERA while saving 40 games. He averaged better than a strikeout an inning, and allowed a batting average against of .176.
There are other names who will get some votes - Rays starter Wade Davis, Tigers outfielder Brennan Boesch, and Orioles starter Brian Matusz, to name three - but Feliz and Jackson should end up either first or second on every ballot, and Feliz looks to be the favorite to win after working as a shutdown closer all season long.
If Feliz does win, he'll be the second closer to win the AL Rookie of the Year Award in a row, after Oakland's Andrew Bailey beat out Texas' Elvis Andrus and Detroit's Rick Porcello a season ago.
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