Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Wil Myers was named the American League Rookie of the Year on Monday. Myers won the vote by receiving 131 points, including 23 out of 30 first-place votes. He edged out runner-up Jose Iglesias of the Detroit Tigers (80 points, five first-place votes) and Tampa Bay teammate Chris Archer (35 points, one first-place vote) despite being left off of one ballot entirely. The other first-place vote went to pitcher Dan Straily of the Oakland Athletics.
Wil Myers wins American League Rookie of the Year award
The outfielder becomes the third Tampa Bay Ray to win the award.
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Myers was acquired from the Kansas City Royals last winter in a highly-publicized trade that sent veteran starting pitcher James Shields to the Royals. The 22-year-old was already considered one of the best prospects in baseball at the time of the trade, and he didn’t disappoint after making his major league debut in June. He played 88 games for the Rays this season, posting a line of .293/.354/.478 with 13 home runs and 53 RBI in 373 plate appearances while playing primarily in right field. He becomes only the third position player to win the award while playing fewer than 100 games, joining Ryan Howard (2005, 88 games) and Bob Horner (1978, 89 games).
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Myers is the third Ray to win the Rookie of the Year award, and second in three years. Third baseman Evan Longoriawon in 2008, and starting pitcher Jeremy Hellickson earned the distinction in 2011.
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