The MLB Rookie of the Year winners are exactly who you think they are

If you didn’t see these winners coming, maybe see an optometrist in the near future.

These two winners have basically been decided since June, and if there was ever any doubt, they both quashed it with their late-season performances.

First the American League Rookie of the Year winner....Rafael Devers!

Just kidding, it’s clearly Aaron Judge. The large baseball son of the American League, a major presence on the field and in many fans’ hearts, was heading for this award from the minute people realized his early-season production wasn’t a fluke.

He hit .284 with 52 homers and 114 RBIs in 155 games this season, and even a mid-season slump after the All-Star Game didn’t derail his chances to take home this prize. He broke Mark McGwire’s rookie home run record, which sealed this award as much as something can be “sealed” when it was already guaranteed before the last days of the regular season.

It was always going to be his, and it’s a well-deserved win at that. Baseball players like Judge don’t come around too often (or...ever) and that he’s being awarded for his prowess is the only correct outcome after his 2017 season.

In the National League, the Rookie of the Year is Cody Bellinger. Also not really a surprise!

Bellinger played in 132 games, hitting .267 with a .933 OPS with 39 home runs. That home run tally was enough to break the NL’s rookie home run record, so even though his counterpart in the AL overshadowed that a little bit with his own sky-high dingers, it’s impressive nonetheless.

Bellinger had his best smile on for when the announcement was made.

Both wins were unanimous, as voted on by the BBWAA. It’s only the fourth time that has ever happened.

The other finalists in this category were Andrew Benintendi (2nd) and Trey Mancini (3rd) for the AL, and Paul DeJong (2nd) and Josh Bell (3rd) for the NL. Late-season surprise Rhys Hoskins came in fourth place.