Mariners outfielder Julio Rodriguez is Baseball America’s 2022 Major League Rookie of the Year, becoming the first Mariner to ever win the award.
Rodriguez has hit .280/.342/.502 with 27 home runs and 25 stolen bases for Seattle this year. The 21-year-old’s power and hitting ability has long been hinted at by his excellent production during his minor league career, but notably, he’s also gotten faster and faster. An average runner when he signed, Rodriguez adjusted to center field late in his minor league career. This year, he became the Mariners’ everyday center fielder while showing plus-plus speed.
Rodriguez is the cover subject of the next issue of Baseball America, which will include stories on our Major League Player of the Year, Minor League Player of the Year, Minor League Pitcher of the Year and MLB Rookie of the Year, as well as pieces on other players who came close to winning those awards.
People who want to buy copies of the next issue can buy them now.
Baseball America picks one Rookie of the Year for all of Major League Baseball each year. Our Rookie of the Year is weighted heavily towards production in a player’s rookie season, but we also do attempt to slightly weigh future potential as part of the award as well.
Previous winners include Albert Pujols, Derek Jeter, Justin Verlander, Shohei Ohtani and Ronald Acuna.
A complete list of Baseball America’s Rookie of the Year winners is included below.
| 1989 | Gregg Olson, RHP, Orioles |
| 1990 | Sandy Alomar Jr., C, Indians |
| 1991 | Jeff Bagwell, 1B, Astros |
| 1992 | Pat Listach, SS, Brewers |
| 1993 | Mike Piazza, C, Dodgers |
| 1994 | Raul Mondesi, OF, Dodgers |
| 1995 | Hideo Nomo, RHP, Dodgers |
| 1996 | Derek Jeter, SS, Yankees |
| 1997 | Nomar Garciaparra, SS, Red Sox |
| 1998 | Kerry Wood, RHP, Cubs |
| 1999 | Carlos Beltran, OF, Royals |
| 2000 | Rafael Furcal, SS/2B, Braves |
| 2001 | Albert Pujols, OF/3B/1B, Cardinals |
| 2002 | Eric Hinske, 3B, Blue Jays |
| 2003 | Brandon Webb, RHP, Diamondbacks |
| 2004 | Khalil Greene, SS, Padres |
| 2005 | Huston Street, RHP, Athletics |
| 2006 | Justin Verlander, RHP, Tigers |
| 2007 | Ryan Braun, 3B, Brewers |
| 2008 | Geovany Soto, C, Cubs |
| 2009 | Andrew McCutchen, OF, Pirates |
| 2010 | Jason Heyward, OF, Braves |
| 2011 | Jeremy Hellickson, RHP, Rays |
| 2012 | Mike Trout, OF, Angels |
| 2013 | Jose Fernandez, RHP, Marlins |
| 2014 | Jose Abreu, 1B, White Sox |
| 2015 | Kris Bryant, 3B, Cubs |
| 2016 | Corey Seager, SS, Dodgers |
| 2017 | Aaron Judge, OF, Yankees |
| 2018 | Shohei Ohtani, RHP/DH, Angels |
| 2019 | Pete Alonso, 1B, Mets |
| 2020 | Tony Gonsolin, RHP, Dodgers |
| 2021 | Jonathan India, 2B, Reds |
| 2022 | Julio Rodriguez, OF, Mariners |
With Historic Extension, Julio Rodriguez Cements His Place As Face Of The Mariners Franchise
For the Mariners, the decision to extend Rodriguez was obvious. No matter how complicated the deal became, it was clear keeping him in Seattle for as long as possible was in the franchise’s best interest.
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