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Julio Rodriguez Wins Baseball America’s 2022 MLB Rookie of the Year

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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
Julio Rodriguez Photo By Steph Chambers Getty Images (1)

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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