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OUTSTANDING ROOKIE FINALISTS
American League
YORDAN ÁLVAREZ
After defecting from Cuba in 2016 and spending three years in the minor leagues, 22-year-old Yordan Álvarez debuted with the Astros on June 9 and immediately cracked the lineup of the defending World Series champions and joined the ranks of the baseball’s top sluggers. In just 87 games and 313
at-bats, Álvarez hit 27 home runs and slashed .313/.412./.655 for the Astros.
LUIS ARRÁEZ
After dominating minor-league pitching over five seasons, Venezuelan second baseman Luis Arráez didn’t miss a beat when he joined the Minnesota Twins. Promoted from Triple-A Rochester on May 18, the 22-year-old batted .334 with four home runs and 28 RBIs, playing a pivotal role in his team’s 101-win season.
ELOY JIMÉNEZ
In his first big league season in the Southside of Chicago, former top prospect Eloy Jiménez took his rightful place in the White Sox outfield. The
22-year-old Dominican outfielder hit 31 homers, drove in 79 runs and batted .267.
National League
PETE ALONSO
First baseman Pete Alonso led the majors with 53 home runs as a rookie and captivated baseball fans across the country with his power and production, breaking records all season long. Dubbed the Polar Bear, the
24-year-old from Tampa earned his first trip to the All-Star Game where he also won the Home Run Derby.
BRYAN REYNOLDS
Outfielder Bryan Reynolds provided Pittsburgh Pirates fans with an excellent 2019 season and hope for a brighter future. After making his debut on April 20, the 24-year-old was one of the NL’s most consistent hitters, batting .314 with 16 home runs and
68 RBIs.
MIKE SOROKA
Mike Soroka helped pitch the Atlanta Braves to the NL East title as a rookie, earning his first All-Star Game appearance along the way. He went 13-4 with a 2.68 ERA and a 1.111 WHIP over 29 starts and 174.2 innings – 20 more innings than he’d previously pitched in a season.
2019 Players Choice Awards Outstanding Rookie Finalists
American League players select Luis Arráez, Yordan Álvarez and Eloy Jiménez; National League players choose Mike Soroka, Bryan Reynolds and Pete Alonso.
NEW YORK, Oct. 15 – Players selected Luis Arráez, Yordan Álvarez and Eloy Jiménez as finalists in the American League and Mike Soroka, Bryan Reynolds and Pete Alonso in the National League in voting for Outstanding Rookie honors in the 2019 Players Choice Awards.
Winners of the AL and NL Outstanding Rookie awards receive grants of $20,000 each from the Major League Baseball Players Trust to direct to charities of their choice.
All told, the 2019 Players Choice Award winners will designate charities to receive grants totaling $260,000 from the Major League Baseball Players Trust. Since 1992, the Players Trust has recognized the outstanding on-and off-field performances of Players Choice Awards winners by contributing more than $5 million to charities around the world.
Additionally, the 2019 Player of the Year and Marvin Miller Man of the Year will receive a $50,000 grant and the eight league-wide Players Choice Award winners will receive grants of $20,000 each.
Through their collective charity, Players pool resources to support efforts that provide hope, sustainability and lasting change around the world. Players direct grants to the wide range of causes they support – from disaster relief to health and human services to growing baseball in the United States and abroad.
Players Choice Awards voting among all players was conducted in mid-September by the accounting firm KPMG. Winners will be announced beginning the week of October 21.
About the Major League Baseball Players Trust
Through the Players Trust, Major Leaguers contribute their time, money and celebrity to call attention to important causes. Each year the Players Trust distributes more than $1.5 million in annual grants and programs. For additional information, please visit www.PlayersTrust.org, @MLBPlayersTrust.