Sometimes a rookie season is about more than winning an award. It’s about giving a baseball city a reason to get excited about what might be coming next. That’s what happened in Detroit and Cincinnati this season.
Kevin McGonigle of the Detroit Tigers and Sal Stewart of the Cincinnati Reds were named the American League and National League Rookies of the Year on Monday. Both had terrific seasons, but what makes their stories interesting is how quickly they’ve given their respective teams something to build around.
McGonigle Gives Detroit Another Young Star
Detroit hasn’t had an AL Rookie of the Year since Michael Fulmer won it in 2016. McGonigle ended that wait with an impressive season from beginning to end. He hit .278 with 18 home runs, 28 doubles and 75 runs batted in. He also got on base at a .376 clip and drew 95 walks. That’s a pretty complete season for a young player finding his way to the majors.
What stands out to me is the patience. Young hitters often need time to adjust to major-league pitching. McGonigle showed he could do more than just swing for the fences. He worked counts, got on base and contributed in different ways. Detroit fans have watched their team develop some exciting young talent. McGonigle gives them another reason to believe the good times could continue.
Stewart Gives Cincinnati Something to Build On
Over in the National League, Stewart was just as impressive. He became the first Reds player since Jonathan India in 2021 to win the award. His numbers tell quite a story. Stewart hit .263, collected 32 home runs, 25 doubles and drove in a rookie franchise-record 111 runs.
He also had some competition along the way. St. Louis Cardinals second baseman JJ Wetherholt was in the conversation for much of the season, while New York Mets prospect Carson Benge made a late push. Stewart eventually pulled away.
Rookie of the Year Awards Point Toward the Future
Here’s the thing about these awards. They recognize what a player has already accomplished, but they also give fans a glimpse of what might be ahead. Detroit and Cincinnati now have two young players who have shown they can handle the major league game. Neither player is guaranteed to keep improving, of course. Baseball has a way of humbling everybody.
But for Tigers and Reds fans, Monday was a pretty good day. These aren’t just two award winners. They’re two young players worth watching for a long time.
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