Tampa Bay Rays' Evan Longoria wins AL Rookie of the Year
Rays third baseman Evan Longoria was named American League Rookie of the Year on Monday in a unanimous vote by the Baseball Writers' Association of America. (View slide show)
Longoria was listed first on all 28 ballots submitted by two writers in each league city for a perfect total of 140 points. White Sox second baseman Alexei Ramirez, who hit 21 home runs (including four grand slams), finished second in the voting with 59 points, and Boston Red Sox outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury (.280, 9 HR, 47 RBI, 50 SB, 98 R) was third at 26 points.
"Obviously this is where, as a baseball player, I wanted to be," Longoria said. "But if I told you two years ago I'd be in this situation, I'd be lying. It's all been a dream come true. Like I said, as a kid, it's what you dream of happening."
Longoria, a former first-round pick, started the season in Triple-A, but went on to rack up 27 homers and 85 RBIs. Longoria, 23, called up on April 12, came through in the clutch in the Rays cleanup spot, and impressed many with his defensive plays to earn his first All-Star appearance. Even though Longoria missed 30 games due to a fractured wrist, he led AL rookies in several key offensive categories.
It marks the first such award for the Rays in their 11-year history; OF Delmon Young finished second in the voting in 2007.
Longoria is the seventh AL rookie to win the award by a unanimous vote and the first since 1997, when Nomar Garciaparra completed the feat. The others were Derek Jeter, Tim Salmon, Sandy Alomar Jr., Carlton Fisk and Mark McGwire.
Chicago Cubs catcher Geovany Soto won the NL Rookie of the Year Award, taking 31 of 32 possible first-place votes.
Rays manager Joe Maddon is also a heavy favorite to win the AL Manager of the Year Award, which will be announced Wednesday by the BBWAA, which votes on the prestigious annual awards.
Joe Smith, Times Staff Writer
joesmith@sptimes.com
(Times photo -- Brian Cassella. Click to enlarge.)
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Longoria is the man! He comes from Downey CA which is a city next to where I grew up -- Lakewood CA. Gotta love those CA boys! Baseball is in the blood out there. The Rays can certainly pick a good stock of ball players from CA and FL for years to come. We don't have to spend 45 billion on two or three players. Get guys that love the game and play to win and think of the TEAM first. Go Rays in 2009! The new BEAST of the East!
Posted by: James | November 11, 2008 at 10:59 AM
Great job, Evan. Well-deserved! Work even harder in the off-season so you can collect your Gold Glove and AL MVP next year! GO RAYS!
Posted by: 9equals8.com | November 11, 2008 at 10:26 AM
Excelllant!! Even the Great.Well Deserved.What an honor for the Rays organization and the "Man himself" Good luck in the future to Mr Longoria and the entire Rays organization. GO RAYS!
Posted by: Georgia Rays Fan | November 11, 2008 at 06:25 AM
Congrats to Evan Longoria! WIth the glove and with the bat, you are most deserving.
Here's to a great 2009 season as well.
Go Rays !
Posted by: todd | November 11, 2008 at 06:17 AM
Congrats to you Evan ! I hope you have an even better season next year.
Posted by: Kisha | November 11, 2008 at 01:11 AM
Why doesn't Evan just thank Topkin and the rest of his BBWAA cronies and just help Bartlett win his AL MVP award on Friday?
Posted by: Jeff | November 10, 2008 at 06:39 PM
From Biscuits Fan to Rays Fan! Way
to go! Congrats to you and all the former Biscuits playing at Tampa. You were the only reason I kept tabs on the series. Because I watched you play ball in MGM and will miss you at Riverwalk Stadium next season.
Posted by: Sylvia | November 10, 2008 at 06:30 PM
Can't wait until next season great job evan you deserve this more than anyone.
Posted by: matthew | November 10, 2008 at 05:43 PM
Great job Longo! Next comes the AL MVP of the Year, hopefully to go along with the Rays' first world championship!
Posted by: Tim in Seattle | November 10, 2008 at 05:23 PM
Evan Almighty!
Posted by: PrimeTime | November 10, 2008 at 04:48 PM
Congrats, Evan!
Posted by: The Magnetism of Robin Zander | November 10, 2008 at 03:40 PM
Well desrved, congratulations. The beginning of a great career! Keep it going Evan.
Posted by: mike | November 10, 2008 at 03:38 PM
and next year will be David Price!! 2 years 2 ROY!!! GO RAYS!!!
Posted by: Ray | November 10, 2008 at 03:15 PM
Congrats to Evan and the entire Rays organization for such a wonderful season! Let's do it again.
Posted by: | November 10, 2008 at 02:41 PM
So hot right now!!
Posted by: LP | November 10, 2008 at 02:38 PM
Way to go Evan and the Rays!!!!!!
Posted by: The One In the Longoria Shirt | November 10, 2008 at 02:32 PM
Dear Evan-
You are my hero! I hope I grow up to play baseball as well as you. Good luck next year....Go Rays!!!!!!
Your Friend-
Preston Goulding
Posted by: Preston Goulding 8 Years Old | November 10, 2008 at 02:28 PM
Unanimous vote!!!!!
Last week's Golden glove for Carlos
and now Evan..the magical years never ends.
Posted by: RuskinRaysFan | November 10, 2008 at 02:27 PM
I wonder if Topkin will reveal his AL MVP vote when it comes in and if he did vote for Bartlett as his league MVP?! I certainly hope he does!! If not, maybe Topkin can go look for work!
Posted by: Steve | November 10, 2008 at 02:24 PM
I said in July this was his award! Congratulations, Evan! What a great way to end the season - Pena with a Golden Glove and Longoria as AL Rookie of the Year! GO RAYS!
Posted by: Stephanie | November 10, 2008 at 02:24 PM
Congrats Longo - You are the man.
C'mon March - Play BALL!
Posted by: No Brainer | November 10, 2008 at 02:23 PM
Way to go, Evan!!!
Posted by: Meg | November 10, 2008 at 02:22 PM
Well deserved!!!! Thank you Evan and the entire Tampa Bay Rays organization.
Posted by: A | November 10, 2008 at 02:20 PM
Thank you Evan and Thank you Rays for a magical year. Look forward to seeing Longoria lead the Rays for the next 10+years as an All-Star and Gold Glove winner. Spring training can't come soon enough...
Posted by: Rocky | November 10, 2008 at 02:18 PM
Congrats Evan. Glad to know he'll be in a Rays uniform for a long time
Posted by: Nathan | November 10, 2008 at 02:11 PM