The NFL crowns one offensive rookie and one defensive rookie each year. This way of doing things allows players to be rewarded on both sides of the ball. Which is more representative of the reality of sport.
Why doesn’t MLB do the same? Every year, the two best pitchers in the two leagues are rewarded. However, no recognition is presented to baseball’s top rookie pitchers.
Yes I know, pitchers can win rookie of the year…but comparing the season of a young starting pitcher to that of a center fielder, it’s like comparing apples to oranges.
For example: last year Spencer Strider had a stellar rookie season! One of the best from a rookie pitcher I’ve seen in a lease. Fortunately or unfortunately for him, his teammate Michael Harris II had an equally exceptional season.
Result: Harris II was preferred to Strider for the title of rookie of the year in the National.
As Walker Buehler mentions in the podcast Just Baseball ShowStrider was the best starting pitcher in MLB, he deserved a plaque or a trophy for that!
The Dodgers star even talked about his rookie season (he had been smoking hot), when he finished third in the ranking of the best rookies in the National, behind Ronald Acuna Jr. and Juan Soto!
Two players with generational talent, but who do not throw, why compare them with Buehler?
A Cy Young for rookie gunners…
You could call it the Fernando Valenzuela trophy, in honor of the best rookie pitcher in history.
–Walker Buehler
Valenzuela’s jersey was recently retired by the Dodgers and for good reason!
In addition to his six All-Star Game appearances, Valenzuela won Rookie of the Year honors in addition to the Cy Young Trophy in his rookie season in 1981.
He is also, to date, the only player to have achieved this feat.
This year’s recipients
Let’s imagine that a trophy was distributed to the best pitchers in each of the leagues this season, my choices would be:
NL: Kodai-Senga (put)
AL: Tanner Bibee (Guardians)
And you?
