Hellickson a questionable ROY choice
Secondary statistics suggest the Rays righty didn't deserve the honor
The Rookie of the Year awards were handed out Monday, with Jeremy Hellickson of the Tampa Bay Rays taking home the trophy in the American League, and Atlanta Braves closer Craig Kimbrel earning the honor in the NL. While it's hard to argue with either choice given their performance in 2011, it's very likely we look back on the Hellickson selection in 10 years and think, "Really?"
As Dave Cameron noted earlier Monday, the electorate has done an excellent job in recent years when it comes to naming position players the Rookie of the Year. The pitcher selections, however, have been more of a mixed bag. And I'd wager that most execs feel more strongly about the futures of Eric Hosmer and Dustin Ackley (not to mention Michael Pineda) than that of Hellickson.
To see why Hellickson was a dubious choice, become an ESPN Insider.
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