Pirates’ outfielder Jason Bay is Sporting News’ NL rookie of the year
PITTSBURGH (AP) – Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Jason Bay was chosen as the National League rookie of the year by NL players in voting conducted by The Sporting News. Bay led all major league rookies in homers (26) and RBIs (82) despite missing more than a month of the season following shoulder surgery. Bay, who hit .282, also led NL rookies in slugging percentage (.550), total bases (226) and extra-base hits (54).
Bay’s 26 homers broke the Pirates rookie record of 23 set by Johnny Rizzo in 1938 and tied by Hall of Famer Ralph Kiner in 1946.
The Pirates have never had a rookie of the year in the recognized voting by the Baseball Writers Association of America, but infielder Johnny Ray (1982) and catcher Jason Kendall (1996) previously won The Sporting News’ rookie award.
The Baseball Writers’ rookie award winner will be announced Nov. 8.