Can a Rookie of the Year not be a rookie?

Question

Is it possible for someone to win ROY without being actually classified as a rookie? Say they don't meet the plate appearance/innings pitched qualification, and will still be a rookie next year. Can they still win ROY? And if they can, could they win it AGAIN next year?

Answer 1

Understand what the "rookie" cutoffs mean.

Exceeding a career major league total of:
a. 130 at-bats, or
b. 50.0 innings pitched, or
c. 45 days active service on the 25-man roster (Opening Day through August 31)

ENDS a player's rookie status (which is only meaningful for ROY eligibility) in the season in which he meets any one of the three marks listed.

Everyone starts out a rookie, as it were; and at some point, many of them stop being one.

It is possible to be eligible for the ROY in more than one season, and therefore remotely possible to win the award more than once. BBWAA rules are not known to formally exclude a winner with remaining eligibility from winning again. But it is extremely improbable.

Thought experiment: in 2040, young Barry Bonds III storms the NL, arriving on August 20, posting a torrid .429/.608/.780 with many homers and routinely stealing second and third whenever walked, spurring his team to a 25-3 record in games he plays in, and manages to do this in 128 at-bats. The writers are impressed and hand him the NL ROY unanimously, opining that the young superstar-in-waiting is somewhat likeable and clearly that didn't come from his granddad. BB3 makes the 2041 opening day roster and this time REALLY abuses the league pitchers, breaking every family record over the course of the season. Faced with a 75 HR, 180 RBI monster WHO STILL QUALIFIES AS A ROOKIE, the writers hand him a second unanimous ROY along with a similar MVP.

So... yes, it is remotely possible. A debut player would have to be stunning in a rather brief first season, not exceed any of the cutoffs, and then do it all the moreso again next year while his eligibility remains (plus get enough voters to overcome their disbelief and natural unwillingness to vote for him again).

Gregg Jefferies is probably the best real example. He had a very brief debut in September 1987 (six games, 6 AB), was recalled at the end of August 1988 and accumulated another 109 AB (115 total; the Mets deliberately kept him from reaching 130) and finished tied for sixth in the ROY voting (Chris Sabo won), then played a full 1989 season and finished third (Jerome Walton won). Votes cast for Jefferies were legitimate each year.

Answer 2

There is no number of plate appearances / innings pitched a player has to meet to be classified as a rookie.

In order to be considered a rookie entering any season, a player can not have had in his career 130 at bats, or 50 inning pitched, or 45 days on a major league roster, excluding September

However, a player doesn't have to reach those numbers to be a rookie. Those are the numbers that, once met, mean the player is no longer a rookie.

Your question of whether or not a guy can win the ROY twice is interesting. At first I thought it might be possible, but very unlikely. However I found this link and now I beleive that a player can only win the award once.

Answer 3

The qualification limits for rookies (plate appearances, IP) are really to designate when a player can no longer be considered a rookie any more. When they hit those milestones, that is the LAST season they can be considered a rookie.

A player can (and often do) have several seasons were they are below the rookie limits. But, it is very hard to imagine a player appearing in such a limited manner and contributing enough to his team to be considered a rookie of the year.

I think if someone did somehow win ROY in limited appearances they might technically still be eligible the next year but I don't think the voters would consider him for the award because it wouldn't be reasonable.

Answer 4

Greg Jefferies actually received votes for Rookie of the Year in two consecutive years. Didn't win it either time, but I think that this is what you are getting at.

If the Rookie crop in 2008 is so poor, that a closer comes in, after mid August and saves 22 games in 30 innings. His time on the active roster was less than 45 days, his inning count is less than 50. The following year, 'technically' he is qualified as a rookie and then potentially could win the award again.

But in that case, the rookie is still a 'rookie', yet he has already won the award.

Now, the other side of your question could be interpreted like someone like Ichiro, who was a ML rookie in 2001, despite playing 7 years in Japan. That argument has been done to death and MLB considers only ML time to be considered for the rookie status.

Answer 5

I suppose it is possible. Let's say rookie Joe Schmoo comes up and hits 30 hrs in 125 ab or a pitcher goes 15-0 with less than 50 ip. Then the following yr they have a great season. Also if they spend less than 45 days on the roster, they can be considered. Very unlikely.

To qualify as a rookie in Major League Baseball, a player has to have fewer than 130 at bats or 50 innings pitched in the majors, and 45 days on the active rosters of major league clubs (excluding time on the disabled list or any time after rosters are expanded on September 1st)

Answer 6

They wouldn't qualify for Rookie of the Year, this year if they don't meet the plate appearances/inning pitched qualifications to do so.

So they are elligible for the award the following year, assuming they meet the qualifications for the award.

Answer 7

Theoretically, yes - the rules state that a ROY candidate can't have passed any of the cut-offs in a previous season (130 AB, 50 IP, or 45 days on the roster), but it doesn't give any minimum level to be considered.

Practically, though, less than 130 AB or 50 IP isn't enough time to give much of an impression of one's skills, and you're be hard-pressed to find someone willing to vote for someone with experience that limited.

Answer 8

Ichiro Suzuki and Kazuhiro Sasaki were not rookies technicaly. When Hideki Matsui was put in as "rookie of th Year" the voters said that he was not a rookie,since he played in Japan as a pro, so why did the other two win?

Answer 9

Klay Thompson,going to be scoring 20 factors 5 rebounds 5 assists a sport.purely watch yet once you wanted me to p.c.. between Irving or Williams i could p.c.. Williams by way of fact he's going to an elite participant on the three spot.

Answer 10

techincally yes, if they started at the end, I believe they can still win it the next year. I remember that happening before. I believe this is a certain limit of games that they can play.