Jeremy Hellickson name Baseball America's Rookie of the Year

[yankeebiscuitfan]

Baseball America has named Jeremy Hellickson as the 2011 Rookie of the Year, recognizing the Rays right-hander as the Major Leagues' top newcomer.

Hellickson is the first in Rays history to earn this honor.

Of the 23 players to receive the award since it was created in 1989, Hellickson is the seventh pitcher to be recognized and the first in five years, joining Justin Verlander (Detroit Tigers, 2006), Huston Street (Oakland Athletics, 2005), Brandon Webb (Arizona Diamondbacks, 2003), Kerry Wood (Chicago Cubs, 1998) and Gregg Olson (Baltimore Orioles, 1989).

It was the second time that Hellickson earned honors of Baseball America. In 2010 the magazine named him minor league player of the year.

Hellickson, 24, went 13-10 with a 2.95 ERA (189 innings, 62 earned runs) in 29 starts for the Rays this season. He led all Major League rookies in ERA, innings pitched, games started, quality starts (20), opponents' batting average (.210) and tied for second in wins. The last qualifying AL rookie (minimum 162 innings) to finish with a lower ERA was Kevin Appier, who posted a 2.76 ERA for Kansas City in 1990.

[Longo]

Well deserved award for Jeremy. He is only going to get better in the future.

[yankeebiscuitfan]

Well, if they can keep him in the long run together with Shields and phenom Matt Moore, they will have one of the best rotations in the AL.

[Longo]

Matt Moore is going to be a phenom. Shields can be the leader. This leaves Hellickson as a strong middle of the rotation guy without a lot of pressure on him. Hopefully Wade Davis can bounce back and pitch the way I think he is able to pitch.