Announcing the 2023 Jackie Robinson Rookies of the Year on Monday night, Orioles infielder Gunnar Henderson and Diamondbacks outfielder Corbin Carroll are part of MLB’s annual awards week. Carroll became the first player from the D-backs to win this award after both players were chosen unanimously as winners.

It’s crucial to remember that regular-season success determines eligibility for MLB’s top awards. Any events that occur in October are not taken into consideration in the voting process for the awards, which is conducted by members of the Baseball Writers Association of America between the end of the regular season and the start of the postseason. The final awards are scheduled for Tuesday for Managers of the Year, Wednesday for Cy Youngs, and Thursday for Most Valuable Players.

Gunnar Henderson won the award unanimously, surpassing the runner-up, Tanner Bibee of the Cleveland Guardians, and the third-place finisher, Triston Casas of the Boston Red Sox. Members could select a winner in first place, a runner-up in second place, and a third-place finisher using the voting method, and points would be awarded based on their choices. Henderson scored 150 points overall after receiving 30 votes for first place. With 20 votes in the top spot, Bibee scored 67 points, while Casas scored 25 points with 6 votes in the top spot.

Henderson’s accomplishment ends Baltimore’s longest Rookie of the Year drought in the American League and makes him the first Orioles player to win this honour since Gregg Olson in 1989. He is also the first unanimous AL Rookie of the Year since Kyle Lewis of the Seattle Mariners in 2020. After being selected 42nd overall in the 2019 MLB Draft, Henderson, 22, had a stellar season, hitting.255/.325/.489 with 28 home runs and 82 RBI. He led all rookies in home runs and extra-base hits, exhibiting strong defensive skills at both shortstop and third base. Henderson’s WAR (Wins Above Replacement) ranking was sixth in the AL among all players.

Given that Henderson was not just one of the league’s greatest players in 2023 but also one of the best rookies, his outstanding performance should earn him some MVP votes. The Orioles had a successful season, winning 101 games, tied for the fourth-most in their history, and Henderson’s contributions on offence and defence greatly contributed to their success. He becomes the seventh Orioles player to be named Rookie of the Year, joining the likes of Cal Ripken Jr., Eddie Murray, and others.

Tanner Bibee, a 24-year-old right-handed pitcher for the Cleveland Guardians, had an outstanding season with a 2.98 ERA and 141 strikeouts in 142 innings. He finished sixth among AL pitchers with a 3.6 WAR, making him the highest-ranking AL rookie pitcher since John Means of the Orioles in 2019. Triston Casas, a 23-year-old first baseman for the Red Sox, had a strong performance as well, hitting 24 home runs and achieving a.263/.367/.490 batting line.

It’s worth noting that Bibee will receive credit for a full year of service time as he finished second in the Rookie of the Year voting. This means that his free agency will be moved up to the 2028–29 offseason. This measure is part of the current collective bargaining agreement to discourage service time manipulation. Several other players, including Yennier Cano of the Orioles, Josh Jung of the Rangers, Anthony Volpe of the Yankees, Zack Gelof of the Athletics, and Edouard Julien of the Twins, also received Rookie of the Year votes.

Corbin Carroll, a 23-year-old outfielder for the Diamondbacks, became the first player in franchise history to win Rookie of the Year. He earned the award unanimously, beating out Kodai Senga of the New York Mets and James Outman of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Carroll had an impressive season, posting a.285/.362/.506 batting line with 25 home runs and 54 stolen bases. He is the first rookie in MLB history to achieve a 25/50 (home runs/stolen bases) season. Defensively, Carroll showcased his skills in all three outfield positions and ranked tenth among NL position players with a 5.4 WAR.

Before Carroll’s win, the closest a D-backs player came to winning Rookie of the Year was Wade Miley in 2012, who finished second to Bryce Harper. Carroll’s accomplishment solidifies his place in the franchise’s history. Senga, a 30-year-old Japanese right-handed pitcher for the Mets, had an exceptional second half of the season, posting a 2.98 ERA and 202 strikeouts in 116 1/3 innings. Outman, a 26-year-old outfielder for the Dodgers, hit 24 home runs and drove in 70 runs. He recorded a.248/.353/.437 batting line and finished with a 3.3 WAR.

Other NL players who received Rookie of the Year votes include Francisco Alvarez of the Mets, Bobby Miller of the Dodgers, Nolan Jones of the Rockies, and Matt McLain of the Reds.