Could it be Déjà vu all over again with Alex Verdugo?

Since 1947, when the Baseball Writers’ Association of America (BBWAA) first began voting for an annual Rookie of the Year in each league, there have been 18 Dodgers to win the prestigious award – certainly none more significant than the inaugural winner Jackie Robinson. But what many baseball fans may not know is that the Dodgers 18 ROY winners are twice as many as the next closest MLB team:

  • Dodgers – 18
  • Yankees – 9
  • Athletics – 8
  • Braves – 8
  • Twins/Senators – 7
  • Reds – 7
  • Orioles – 6
  • Red Sox – 6
  • White Sox – 6
  • Cubs – 6
  • Giants – 6
  • Cardinals – 6
  • Angels – 1

Here are the Dodgers 18 Rookie of the Year winners:

  1. 1947: Jackie Robinson
  2. 1949: Don Newcombe
  3. 1952: Joe Black
  4. 1953: Jim Gilliam
  5. 1960: Frank Howard
  6. 1965: Jim Lefebvre
  7. 1969: Ted Sizemore
  8. 1979: Rick Sutcliffe
  9. 1980: Steve Howe
  10. 1981: Fernando Valenzuela
  11. 1982: Steve Sax
  12. 1992: Eric Karros
  13. 1993: Mike Piazza
  14. 1994: Raul Mondesi
  15. 1995: Hideo Nomo
  16. 1996: Todd Hollandsworth
  17. 2016: Corey Seager
  18. 2017: Cody Bellinger

But there may soon be a 19th Dodger added to this prestigious list that includes two Hall of Famers, one should-be Hall of Famer, and a couple of potential future Hall of Famers – just turned 23-year-old (on May 15) Dodgers outfielder Alex Verdugo who, on Tuesday night against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida, recorded his third outfield assist of 2019 in the Dodgers 7-3 win over the (now) 27-18 AL East second place Rays.

What makes Verdugo’s third outfield assist of the season on Tuesday night all the more significant is that he has now made one from each outfield position, this one from center field to nail Rays pinch-hitter Kevin Kiermaier at third base. Kiermaier unwisely tried to stretch a leadoff double into a triple in the bottom of the eighth inning, thus violating one of baseball’s oldest and most basic rules: ‘Never make the first or third out of an inning at third base’ – in this case with his team down by three runs at the time.

Verdugo threw an absolute dart to Dodgers shortstop (and 2016 Rookie of the Year) Corey Seager, who was covering third base due to a defensive shift. And even though Rays manager Kevin Cash challenged the call, Kiermaier was clearly out. (Video capture courtesy of SportsNet LA)

But in addition to his Gold Glove-caliber defense and ridiculously strong (and accurate) throwing arm, what really puts Verdugo at the head of the rookie class of 2019 is what he has done – and continues to do – at the plate through the first one-third of the 2019 season.

In his 140 plate appearances thus far this season, the extremely popular Tucson, AZ native and Dodgers second-round draft pick in 2014 out of Sahuaro High School is 41-for-129 (.318) with 10 doubles, two triples, four home runs, with 23 runs batted in. He currently has a very good .364 on-base percentage and a .519 slugging percentage for an impressive .884 OPS.

Although there are still 113 games yet to be played in the 2019 regular season, it is difficult – if not impossible – not to include Alex Verdugo among the front-runners to become the 2019 National League – and Dodgers 19th – Rookie of the Year.

Play Ball!

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8 Responses to “Could it be Déjà vu all over again with Alex Verdugo?”

  1. With that batting average and as cool as he is, it makes it easy to forget that this is his first season with the team. I can hardly wait for him, (along with Bellinger) to come to the plate.

  2. TL2 TL2 says:

    @DugieKnows he’s been hella crucial!! what enjoy the most about him so far is his consistency. . . . go @Dodgers!! #thinkblue

  3. Manuel says:

    He’s my frontrunner for league ROY as of today. Dodgers wouldn’t have gotten off to such a strong start this season if not for his contributions in particular, both at the plate and in the field. Just amazed at how he knows EXACTLY what to when it comes to situational hitting, usually not the norm for players at his current age…

  4. @DugieKnows Sure enjoy watching him-so talented. Great article-couldn’t agree more

  5. SoCalBum says:

    Verdugo has an excellent chance of joining a very select group of MLB position players who were ROY and Gold Glove winners in the same season (Cubs second baseman Ken Hubbs, Reds catcher Johnny Bench, Red Sox outfielder Fred Lynn, Red Sox catcher Carlton Fisk, and Mariners outfielder Ichiro Suzuki). I may have missed a couple when searching, but I think that is the list.

    • Hello SoCal, and I must admit I am a bit surprised, not hat I didn’t think he was capable , but mainly because it appeared that his playing time might be limited, what with Pollock on board and the abundance of other lefty hitters on the roster. But he and Bellinger have done quite well against LHP so far. Like all other youngsters, the league will adjust to him and there could be rough spots. However, the only thing that may get get in the way of his being in the running for ROY going forward is if when Pollock returns his playing time is significantly reduced but WSS.

      • BlueByYou says:

        I am surrised you did not mention Verdugo is no Ted Williams like you were saying all off season and spring training.

  6. baseball 1439 says:

    Verdugo is a hitter and that is exactly what the Dodgers need. Pollock or no Pollock Verdugo needs to play everyday, hope Roberts understands that.

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