Julio Rodriguez Wins Baseball America’s 2022 MLB Rookie of the Year

Image credit: Julio Rodriguez (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)

Mariners outfielder Julio Rodriguez is Baseball America’s 2022 Major League Rookie of the Year, becoming the first Mariner to ever win the award.

Rodriguez has hit .280/.342/.502 with 27 home runs and 25 stolen bases for Seattle this year. The 21-year-old’s power and hitting ability has long been hinted at by his excellent production during his minor league career, but notably, he’s also gotten faster and faster. An average runner when he signed, Rodriguez adjusted to center field late in his minor league career. This year, he became the Mariners’ everyday center fielder while showing plus-plus speed.

Rodriguez is the cover subject of the next issue of Baseball America, which will include stories on our Major League Player of the Year, Minor League Player of the Year, Minor League Pitcher of the Year and MLB Rookie of the Year, as well as pieces on other players who came close to winning those awards.

People who want to purchase copies of the next issue can purchase them now.

Baseball America picks one Rookie of the Year for all of Major League Baseball each year. Our Rookie of the Year is weighted heavily toward production in a player’s rookie season, but we also do attempt to slightly weigh future potential as part of the award as well.

Previous winners include Albert Pujols, Derek Jeter, Justin Verlander, Shohei Ohtani and Ronald Acuna.

A complete list of Baseball America’s Rookie of the Year winners is included below.

Rookie Of The Year
1989	Gregg Olson, RHP, Orioles
1990	Sandy Alomar Jr., C, Indians
1991	Jeff Bagwell, 1B, Astros
1992	Pat Listach, SS, Brewers
1993	Mike Piazza, C, Dodgers
1994	Raul Mondesi, OF, Dodgers
1995	Hideo Nomo, RHP, Dodgers
1996	Derek Jeter, SS, Yankees
1997	Nomar Garciaparra, SS, Red Sox
1998	Kerry Wood, RHP, Cubs
1999	Carlos Beltran, OF, Royals
2000	Rafael Furcal, SS/2B, Braves
2001	Albert Pujols, OF/3B/1B, Cardinals
2002	Eric Hinske, 3B, Blue Jays
2003	Brandon Webb, RHP, Diamondbacks
2004	Khalil Greene, SS, Padres
2005	Huston Street, RHP, Athletics
2006	Justin Verlander, RHP, Tigers
2007	Ryan Braun, 3B, Brewers
2008	Geovany Soto, C, Cubs
2009	Andrew McCutchen, OF, Pirates
2010	Jason Heyward, OF, Braves
2011	Jeremy Hellickson, RHP, Rays
2012	Mike Trout, OF, Angels
2013	Jose Fernandez, RHP, Marlins
2014	Jose Abreu, 1B, White Sox
2015	Kris Bryant, 3B, Cubs
2016	Corey Seager, SS, Dodgers
2017	Aaron Judge, OF, Yankees
2018	Shohei Ohtani, RHP/DH, Angels
2019	Pete Alonso, 1B, Mets
2020	Tony Gonsolin, RHP, Dodgers
2021	Jonathan India, 2B, Reds
2022	Julio Rodriguez, OF, Mariners