Wil Myers tops Jose Iglesias for 2013 AL Rookie of the Year

Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Wil Myers was voted 2013 Jackie Robinson Rookie of the Year in the American League by the Baseball Writers Association of America. Detroit Tigers shortstop Jose Iglesias was second in the balloting, while Rays starting pitcher Chris Archer placed third. It's the third time in six years a Rays player has won the  award.

Voting breaks down as five points for a first place vote, three for second and one for third. Myers received 23 of 30 first place votes and 131 total points. Iglesias earned five first place votes and 80 points overall, Archer getting one and 35. Dan Straily of the Oakland Athletics finished fourth with 15 points.

Any other result would have been a huge upset. Myers has already been named Sporting News Rookie of the Year and AL Outstanding Rookie in the MLB Players Choice Awards.

After being acquired this past off season via a trade with the Kansas City Royals, the 22-year-old Myers entered 2013 as the consensus Rookie of the Year favorite. He wasn't called up until June 18, but proceeded to make a compelling case as top frosh. In just 88 games Myers led AL rookies in OPS (.831), slugging (.478) and RBIs (53), finishing second in average (.293), home runs (12) and runs scored (50).

Splitting the season between the Boston Red Sox and the Tigers, Iglesias nearly became the first player to win Rookie of the Year after being traded during the season. Defense was the 23-year-old's calling card, highlight reel plays becoming almost commonplace. Playing in 109 games, Iglesias had a respectable season at the plate, leading all AL rookies in batting average at .303, second in OBP (349) and third in OPS (.745). Iglesias' lacking power numbers is what ultimately cost him in the voting, ending 2013 with just three home runs and 29 RBIs.

The 25-year-old Archer wrapped up a solid 2013 with a 9-7 record, a 3.22 ERA and 101 strikeouts in 23 starts.

In the National League, Miami Marlins right-hander Jose Fernandez earned the top spot in the rookie voting, followed by Yasiel Puig of the Los Angeles Dodgers and Shelby Miller of the St. Louis Cardinals.

This is the first of four awards to be doled out by MLB and the BBWAA this week. Up next on the docket is Manager of the Year on Tuesday, the Cy Young on Wednesday and the Most Valuable Player on Thursday.

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