Judge unanimous choice for American League Rookie of Year

[November 14, 2017]    (The Sports Xchange) - The verdict was a unanimous one as New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge was named the 2017 American League Rookie of the Year on Monday.

Yankees right fielder Aaron Judge (99) strikes out in the eighth inning during game seven of the 2017 ALCS playoff baseball series against the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park. Thomas B. Shea-USA TODAY Sports

Judge received all 30 first-place votes in the voting conducted by the Baseball Writers' Association of America. Boston Red Sox outfielder Andrew Benintendi and Baltimore Orioles outfielder Trey Mancini finished second and third, respectively.

The 25-year-old Judge took Major League Baseball by storm in 2017, launching a rookie-record 52 homers to bash Mark McGwire's previous mark set three decades ago.

After winning a spring training competition with Aaron Hicks to earn the starting spot in right field, Judge found himself at the top of the AL in homers, runs (128), walks (127) and, unfortunately for him, strikeouts (208). His 114 RBIs were second best in the AL.

Judge joins Derek Jeter (1996), Dave Righetti (1981), Thurman Munson (1970) and Tony Kubek (1957) as other notable Yankees to win the award.

The 6-foot-7 Judge is also a finalist for the AL MVP award, which will be announced on Thursday night.

[© 2017 Thomson Reuters. All rights reserved.]

Copyright 2017 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.