Marlins' Ramirez top rookie

November 14, 2006|Associated Press

Hanley Ramirez, the onetime prized prospect of the Red Sox who was traded to Florida in the Josh Beckett- Mike Lowell deal, yesterday was named National League Rookie of the Year.

The Marlins shortstop edged Nationals third baseman Ryan Zimmerman by four points in the closest NL vote since the current format was adopted 26 years ago.

Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander took American League honors, with Red Sox closer Jonathan Papelbon a distant second.

Ramirez, who batted .292 with 17 homers, 46 doubles, 59 RBIs, 119 runs, and 51 stolen bases, got 14 of 30 first-place votes and finished with 105 points. Zimmerman received 10 first-place votes and totaled 101 points and actually appeared on more ballots than Ramirez (29-27), He hit .287 with 20 homers, 110 RBIs, and 47 doubles. Three of the top four NL finishers were Marlins. Second baseman Dan Uggla came in third, getting the other six first-place votes, and pitcher Josh Johnson was fourth.

"I'm so happy," Ramirez said. "I want to thank each one of my teammates, because every day they gave me the energy to play in the big leagues."

Verlander easily won the AL honor after his closest competitors in a race dominated by pitchers were sidelined late in the season because of injuries. The hard-throwing righthander, who helped the surprising Tigers reach the World Series, was listed first on 26 of 28 ballots for a total of 133 points.

Papelbon had 63 points, and Minnesota lefty Francisco Liriano finished third.

"I was pretty excited. I was actually outside washing the car. I totally forgot that today was the day it was announced," Verlander said. "It was pretty fun just to be a part of this rookie class."

The 23-year-old Verlander, who went 17-9 with a 3.63 ERA, became the first starting pitcher to win AL Rookie of the Year since Dave Righetti of the Yankees in 1981.