Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Cody Bellinger was named among the three finalists for the Players Choice National League Outstanding Rookie Award. Pittsburgh Pirates infielder/outfielder Josh Bell and St. Louis Cardinals infielder Paul DeJong round out the group.
Of the three, only Bell reached the Majors last season. He batted .273/.368/.406 with eight doubles, three home runs and 19 RBI in 45 games. This year, Bell hit .255/.334/.466 with 26 doubles, six triples, 26 home runs and 90 RBI over 159 games.
Stepping in at shortstop for the Cardinals while occasionally playing second base, DeJong impressed over 108 games. He hit .285/.325/.532 with 26 doubles, 25 home runs and 65 RBI.
While Bell and DeJong enjoyed successful rookie campaigns, Bellinger was the creme of the crop since making his MLB debut April 25.
Initially joining the Dodgers to help provide a spark to what was a struggling group of outfielders, Bellinger played his way into an everyday role at first base. He cooled from a torrid pace but batted .267/.352/.581 with 26 doubles, four triples, 39 home runs and 97 RBI.
Bellinger led the Dodgers in home runs and RBI, and tied for second in triples, ranked second on the team in on-base plus slugging percentage (.933) and fifth in doubles. What’s more, he broke the NL rookie record for most home runs in a single season.
The winner for NL Outstanding Rookie and other Players Choice Awards will be announced Wednesday, Nov. 8, at 5:00 p.m. PT on MLB Network. Clayton Kershaw was among the three finalists for NL Outstanding Pitcher.
