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Rays’ Randy Arozarena a finalist for Players Choice rookie award

Texas’ Adolis Garcia and Baltimore’s Ryan Mountcastle are the other finalists for the award that will be announced on Oct. 28.
 
Randy Arozarena became only the third player in Rays history to have at least 20 homers and 20 steals in the same season.
Randy Arozarena became only the third player in Rays history to have at least 20 homers and 20 steals in the same season. [ DIRK SHADD | Times ]
Published Oct. 21, 2021

ST. PETERSBURG — In what could be a prelude to a larger honor next month, Rays outfielder Randy Arozarena was named one of three finalists for the Players Choice American League Outstanding Rookie Award to be announced on Oct. 28.

Texas outfielder Adolis García and Baltimore first baseman/outfielder/designated hitter Ryan Mountcastle are the other two finalists for the award, one of a series presented by the players union and voted on by other players in mid-September.

Arozarena hit .274 with 20 homers, 69 RBIs and an .815 OPS in 149 games while compiling a 4.2 WAR, per baseball-reference.com. He also became the third player in Rays history to have at least 20 homers and 20 steals in the same season.

Garcia batted .243 with 31 homers, 90 RBIs, a .741 OPS and 3.8 WAR. Mountcastle hit .255 with 33 homers, 89 RBIs, a .796 OPS and a 0.9 WAR.

The same three, along with Astros pitcher Luis Garcia (11-8, 3.30 ERA, 2.6 WAR), are expected to be the top candidates for the more prestigious Baseball Writers’ Association of America Rookie of the Year award that will be announced on Nov. 15. The top three finalists for the BBWAA award will be released on Nov. 8.

Also, Rays infielder/outfielder Jordan Luplow underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left ankle Tuesday and is expected to be 100 percent for the start of spring training.

Here are the finalists for the other Players Choice awards:

Player of the Year

Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Bryce Harper, Shohei Ohtani

Outstanding Player Award

American League: Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Shohei Ohtani, Salvador Perez

National League: Bryce Harper, Austin Riley, Juan Soto, Fernando Tatis Jr.

Outstanding Pitcher Award

American League: Gerrit Cole, Lance Lynn, Robbie Ray

National League: Corbin Burnes, Max Scherzer, Zack Wheeler

Outstanding Rookie Award

National League: Dylan Carlson, Jonathan India, Patrick Wisdom

Comeback Player Award

American League: Mitch Haniger, Trey Mancini, Cedric Mullins

National League: Brandon Crawford, Buster Posey, Joey Votto

Marvin Miller Man of the Year

(Presented to the player “whose leadership most inspires others to higher levels of achievement.”)

Andrew Miller, Max Scherzer, Marcus Semien

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