Seattle Mariners: Kyle Lewis wins the 2020 AL Rookie of the Year award

Kyle Lewis #1 of the Seattle Mariners takes the field during a game against the Texas Rangers at T-Mobile Park on August 23, 2020 in Seattle, Washington. The Mariners won 4-1. (Photo by Stephen Brashear/Getty Images)
Kyle Lewis #1 of the Seattle Mariners takes the field during a game against the Texas Rangers at T-Mobile Park on August 23, 2020 in Seattle, Washington. The Mariners won 4-1. (Photo by Stephen Brashear/Getty Images)
Mariners Kyle Lewis reacts to home run saving catch
SEATTLE, WA – SEPTEMBER 14: Kyle Lewis #1 of the Seattle Mariners reacts after robbing Ramon Laureano #22 of the Oakland Athletics of a home run at center field during the first inning in the second game of a doubleheader at T-Mobile Park on September 14, 2020 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Lindsey Wasson/Getty Images)

The Mariners’ Kyle Lewis was just announced as the Jackie Robinson 2020 AL Rookie of the Year by the BBWAA with a unanimous vote. Congrats to Mariners young star Kyle Lewis!

As just announced on the awards show on MLB Network, the Mariners centerfielder Kyle Lewis has won the prestigious Baseball Writers Association of America Jackie Robinson AL Rookie of the Year Award receiving a first-place vote from every single BBWAA voter. He beat out pitcher Cristian Javier of the Houston Astros as well as fellow outfielder Luis Robert of the Chicago White Sox.

Lewis deserved the award as his stats from the shortened 2020 season were fantastic. Kyle led all AL rookies in home runs (11) and runs (37), and was second in RBI’s (28). He also led all AL rookies with over 150 plate appearances in every major averaged batting statistic leading the league in batting average, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, and OPS. To top it off he led all rookies, AL and NL, in fWAR at 1.7.

Lewis is now the fourth player in the history of the Rookie of the Year award in either league to be from Jackie Robinson’s home state of Georgia. He is also the fourth Mariner to win the award along with Alvin Davis, Kazuhiro Sasaki, and Ichiro.

Lewis has accomplished a feat that Ken Griffey Jr did not even accomplish as Jr finished in third for Rookie of the Year voting in 1989 before going on to make eleven straight All-Star Games.

To celebrate and truly show everyone why he was so deserving of the award lets take a look back at some of his highlights from his 2020 campaign. Obviously, we have to start with this one. The no doubt catch of the year that really put Lewis all over the map.

Of course, there was also his absolute moon shot off of Justin Verlander on Opening Day.

Just Kyle Lewis doing Kyle Lewis things.

https://twitter.com/MiLB/status/1290866109864869888?s=20

Kyle continuing to eat America Leauge West pitchers for breakfast.

And how about Kyle eating National League West pitchers for breakfast.

It truly was an unforgettable rookie season for Kyle and I can speak for all Mariners fans in saying that we hope he does indeed stay in Seattle and becomes this teams, and this cities, next Griffey. We also all hope that this is not the final award that Kyle Lewis will win in his career, and if he is to win more awards please let it be as the centerfielder for the Seattle Mariners.

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