Washington Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper was named the National League Rookie of the Year by the Baseball Writers' Association of America Monday, besting fellow rookies Wade Miley of the Arizona Diamondbacks and Todd Frazier of the Cincinnati Reds.
The Nationals, along with their postseason appearance and division championship, can add Harper's award to their season-long list of firsts (Ryan Zimmerman finished second to the Florida/Miami Marlins' Hanley Ramirez in 2006). Harper, who turned 20 last month, turned in one of the most impressive seasons by a teenager in MLB history; he hit .270 with 22 home runs and 59 RBIs to go along with 18 steals as he became a linchpin of Washington's lineup after his late-April call-up.
Harper received 16 first-place votes and earned 112 points, just beating out Miley, who earned 105. Frazier finished with 45 points.
Harper is the second-youngest recipient of the Rookie of the Year Award, but the youngest position player to ever win the award; pitcher Doc Gooden was younger when he won in 1984 with the New York Mets.
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