Gunnar, Carroll selected as top rookies by Baseball Digest

November 8th, 2023

Orioles third baseman and D-backs outfielder have been selected as the 2023 Baseball Digest/eBay American and National League Rookies of the Year.

The selections were made by an 11-member panel of Baseball Digest writers and broadcasters.

Both Henderson and Carroll -- who are finalists for the BBWAA Rookie of the Year Awards -- received all 11 first-place votes in their respective leagues. Cleveland starting pitcher Tanner Bibee finished in second place in the AL with five second-place votes, while Boston’s Triston Casas and Texas’ Josh Jung received three second-place votes. Mets starting pitcher Kodai Senga finished in second place in the NL (nine second-place votes), while the Dodgers’ James Outman and Colorado’s Nolan Jones both received one second-place vote.

Henderson slashed .255/.325/.489 and collected 66 extra-base hits over 150 games, and he led all AL rookies in bWAR (6.3), fWAR (4.6), home runs (28), triples (nine), RBIs (82) and runs scored (100). He became the fourth AL rookie since 2002 to score 100 runs, joining Aaron Judge (128, '17), Mike Trout (129, '12) and Austin Jackson (103, '10), along with becoming the first rookie in team history with at least 20 doubles, five triples, 20 homers and 10 steals in a season.

On defense, he ranked third among AL shortstops with 10 defensive runs saved, while also recording three DRS at third. He is the second Oriole to be named AL Rookie of the Year by Baseball Digest, joining Al Bumbry (1973).

Carroll hit .285 with 25 home runs, 76 RBIs, 30 doubles and 54 stolen bases, becoming the first rookie to hit 25 or more homers and steal 50 or more bases and the first rookie to reach the 20-homer and 40-stolen-base club since Mike Trout in 2012. Carroll hit .273 with two home runs and 10 RBIs in 17 games this postseason during the D-backs’ march to the World Series. He’s the first D-backs player to be named NL Rookie of the Year by Baseball Digest.