Red Sox outfielder and potential trade target finishes sixth for 2024 AL Rookie of Year
Red Sox outfielder and right field Gold Glove winner Wilyer Abreu finished sixth for the 2024 AL Rookie of the Year. He received two second-place votes and five third-place votes for 11 points overall.
His rookie teammate, the versatile Ceddanne Rafaela, didn’t receive any first-, second, or third-place votes.
Yankees pitcher Luis Gil won the award after posting a 15-7 with a 3.50 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, 171 strikeouts, and 77 walks in 29 starts. Gil received 15 first-place votes, 10 second-place votes, and one third-place vote.
Orioles outfielder Colton Cowser (13 first-place votes) finished second, and Yankees catcher Austin Wells placed third. Athletics reliever Mason Miller (fourth) and Guardians reliever Cade Smith (fifth) each received one first-place vote.
Abreu had a strong season, becoming the first Red Sox rookie to win one since Fred Lynn in 1975. He finished with 17 defensive runs saved in 921 ⅓ innings in right field. Offensively, Abreu batted .253 with 15 homers, 33 doubles, two triples, 58 RBI, 59 runs, and a .459 slugging percentage in 132 games.
He did struggle hitting lefties last season, regularly sitting against southpaws. Abreu only hit .180 against lefties with 18 strikeouts in 61 at-bats.
There was a chance Abreu’s Gold Glove season may not have happened due to his struggles to begin the season. Boston had planned to send him to Triple-A Worcester, but Trevor Story’s injury threw a wrench into the team’s plans.
“Honestly, if Trevor doesn’t get hurt, he probably spends a lot of time at Triple-A,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said to MassLive’s Chris Cotillo at an event at Boston College this past weekend. “He didn’t play at the beginning. He didn’t swing the bat early on. Spring training was swing-and-miss, all that stuff, and he didn’t play well defensively. Even in the first series in Oakland, when he played right, he made some mistakes.
“But he worked his (expletive) off,” Cora added. “Huddy (outfield coach Kyle Hudson), you’ve got to give him credit. The attention to detail, strength, and conditioning helped him with certain moves. To have a Gold Glover, who would have thought that before the season or thought that the last few years? Hopefully, it’s something other guys see, and they can do it in the future.”
Abreu also won the Fielding Bible Award for the best defensive right fielder in baseball. He led all right fielders with 17 defensive runs saved and was tied for the MLB lead at the position with nine assists. He ranked in the 98th percentile in baseball arm strength (94.8 mph) and the 91st percentile in outs above average/range (7), according to Baseball Savant.
Trade rumors are swirling this offseason around Abreu, with him potentially leading a trade package for White Sox left-handed starter Garrett Crochet.
Rafaela made 72 starts in center field, 71 starts at shortstop and four starts at second base. The 24-year-old finished the season recording a .246 batting average with 15 homers, 23 doubles, five triples, 75 RBIs, 70 runs, 15 walks, and 151 strikeouts in 152 games.
As the season went on, Rafaela offered better plate discipline but struggled against both lefties and righties. His versatility will help the Red Sox in 2025 as chief baseball officer Craig Breslow looks to upgrade the roster.
