New York, NY (Sports Network) - Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Evan Longoria and Chicago Cubs catcher Geovany Soto have been named the Jackie Robinson Award winners as the top rookies in the American and National League, respectively, as voted on by members of the Baseball Writers' Association of America.
Longoria, Tampa's first Rookie of the Year Award winner, placed first on all 28 ballots cast and received a perfect total of 140 points to become the AL's first unanimous selection since Nomar Garciaparra in 1997.
Soto, meanwhile, edged Cincinnati first baseman Joey Votto by 82 points, placing first on 31 of 32 ballots cast by two writers in each league city. He was also second on one other ballot for 158 points, based on the 5-3-1 tabulation system.
He becomes the fifth Cub to win the award and the first since Kerry Wood in 1998.
Details to follow.
