Cubs slugger Kris Bryant named 2015 National League Rookie of the Year

Chicago Cubs third baseman-outfielder Kris Bryant was named National League Rookie of the Year for 2015 by Major League Baseball last night. The vote was unanimous. Infielder Matt Duffy of the San Francisco Giants finished second, followed by infielder Jung Ho Kang of the Pittsburgh Pirates, pitcher Noah Syndergaard of the New York Mets, and first baseman Justin Bour of the Miami Marlins.

Drafted in the first round in 2013 by the Cubs out of the University of San Diego, Bryant played 151 games for the Cubs this year, hitting .275/.369/.488 with 31 doubles, 26 homers, 77 walks and 199 strikeouts in 559 at-bats. He also stole 13 bases in 17 attempts while providing very good defense at third base. His overall Fangraphs WAR of 6.5 led all major league rookies by far and rated 10th overall among all MLB position players, fiffh-overall among National League hitters.

Duffy finished second among NL rookies with 4.9 fWAR with Kang at 3.9 and Syndergaard at 3.1.

The voters made the obviously correct choice with Bryant.