Rookie year is challenging for many players.
Inconsistent playing time, adjusting to new surroundings and becoming familiar with different players in the league can be difficult and frustrating for first-year players.
The players that can rise above in their first year usually end up being better players in the long run. There are a number of players to win Rookie of the Year but only a few seasons can really be considered shockingly good.
Here are 10 such players who rose above in their rookie years.
10. Francisco Rodriguez
K-Rod’s rookie year probably deserves an asterisk because his rookie season wasn’t technically until 2003.
In 2002, despite pitching only 5.2 innings in the regular season, Francisco Rodriguez had a tremendous postseason for the Angels.
K-Rod threw 18.2 innings, struck out 28, with a 1.93 ERA and went 5-1, all out of the bullpen. Rodriguez led the Angels’ pitching corps to their first ever World Series against the Giants.
9. Ichiro Suzuki
In terms of true numbers, Ichiro’s “rookie” season is tough to beat, but considering his previous professional career, Suzuki gets knocked down a few pegs.
The Mariners had a tremendous season in 2001, winning 116 games and advancing to the ALCS. At the heart of their success was Ichiro Suzuki.
Ichiro won Rookie of the Year, MVP and a Gold Glove in 2001, while hitting .350 with 242 hits, 127 runs and 53 stolen bases.
8. Buster Posey
Buster Posey was a prodigious talent in college and was “held back” in the minors longer than many believed he should.
Regardless, Posey proved in a hurry that he belonged in the majors last year.
Posey hit .305 with 18 home runs and 67 RBI in just over 100 games and led the Giants to their first ever San Francisco World Series.
To boot, Posey was awarded the NL Rookie of the Year in 2010.
7. Hideo Nomo
Nomo takes a hit for his previous career in Japan as well. But his career with the Dodgers couldn’t have begun any better than it did in 1995.
Hideo Nomo made 28 starts in which he recorded a 13-6 record with 233 strikeouts and a 2.54 ERA in 191.1 innings and won the Rookie of the Year in the NL.
Nomomania quickly spread throughout the West Coast, and his entry ushered in a wave of Asian born players to the major leagues.
6. Derek Jeter
Derek Jeter is rather well known these days.
His first season shows why he is the player he is.
Jeter exploded onto the scene with the Yankees in 1996, after minimal appearances in 1995, Jeter was handed the starting job and took off running.
He batted .314 with 10 homers, 78 RBI and 14 steals in the regular season, but Derek didn’t stop there. In 15 postseason games, Jeter batted .361 an scored 12 runs en route to the Yankees first World Series victory since 1978.
5. Kerry Wood
Kerry Wood was once a dominant pitcher who gave Cubs fans something to cheer for.
Back in good ol’ 1998, Kerry Wood was a Cubs rookie. The nation was focused on Sammy Sosa and Mark McGwire, but Wood wanted to show what he could do.
What he did was strikeout 233 batters in only 166.2 innings. Wood went 13-6 with a 3.40 ERA in 1998. In only Wood’s fifth career start, he struck out 20 Houston Astros tying the all-time record for strikeouts in nine innings.
4. Dwight Gooden
A dominant pitcher Dwight Gooden was, his first year showed that to the entire nation.
The spindely Gooden made his debut for the Mets in 1984 and quickly proved he belonged in the majors.
In 218 innings, Gooden went 17-9 with a 2.60 ERA and 276 strikeouts. He won the NL Rookie of the Year award and was only one year away from taking the Cy Young award as well.
He career didn’t go as many had hoped, but his rookie year was spectacular.
3. Fernando Valenzuela
Fernando mania took hold in 1981 as Valenzuela began the season with an 8-0 record and a 0.50 ERA. The player strike halted Valenzuela’s success though he still finished the season with a 13-7 record and a 2.48 ERA.
Valenzuela became the first pitcher to ever win Rookie of the Year and the Cy Young in the same season.
Although he could never duplicate his success of his rookie year, Fernando mania lives on in the hearts of many.
2. Albert Pujols
It shouldn’t be too shocking, considering how consistent Pujols has been in his career, but in 2001, it took many by surprise.
Albert Pujols hit .329 with 37 home runs and 130 RBI for the Cardinals in 2001. He was an All-Star and Rookie of the Year.
He still hasn’t regressed 10 years later.
Pujols would have the most impressive offensive season for rookie ever but…
1. Mark McGwire
Mark McGwire’s rookie year was a bit more spectacular.
McGwire may or may not have been on the juice, we’ll probably never know, but his 1987 season was magical.
Big Mac batted .289 with a rookie record 49 home runs and 118 RBI in 1987. He easily made the All-Star team and won the AL Rookie of the Year.
Though No. 25’s star has fallen in recent years, his rookie season was the stuff of legends.