McGonigle and Stewart become Rookie of the Year awards for MLB's two major leagues

Infielders Kevin McGonigle (Detroit Tigers) and Sal Stewart (Cincinnati Reds) were selected as rookies of the year in both Major League Baseball (MLB) leagues.

As a result of the Baseball Writers' Association of America (BBWAA) vote released on the 10th (Korean time), McGonigle swept 28 of the 30 first-place votes and was easily selected as the American League Rookie of the Year with 204 points.

McGonigle, who played shortstop and third base, hit a batting average of 0.278 this year, hit 168 hits and 18 home runs, becoming the sixth Detroit player to receive the honor of Rookie of the Year.

Stewart, a slugger first baseman who hit 32 home runs and 112 RBIs in this year's regular league, received 20 first-place votes in the National League Rookie of the Year vote and enjoyed the honor of beating out his rivals with 170 points.

Stewart is the ninth Cincinnati player to be named Rookie of the Year.

Korean big leaguer JJ Weatherholt (St. Louis Cardinals), who was named among the final three candidates for National League Rookie of the Year, unfortunately ranked third in votes.

Weatherholt earned 99 points, including three first-place votes.

Weatherholt, whose grandmother is Korean, made headlines in July this year when he signed a long-term contract with St. Louis for eight years and a total of $112.5 million. In the regular season, he had a batting average of 0.242, 17 home runs, 51 RBIs, and 14 stolen bases.