Every MLB Rookie of the Year winner since 2000 ranked by WAR

While some winners of the award go on to have long, illustrious careers, others ultimately peak in their Rookie of the Year campaign.

The closing weeks of the 2026 MLB season are here, with the trade deadline in the rearview mirror and teams across the league either gearing up for the postseason or getting an extended look at what the young talent in their organization may contribute in the future.

While most rookies and young players often spend this time honing in on their skills and looking ahead to what adjustments can be made down the line, a small group of other rookies are usually looking to put finishing touches on an argument for the Rookie of the Year award.

Though not as prestigious as the MVP or Cy Young Award, the Rookie of the Year remains one of the sport’s most recognizable honors – holding a bit more significance to younger players as you only have one opportunity to take home the award.

What’s perhaps the most fascinating about the Rookie of the Year award is just how different the races look each season – how they can almost mirror MVP conversations in some years while being a matter of picking a notable rookie who had a decent season in years with weaker rookie classes.

Take the 2007 race in the National League for example, which saw voters grapple between Troy Tulowitzki and Ryan Braun for the award – two of the best hitters of their generation. Compare that to the 2003 AL race, which saw Ángel Berroa edge out Hideki Matsui for the award, and there’s quite the sizable difference.

After looking at the gaps in WAR for MVP and Cy Young Award winners of the past, I thought it would be especially interesting to do the same for Rookies of the Year – an award that has always been known for its variance.

There have been 52 Rookies of the Year since the 2000 season, with none being able to eclipse the performance that Mike Trout offered in 2012, a 10.5 WAR season that also had Trout finish as the runner-up for the AL MVP award.

On the flip side, Chris Coghlan’s 2009 campaign with the Florida Marlins stands alone as the lowest WAR achieved by a Rookie of the Year since the turn of the century, with Coghlan amassing just 1.1 WAR despite a .321 batting average and 122 OPS+, owing to his incredibly poor defense that season.

With this year’s race still unsettled, here’s a look at every Rookie of the Year since 2000, ranked by their WAR according to Baseball Reference:

1. 2012 Mike Trout, Los Angeles Angels: 10.7 WAR
2. 2017 Aaron Judge, New York Yankees: 8.1 WAR
3. 2001 Ichiro Suzuki, Seattle Mariners: 7.7 WAR
4. 2013 José Fernández, Miami Marlins: 6.6 WAR
5. 2001 Albert Pujols, St. Louis Cardinals: 6.6 WAR
6. 2022 Julio Rodríguez, Seattle Mariners: 6.2 WAR
7. 2023 Gunnar Henderson, Baltimore Orioles: 6.1 WAR
8. 2024 Paul Skenes, Pittsburgh Pirates: 5.8 WAR
9. 2014 José Abreu, Chicago White Sox: 5.8 WAR
10. 2019 Pete Alonso, New York Mets: 5.4 WAR
11. 2016 Michael Fulmer, Detroit Tigers: 5.4 WAR
12. 2015 Kris Bryant, Chicago Cubs: 5.4 WAR
13. 2023 Corbin Carroll, Arizona Diamondbacks: 5.3 WAR
14. 2016 Corey Seager, Los Angeles Dodgers: 5.3 WAR
15. 2012 Bryce Harper, Washington Nationals: 5.2 WAR
16. 2022 Michael Harris II, Atlanta Braves: 5.2 WAR
17. 2025 Nick Kurtz, Athletics: 5.0 WAR
18. 2006 Hanley Ramírez, Florida Marlins: 4.9 WAR
19. 2008 Evan Longoria, Tampa Bay Rays: 4.8 WAR
20. 2015 Carlos Correa, Houston Astros: 4.7 WAR
21. 2003 Dontrelle Willis, Florida Marlins: 4.4 WAR
22. 2021 Randy Arozarena, Tampa Bay Rays: 4.2 WAR
23. 2011 Jeremy Hellickson, Tampa Bay Rays: 4.2 WAR
24. 2021 Jonathan India, Cincinnati Reds: 4.1 WAR
25. 2018 Shohei Ohtani, Los Angeles Angels: 4.1 WAR
26. 2017 Cody Bellinger, Los Angeles Dodgers: 4.0 WAR
27. 2006 Justin Verlander, Detroit Tigers: 4.0 WAR
28. 2002 Eric Hinske, Toronto Blue Jays: 4.0 WAR
29. 2000 Rafael Furcal, Atlanta Braves: 4.0 WAR
30. 2018 Ronald Acuña Jr., Atlanta Braves: 3.9 WAR
31. 2010 Buster Posey, San Francisco Giants: 3.9 WAR
32. 2007 Dustin Pedroia, Boston Red Sox: 3.9 WAR
33. 2019 Yordan Alvarez, Houston Astros: 3.7 WAR
34. 2009 Andrew Bailey, Oakland Athletics: 3.7 WAR
35. 2014 Jacob deGrom, New York Mets: 3.5 WAR
36. 2025 Drake Baldwin, Atlanta Braves: 3.4 WAR
37. 2008 Geovany Soto, Chicago Cubs: 3.3 WAR
38. 2004 Bobby Crosby, Oakland Athletics: 3.3 WAR
39. 2005 Ryan Howard, Philadelphia Phillies: 3.1 WAR
40. 2024 Luis Gil, New York Yankees: 2.9 WAR
41. 2005 Huston Street, Oakland Athletics: 2.9 WAR
42. 2002 Jason Jennings, Colorado Rockies: 2.7 WAR
43. 2011 Craig Kimbrel, Atlanta Braves: 2.5 WAR
44. 2010 Neftalí Feliz, Texas Rangers: 2.5 WAR
45. 2003 Ángel Berroa, Kansas City Royals: 2.5 WAR
46. 2013 Wil Myers, Tampa Bay Rays: 2.2 WAR
47. 2004 Jason Bay, Pittsburgh Pirates: 2.2 WAR
48. 2007 Ryan Braun, Milwaukee Brewers: 2.0 WAR
49. 2020 Kyle Lewis, Seattle Mariners: 1.6 WAR
50. 2020 Devin Williams, Milwaukee Brewers: 1.3 WAR
51. 2020 Kazuhiro Sasaki, Seattle Mariners: 1.3 WAR
52. 2009 Chris Coghlan, Florida Marlins: 1.1 WAR