This site contains affiliate links to products. We may receive a commission for purchases made through these links.
What are the top rookie seasons in MLB history by pitchers? Here is our top 10 countdown:
10. Don Newcombe (1949): 17-8 record with 19 complete games, 5 shutouts, a 3.17 ERA (130 ERA+), a 1.21 WHIP, and 149 strikeouts in 244.1 innings pitched (5.5 WAR); Newcombe was an All-Star and NL Rookie of the Year, finished eighth for NL MVP, and led the league in shutouts.
9. Hideo Nomo (1995): 13-6 record with 4 complete games, 3 shutouts, a 2.54 ERA (149 ERA+), a 1.06 WHIP, and 236 strikeouts in 191.1 innings pitched (4.7 WAR); Nomo was an All-Star and NL Rookie of the Year, finished fourth for NL Cy Young, and led the league in shutouts and strikeouts.
8. Jose Fernandez (2013): 12-6 record with a 2.19 ERA (176 ERA+), a 0.98 WHIP, and 187 strikeouts in 172.2 innings pitched (6.2 WAR); Fernandez was an All-Star and NL Rookie of the Year, and finished third for NL Cy Young.
7. Grover Cleveland Alexander (1911): 28-13 record with 31 complete games, 7 shutouts, a 2.57 ERA (132 ERA+), a 1.13 WHIP, and 227 strikeouts in 367.0 innings pitched (8.1 WAR); Alexander finished third for NL MVP and led the league in innings pitched, wins, complete games, and shutouts.
6. Christy Mathewson (1901): 20-17 record with 36 complete games, 5 shutouts, a 2.41 ERA (138 ERA+), a 1.15 WHIP, and 221 strikeouts in 336.0 innings pitched (9.0 WAR); Mathewson was the first pitcher in MLB history with 20+ wins and 200+ strikeouts as a rookie.
5. Russ Ford (1910): 26-6 record with 29 complete games, 8 shutouts, a 1.65 ERA (160 ERA+), a 0.88 WHIP, and 209 strikeouts in 299.2 innings pitched (11.4 WAR); Ford was only the second pitcher in MLB history ever with 20+ wins and 200+ strikeouts as a rookie.
4. Mark Eichhorn (1986): 14-6 record with 10 saves, a 1.72 ERA (246 ERA+), a 0.96 WHIP, and 166 strikeouts in 157.0 innings pitched (7.3 WAR); Eichhorn was third for AL Rookie of the Year and sixth for AL Cy Young.
3. Dwight Gooden (1984): 17-9 record with 7 complete games, 3 shutouts, a 2.60 ERA (137 ERA+), a 1.07 WHIP, and 276 strikeouts in 218.0 innings pitched (5.5 WAR); Gooden was an All-Star and NL Rookie of the Year, finished second for NL Cy Young, and led the league in WHIP and strikeouts.
2. Mark Fidrych (1976): 19-9 record with 24 complete games, 4 shutouts, a 2.34 ERA (159 ERA+), a 1.08 WHIP, and 97 strikeouts in 250.1 innings pitched (9.6 WAR); Fidrych was an All-Star and AL Rookie of the Year, finished second for AL Cy Young, and led the league in complete games and ERA.
1. Fernando Valenzuela (1981): 13-7 record with 11 complete games, 8 shutouts, a 2.48 ERA (135 ERA+), a 1.05 WHIP, and 180 strikeouts in 192.1 innings pitched (4.8 WAR); Valenzuela was an All-Star and NL Rookie of the Year, won the NL Cy Young Award, finished fifth for NL MVP, and led the league in innings pitched, complete games, shutouts, and strikeouts while winning a World Series title with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Agree/Disagree? As always, debate/discuss, and leave your thoughts and comments below.
Note: All statistics as of time of publication.
More Good Stuff
- Watch: Get tickets to see your favorite MLB team(s) in action
- Wear: Buy sports apparel for your favorite MLB player(s) or team(s)
- Collect: Buy unique sports memorabilia for your favorite MLB player(s) or team(s)
- Play: Show off your baseball knowledge by playing daily fantasy baseball
- Build: Start your own sports website/blog
Previous
Countdown 53: Top 10 NBA Players of the 2000s