MLB Awards: Jeremy Hellickson and the Best Pitchers to Win Rookie of the Year

Earlier today, it was announced that Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Jeremy Hellickson had been named the American League's Rookie of the Year.  Hellickson was instrumental in his team's march towards clinching the AL Wild Card, as he finished 2011 with a 13-10 record, 2.95 ERA and 1.15 WHIP.  Opposing hitters batted just .210 against him.

On the National League side, Atlanta Braves closer Craig Kimbrel was the unanimous choice for NL Rookie of the Year, but more about him later.  The fact is that both men had phenomenal seasons for their teams and deserve nothing but our congratulations for their great efforts.

To honor Hellickson and Kimbrel, let's have a look at the 10 best pitchers to ever win the coveted Rookie of the Year award.

No. 10: Mark Fidrych

Nicknamed "The Bird" for his resemblance to a certain popular television character, Mark Fydrich made his first start for the Tigers in mid-May, 1976. Originally just a fill-in for the regular pitcher who had the flu, the 21-year-old went on to throw seven no-hit innings and was the winning pitcher come the end of the game. He became a starter for the rest of the season and went 19-9 with an MLB-leading 2.34 ERA and 24 complete games.

Fidrych was the natural choice for AL Rookie of the Year, and he even finished second in Cy Young voting as well. Unfortunately, arm problems caught up with him after just one year, and he only won 10 games in 27 starts before retiring in 1980.

His career was short-lived, but there's no doubt that for that one year, "The Bird" was the word.

No. 9: Gregg Olson

The Baltimore Orioles drafted Gregg Olson out of Auburn University with the fourth overall pick of the 1988 amateur draft, an honor of which the man was worthy considering his blazing fastball and unbelievable curveball known as "Uncle Charlie."

Olson became the O's full-time closer in 1989 and immediately impressed with 27 saves and a 1.69 ERA as he became the first reliever to be named AL Rookie of the Year.  One year later, he saved 37 games and made his only All-Star appearance.

He enjoyed a few more solid seasons with Baltimore until arm problems began to hamper him and he became a free agent, playing for six different teams from 1994-1997. To his credit, he enjoyed a brief comeback with the Arizona Diamondbacks in 1998, saving 30 games for the team.

Olson retired in 2001 with 217 career saves, and while the latter half of his career may be forgettable, his ROY season should definitely be considered one of the best.

No. 8: Hideo Nomo

Following a brief five-season career in his native Japan, Hideo Nomo debuted for the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1995 and became the first Japanese player to make a significant impact in the American major leagues. He went 13-6 with a 2.54 ERA and struck out 236 hitters in just 191.1 innings before beating out Atlanta Braves third baseman and future Hall-of-Famer Chipper Jones for NL Rookie of the Year.

While he ended up lasting 12 seasons, Nomo was never the same after his first two seasons. Nicknamed "The Tornado" for his unusual delivery motion, Nomo lost his dominance starting in 1997 and then bounced around the majors for the remainder of his career. He was solid enough to throw two no-hitters, but the electrifying youngster fans fell in love with in 1995 was gone.

Still, we'll always have memories of Nomo and just how great he used to be.

No. 7: Fernando Valenzuela

The story of Fernando Valenzuela is borderline legendary. He was a dominant lefty in the Mexican League and the Los Angeles Dodgers chose to gamble on him when they bought out his contract and acquired him in 1979. He made his debut out of the bullpen in 1980 and after allowing no earned runs on eight hits in just 17.2 innings, he became a starter next year.

Valenzuela impressed even more as a starter, going 13-7 with a 2.48 ERA and leading the NL with 11 complete games and eight shutouts in the strike-shortened 1981 season. The Dodgers reached the World Series that year and defeated the heavily-favored New York Yankees in six games, with much thanks going to Valenzuela and his lone complete-game start.

Not only did he win Rookie of the Year that season, but he also won the NL Cy Young Award.  Much like future Dodger Hideo Nomo, his dominance petered out after 1987, and he bounced around between the MLB and the Mexican League until he formally retired in 1997.

It was a premature end to what once looked like a brilliant career, but it's no secret that for about seven years in the 1980s, one word defined the city: Fernandomania.

No. 6: Neftali Feliz

Neftali Feliz debuted for the Texas Rangers in 2009 as a midseason callup and impressed out of the bullpen so much, he was made the full-time closer in 2010. That year, he saved 40 games on his way to being named AL Rookie of the Year, not to mention helping his team reach its first World Series.

Feliz saved 32 games last year en route to another World Series appearance, and while his career may still be young, his blazing fastball will ensure that he has a bright future.

On top of that, the fact that he was once a starter in the minors and competed for a rotation spot last spring training makes him all the more dangerous.

No. 5: Jeremy Hellickson

Though he wasn't the ace of his team's pitching staff, Jeremy Hellickson sure has hell pitched like one in 2011. His 13-10 record, 2.95 ERA and 1.15 WHIP showcased his extreme poise on the mound, as he would struggle at times, but never once appear rattled.

His 2.67 ERA in the month of September played a large role in the Rays' borderline miraculous comeback to wrestle the AL Wild Card berth from the Boston Red Sox, and with much of the team returning next season, one can only anticipate how much the young man from Des Moines, Iowa will improve.

No. 4: Dwight Gooden

Dwight Gooden debuted for the New York Mets in 1984 and was, to say the least, electrifyingly good.  He posted a 17-9 record with a 2.60 ERA and struck out an unbelievable 276 batters in just 218 innings.  This performance earned him the nickname "Dr. K" and the NL Rookie of the Year award.

The following year, he would post a remarkable 24-4 record with a 1.53 ERA, as he won the NL Cy Young Award and his first World Series ring a year later.

Gooden was solid for the Mets for many years, but he lost a chance at being one of the greats because of a cocaine addiction that hampered his skills and led him to be suspended twice.  He was able to come back with the New York Yankees in 1996, but was a shadow of his former self.

Still, it cannot be denied that Gooden was one of the best pitchers in baseball in his prime.

No. 3: Craig Kimbrel

The unanimous pick for this year's NL Rookie of the Year, Craig Kimbrel's 2011 season can be described in one word: ridiculous. Not only was he the first unanimous pick for the award since Albert Pujols, but he set a record for most saves by a rookie with 46 and posted a 2.10 ERA.

Now, here comes the best part. Kimbrel pitched in 77 innings and struck out an astounding 127 batters, as the opposition hit just .178 off of him. I can only imagine how dominant he would be as a starter.

Still, if his body holds up, Kimbrel could definitely be a major contributor to the future successes of his Atlanta Braves.

No. 2: Justin Verlander

I remember when Justin Verlander became a full-time starter for the Detroit Tigers in 2006, I thought, "this guy is going to do well, and VERY well."

Sure enough, the big righty went 17-9 with a 3.63 in his first full season and won AL Rookie of the Year as he helped the Tigers get back to the World Series for the first time since 1984.  Since then, Verlander has thrown two-no hitters and is easily one of the most dominant pitchers in baseball.

This season, he is not only a lock for the AL Cy Young Award, but could also be an MVP candidate as well.

No. 1: Tom Seaver

This may seem like a predictable man to be at the top spot, but Hall-of-Famer Tom Seaver is hands down the best pitcher to ever be named Rookie of the Year.  He made his debut for the New York Mets in 1967, and while his record was an average 16-13, his 2.76 ERA and 18 complete games made him a lock for the award.

Two years later, he would help lead the Mets to their first World Series title and win the first of three Cy Young Awards he would take home.

The rest of Seaver's career accolades speak for themselves: Twelve All-Star appearances, a no-hitter and his No. 41 was retired by the Mets.  He was the most dominant pitcher of his era, and when it comes time to name the last man standing for this list, he is the only one suitable to be so.