Cincinnati Reds second baseman Jonathan India has been named the National League Rookie of the Year, the Baseball Writers' Association of America announced on Monday.
India, 24, appeared in 150 games, compiling an .835 OPS that included 21 home runs. He led all rookies in walks and hit-by-pitches, leading to a .376 on-base percentage that ranked fifth among all hitters in the NL.
"I said at the beginning of the year, you know, this was my goal, this was my personal goal," said India, who was surrounded by his family during a video call with MLB Network. "And I don't set many personal goals for myself, I just had a feeling this is what I wanted."
India was even better while batting leadoff for the Reds as he slashed .275/.383/.482 in the No. 1 hole. He won the NL award eight months after earning the team's second base job during spring training and never letting it go during a stellar first season. The fifth overall pick by the Reds in 2018, India received 29 of the 30 first-place votes.
"I didn't really have a role on the team, I was just there to fill in for some guys who weren't playing,'' India said. "I kind of took it personal. I just wanted to be a big leaguer this season and I made it a point to put my head down and grind."
India beat out St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Dylan Carlson and Miami Marlins lefty starter Trevor Rogers, who received the only other first-place vote and finished second.
Carlson played all three outfield positions while compiling a .780 OPS that included 18 home runs. Rogers started 25 games for the Marlins while giving up just 107 hits in 133 innings. His 2.64 ERA would have ranked fifth in the NL if he had qualified for the ERA title.
India is the eighth Reds player to win Rookie of the Year and the first to do it this century. Cincinnati is now tied with the Braves and Athletics for the third most Rookie of the Year winners, trailing only the Dodgers (18) and Yankees (9).
Information from The Associated Press was used in this story.