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Tampa Bay Outfielder Wil Myers Named 2013 AL Rookie Of The Year

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) — Wil Myers of the Tampa Bay Rays won the AL Rookie of the Year award Monday after putting up impressive offensive numbers in barely half a season.

The right fielder received 23 of 30 first-place votes from the Baseball Writers' Association of America, beating out Detroit shortstop Jose Iglesias and Rays teammate Chris Archer.

Myers became the third Tampa Bay player in six years to be selected Rookie of the Year, joining pitcher Jeremy Hellickson (2011) and third baseman Evan Longoria (2008).

"It's awesome," Myers said in an interview on MLB Network. "It's a huge honor to win this. I'm very excited about it."

The 22-year-old Myers batted .293 with 13 home runs and 53 RBIs in only 88 games after he was called up from the minors June 18. He immediately added much-needed power to the middle of the Rays' lineup, helping them reach the playoffs as an AL wild card.

Myers was rated one of baseball's best hitting prospects when he was traded from Kansas City to Tampa Bay last December in a seven-player deal that sent pitchers James Shields and Wade Davis to the Royals.

The Rays were 36-33 before Myers arrived this season and went 56-38 the rest of the way. They won a tiebreaker at Texas for the final AL playoff berth and beat Cleveland in the wild-card game before getting eliminated by eventual World Series champion Boston in the division series.

The announcement marked the beginning of awards week in baseball, with the NL Rookie of the Year to be revealed later Monday evening.

NL and AL Manager of the Year will be announced Tuesday.

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