Both the American and National League Rookies of the Year were announced on Monday. Kansas City shortstop Angel Berroa procured the title in the AL, while Florida pitcher Dontrelle Willis was crowned in the NL.

Oakland signed Berroa as a non-drafted free agent out of the Dominican Republic in 1997. However, with Miguel Tejada entrenched at shortstop, the Athletics felt comfortable dealing Berroa to Kansas City in the three-way trade centering on Johnny Damon. Berroa's plate discipline slipped after he transferred organizations. In 2002, he took on AAA with little success at the plate, though some of his struggles likely were related to his April knee surgery.

Interested in his defense and willing to take whatever he had to offer at the plate, Kansas City allowed Berroa to break camp with the team this spring despite his poor AAA numbers. His performance in the major league batters' box this year startled observers. Over the course of the season, he hit .287 with a .338 OBP and .451 SLG on 163 H, 28 2B, 7 3B, and 17 HR with a 29:100 BB:K and 21/26 SB% in 567 AB.