ST. LOUIS -- Since the last time the Cardinals had a player win National League Rookie of the Year, they have had an MVP (times three), a Cy Young Award winner and a Manager of the Year.
But Kolten Wong has a chance to change that. The 24-year-old second baseman on Tuesday was named one of three finalists for the 2014 NL Rookie of the Year award, along with Reds center fielder Billy Hamilton and Mets starter Jacob DeGrom. What that means is they finished in the top three in balloting done by members of the Baseball Writers' Association of America.
Wong hit .249 with 12 homers and 20 stolen bases in 113 games before putting on a power show in the postseason. Voting was based on the regular season, though, and Hamilton is regarded as a slight favorite after hitting .250 in 152 games and stealing 56 bases. The winner will be announced Monday.
In what has become an annual occurrence, 20-game winner Adam Wainwright was named a finalist for the Cy Young Award. What that means is he's set to again finish second or third to overwhelming favorite Clayton Kershaw when the winner is announced Nov. 12. Wainwright has finished second twice and third in the past six years. Reds right-hander Johnny Cueto was named the other finalist.
Despite reaching the postseason for the third time in his three years of managing, Mike Matheny again was snubbed by the writers. The Pirates' Clint Hurdle, the Nationals' Matt Williams and the Giants' Bruce Bochy were named finalists for Manager of the Year. The results will be announced Nov. 11.
The NL MVP finalists were Kershaw, Marlins right fielder Giancarlo Stanton and Pirates center fielder Andrew McCutchen. In the American League, Angels center fielder Mike Trout, Tigers DH Victor Martinez and Indians outfielder Michael Brantley were named the final three. The MVP in both leagues will be announced Nov. 13.
The last Cardinal to win one of the major BBWAA awards was Albert Pujols, who in 2009 was named MVP for the third time. Pujols also was the most recent Cardinal to be named Rookie of the Year, in 2001. Their last Cy Young winner was Chris Carpenter in 2005 and their most recent Manager of the Year was Tony La Russa in 2002.
You can follow Stan McNeal on Twitter at @StanMcNeal or email him at stanmcneal@gmail.com.
