Kansas City Royals 3B Eric Hosmer finished third in the voting for the 2011 AL Rookie of the Year, behind Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Jeremy Hellickson and Anaheim Angels OF Mark Trumbo.
Hellickson received 17 first-place votes and finished with 108 total points, followed by Trumbo (five votes and 63 points) and Hosmer (four votes and 38 points).
In 128 games for the Royals this year, the 6'4 230 3B hit .293/.334/.465 with 19 HR's and 78 RBI's.
As a 22-year old who supplies middle-of-the-order production from a tough defensive position, Hosmer is a long-term building block for a Kansas City franchise that is finally beginning to turn the corner after over a decade-long rebuilding project.
No Royal has won the award since SS Angel Berroa in 2003. Voting for the award, given out by the Baseball Writers Association of America, is done by two BBWAA members in the home markets of each of the AL's 14 franchises.
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