4 Reasons Hiroyuki Nakajima Will Win the 2013 AL Rookie of the Year Award | Bleacher Report

Oakland A’s shortstop Hiroyuki Nakajima is going to win the 2013 A.L. Rookie of the Year Award.

Say that again?

Sure.

Oakland A’s shortstop Hiroyuki Nakajima is going to win the 2013 A.L. Rookie of the Year Award.

The 30-year-old Japanese-born infielder is not only new to the Athletics, he’ll be taking his first stab at Major League Baseball as well. That qualifies him as—you guessed it—a rookie.

“Hero” stands a great chance at winning the award in 2013.

Now before you think I’m off my rocker, consider these reasons. If you’re still not a believer, by all means, call me crazy. But when and if it does happen, you heard it here first, friends.

It stands to reason that many eyes will be on Nakajima in 2013, and that could help his case.

Think about it: The A’s just won the AL West in 2012. They’ll look to continue their incredible story by repeating in ’13. The key, likely, is to get past the Los Angeles Angels who, for the second year in a row, have thrown cash at free agents like it’s nobody’s business.

The spotlight is on Oakland.

The Athletics were fairly quiet in the offseason. They’ve made one major trade for Chris Young and signed Nakajima. While the moves themselves aren’t overwhelmingly alluring, the man nicknamed Hero is fascinating.

From his soon-to-be-famous bat flip to his reason for signing with the A’s (It has to do with Billy Beane’s sexiness—I wish I could say I was making that up), the legend of Nakajima is growing.

And with it, more spotlight.

The only way this becomes a factor in Rookie of the Year voting is if Nakajima goes toe-to-toe with a rookie few have heard.

Say he and Minnesota Twins prospect Miguel Sano have similar stats. If it’s close, you can bet the award goes to Nakajima for the above mentioned status he arrived with.
So why is this guy being touted already?

Easy answer: He’s legit.

In the last seven years with the Seibu Lions, Hiroyuki Nakajima has hit above .300 all but once. The year he didn’t, he hit .297.

In the last six years, he’s averaged 162 hits, 30 doubles, 17 home runs, 86 RBI, 53 walks and a .310 batting average. All that in about 136 games a year.

There’s questions of whether his game will transfer over (we’ll get to that soon). Nakajima has been compared to Hideki Matsui in the past, and scouts have projected him to be a .270 to .280 hitter in the big leagues.

If he hits No. 2, he’ll benefit from Coco Crisp in front of him (speed on the basepaths) and Yoenis Cespedes, Seth Smith, Josh Reddick and Brandon Moss or Chris Carter behind him (power). If he hits low in the lineup, he’ll still have these guys hitting closely behind him.

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via 4 Reasons Hiroyuki Nakajima Will Win the 2013 AL Rookie of the Year Award | Bleacher Report.