Ten Prominent Players Who Will Remain Rookies In 2021

Major League Baseball and the Baseball Writers' Association of America announced the 2020 Rookie of the Year award finalists on Monday night. Phillies third baseman Alec Bohm, Padres third baseman Jake Cronenworth and Brewers reliever Devin Williams were named the National League finalists, while Mariners outfielder Kyle Lewis, White Sox outfielder Luis Robert and Astros righthander Cristian Javier were named the American League finalists.

MLB made a slight change to rookie eligibility rules to account for the shortened 2020 season. The limits of 130 at-bats, 50 innings pitched and 45 days on the active roster remained the same, but MLB adjusted how it calculated the 45-day limit.

Previously, days on the active roster after Sept. 1 were not counted toward a player’s service time. But with no September callups this year, days on the active roster in September 2020 were counted toward the 45-day active roster limit. As such, players like Mets infielder Andres Gimenez and Angels outfielder Jo Adell exhausted their rookie eligibility when, in previous years, they would have remained rookies heading into the following season.

However, by virtue of the shortened 60-game season, many other players who spent more than half the season with their teams will remain rookie-eligible in 2021, even with the adjustment to service time calculations.

Here are 10 notable players who made an impact in 2020 and still will be eligible for Rookie of the Year awards in 2021. All career statistics are through the end of the 2020 season.