Raburn the Tigers Rookie of the Year - 11/06/2007

11/06/2007 3:20 PM ET


DETROIT -- The Detroit Sports Broadcasters Association named Ryan Raburn as the Tigers' Rookie of the Year on Tuesday, honoring a season in which the versatile player cracked the big league roster and made an impression.

Raburn was in the midst of his third season at Triple-A Toledo, leading the International League in runs scored and second in RBIs, when the Tigers called him up July 6 to replace the suspended Neifi Perez. After limited at-bats the first couple weeks, he hit his first Major League home run July 21 off Royals left-hander Jorge De La Rosa. Four days later, he put up his breakout four-hit, two-homer, seven-RBI game at Chicago.

No Tigers rookie had driven in seven runs in a game in more than 50 years. No Tigers hitter of any experience level had done it since Carlos Pena in 2003.

That stretch earned him a good number of at-bats in August before his starts became less frequent in September. He homered once in 40 games after that two-homer display, but with a .271 average, 10 doubles, two triples and 20 runs scored, he more than held his own.

Unlike last year, when the DSBA had American League Rookie of the Year Justin Verlander and hard-throwing setup man Joel Zumaya from which to choose, only one Tigers rookie -- backup catcher Mike Rabelo -- spent the entire season with the big league club. Other potential candidates, however, included late-season sensation Jair Jurrjens and former first-round draft pick Andrew Miller.

Raburn will be presented with his award in a pregame ceremony prior to a home game next year. Coming off of this past season, he's expected to earn strong consideration for a utility spot or potentially a left-field platoon role next spring.

The honor is the first of two team awards selected at the end of each season. The Detroit chapter of the Baseball Writers Association of America will name the Tigers Player of the Year later this month, with Magglio Ordonez an overwhelming favorite.

Way to go Ryan!

Whats wrong with Mike Rabelo?

mrsrabelo wrote:

Whats wrong with Mike Rabelo?

I guess he needed to hit a home run earlier in the season

I think he did a super job all season long, not just during a short spurt, like Raburn. There were games where you could not tell if it was Rabelo or Pudge catching (except for the great catchers mask Mike has!)

Mike is from the town I lived in from 1985-1992, New Port Richey, FL!



Mike Rabelo hits first major
league Home run

gogetemtigers wrote:

mrsrabelo wrote:

Whats wrong with Mike Rabelo?

I guess he needed to hit a home run earlier in the season

I think he did a super job all season long, not just during a short spurt, like Raburn. There were games where you could not tell if it was Rabelo or Pudge catching (except for the great catchers mask Mike has!)

Mike is from the town I lived in from 1985-1992, New Port Richey, FL!



Mike Rabelo hits first major
league Home run

Not everyone can just..BAM!... hit a homerun on their first day in the Majors. (although I was at that game and got to see it )I agree Mike did awesome and I will be sad when I can't watch him play everyday. You could tell who was behing the plate. Mike is better at blocking the balls and running after them, Pudge is a slow old man(I do love him though), and Mike still hasn't gotten that throw to second base down yet :'( . I still love Mike hopefully we can see him next year!

I could have seen Mikey winning it. Raburn might have been a runaway winner with some more opportunities given to him!!

True, he played a couple more games than Raburn 51 to 49.
SLG Rabelo .357 Raburn .507
AVE Rabelo .256 Raburn .304

Congrats to Raburn

gogetemtigers wrote:

True, he played a couple more games than Raburn 51 to 49.
SLG Rabelo .357 Raburn .507
AVE Rabelo .256 Raburn .304

I do agree that Raburn had better hitting stats. Hard to discount the guy behind the plate though.

I'm just sayin'

Yes, he has the most active position during the game (including the pitchers) whereas the left fielder sees a ball FAR less times defensively. I think they should have put more weight into that factor. I think he did a better than normal job as catcher.

But Raburn DID show good versatility at several different positions.....