Detroit Tigers Rookie of the Year: James McCann

Congratulations to James McCann for winning the Detroit Tigers Rookie of the Year from the Detroit Sports Broadcasters Association. He shares this honor with previous winners like Nick Castellanos, Justin Verlander, Ron LeFlore, Lou Whitaker, Gabe Kapler, Craig Monroe, Jose Iglesias, Armando Galarraga, and Rick Porcello. 

May 21, 2015; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Tigers catcher James McCann (34) is hugged by starting pitcher David Price (14) after he hits a game winning home run in the eleventh inning against the Houston Astros at Comerica Park. Detroit won 6-5 in eleven innings. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

He earned this award because of his remarkable season behind the dish. McCann had a 1.000 fielding percentage in his 112 error-free games. His performance led all MLB catchers and he was only the sixth catcher on record to be error-free in over 100 games. In the American League, he had a 40.6 caught-stealing percentage.

His performance at the plate was also notable. As a rookie, he was in the top ten in several offensive categories. He was fourth in multi-hit games with 29. He hit 18 doubles, five triples, seven home runs, and 41 RBIs. He scored 32 runs and had a .264 batting average.

While his statistics were impressive, it was his intangibles that drew the attention of the fans and his teammates in the clubhouse. Many of his teammates, both former and current, commented on his leadership abilities, even comparing his abilities to that of former Tiger Torii Hunter. Fans embraced McCann for his dedication to his job, his hustle, and his positive influence in the dugout. He plays well beyond his 25 years and this award shows that his work has not gone unnoticed.