Starting pitcher Jair Jurrjens of the Atlanta Braves finished third in the 2008 National League Jackie Robinson Rookie of the Year Award Voting by the Baseball Writers Association of America (BBWAA). He received six second-place votes and 16 third-place votes to rank third behind catcher Geovany Soto (31 of 32 first-place votes) from the Chicago Cubs and first baseman Joey Votto of the Cincinnati Reds.
Jurrjens pitched in his first full MLB season and finished with a 13-10 record and an ERA of 3.68 in 31 starts. He struck out 139 in 188.1 innings pitched, while walking 70. He came to Atlanta this past winter, when he was traded by the Detroit Tigers in exchange for shortstop Edgar Renteria. He made his Major League debut during the summer 2007 and had a 3-1 record with an ERA of 4.70 in seven starts for Detroit.
Evan Longoria, who won the Baseball World Cup with Team USA one year ago, picked up the Rookie of the Year Award in the American League. The third baseman of the Tampa Bay Rays received all 28 first-place votes to become a unanimous choice.
