Brewers Williams announced as NL Rookie of the Year finalist

Milwaukee Brewers reliever Devin Williams is in the running for the NL Rookie of the Year Award when he was announced Monday as one of the top three finishers in balloting by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America.

The Brewers reliever registered a 0.33 ERA and 53 strikeouts in 22 appearances over 27 innings. He recorded a 0.630 WHIP and 17.7 strikeouts per nine innings in 2020.

Williams is joined by Philadelphia Phillies infielder Alec Bohm and San Diego Padres infielder Jake Cronenworth as the top finishers for the NL rookie award.

The winner of each BBWAA award will be announced next week.

Cleveland Indians ace Shane Bieber moved one step closer to winning the AL Cy Young Award when he was announced as one of the top three candidates.

Bieber joined Minnesota Twins right-hander Kenta Maeda and Toronto Blue Jays left-hander Hyun Jin Ryu on the list of finalists. He is considered the favorite after the 25-year-old right-hander went 8-1 with a 1.63 ERA and 122 strikeouts in 77 1/3 innings, leading the major leagues in wins, ERA and strikeouts.

The top finishers in voting for AL Manager of the Year are Tampa Bay’s Kevin Cash, Toronto’s Charlie Montoyo and Rick Renteria, who was let go by the Chicago White Sox after the team made the playoffs for the first time since 2008.

Cash was roundly criticized for pulling ace left-hander Blake Snell in the sixth inning of the decisive Game 6 of the World Series against the champion Los Angeles Dodgers. Balloting for the BBWAA awards was completed before the start of the postseason.

The finalists for AL Rookie of the Year are Houston Astros right-hander Cristian Javier and center fielders Kyle Lewis of the Seattle Mariners and Luis Robert of the White Sox.