Abreu and deGrom top rookies

Jose Abreu and Jacob deGrom were far from the major leagues at the start of 2013.

Abreu was playing for Cienfuegos in Cuba, and deGrom was in A-ball for the second straight year after coming back from Tommy John surgery.

On Monday, they were runaway winners in balloting for rookies of the year.

Abreu, the Chicago White Sox first baseman, was voted the A.L. honor unanimously by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America, and the New York Mets pitcher won the N.L. award in a landslide.

One year after defecting from Cuba, Abreu, 27, had a .581 slugging percentage to become the first qualifying rookie to lead the major leagues since Oakland’s Mark McGwire in 1987, according to STATS. Abreu was sixth in batting at .317, tied for fourth in home runs with 36 and fifth in RBIs with 107.

Abreu received all 30 first place votes in balloting by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America.

Angels right-hander Matt Shoemaker was second and Yankees reliever Dellin Betances third.

DeGrom received 26 of 30 first-place votes. Speedy Cincinnati outfielder Billy Hamilton, who received four firsts, was second. – Associated Press