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I didn’t ask for this. I didn’t expect it. But the numbers—they tell the story.
In a season marked by uncertainty, by chaos and triumph, Will Cuylle stood as a force of consistency. At just 22 years old, the New York Rangers first baseman didn’t merely arrive—he detonated. And today, it was made official: he’s your 2002 Eastern Conference Rookie of the Year.
He wasn’t chasing glory. He was just doing his job. But the result?
316 hits.
123 home runs.
358 RBIs.
354 runs scored.
A .549 batting average and a .654 OBP.
It wasn’t flash. It was efficiency. Precision. Relentless drive.
The vote? Not close.
Out of 36 possible first-place votes, Cuylle received 34.
Itsuro Bliebernicht, his teammate and another rookie phenom, earned the other two.
Sean Couturier, a veteran in a rookie’s disguise, rounded out the top three.
Player Team 1st Place Votes Total Points
Will Cuylle New York Rangers 34 176
Itsuro Bliebernicht New York Rangers 2 112
Sean Couturier Philadelphia Flyers 0 36
In a league filled with noise, Cuylle was signal. No gimmicks. No shortcuts. Just focus. Intent. And devastating results.
He didn’t ask to be here.
But now that he is… he’s not going anywhere.
And neither are the records he just rewrote.
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