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The rookie races were all but over by July, when Evan Longoria and Geovany Soto gave an all-star glimpse of things to come.

Longoria won the American League Rookie of the Year award in a unanimous vote and Soto ran away with the NL honour Monday, capping impressive seasons that included all-star appearances for both players at Yankee Stadium.

Pretty rare stuff for a pair of first-timers - but these were no ordinary freshmen.

Following a season of breakthroughs for the AL champion MLB team Rays, Longoria became the first Tampa Bay player to win a national award from the Baseball Writers' Association of America. The power-hitting third baseman received all 28 first-place votes, making him the league's first unanimous rookie winner since Nomar Garciaparra in 1997.

Soto, the steady catcher with pop who helped the MLB team Cubs win the NL Central, got 31 of 32 first-place votes. The other went to Cincinnati's Joey Votto of Toronto.

Called up from the minors in April, Longoria batted .272 with 27 homers and 85 RBIs despite missing five weeks after breaking his right wrist Aug. 7. Confident at the plate and splendid on defence, he was a big reason for the MLB team Rays' stunning surge to the World Series after 10 straight losing seasons.

MLB team White Sox second baseman Alexei Ramirez was the runner-up after receiving 18 second-place votes. Boston outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury finished third.

Soto hit .285 with 23 homers, 35 doubles and 86 RBIs. He became the first catcher to win Rookie of the Year in either league since Mike Piazza of the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1993.

The previous winner from the MLB team Cubs was pitcher Kerry Wood 10 years ago.

The Rays were so sure Longoria would become a big star that they gave him a US$17.5-million, six-year contract after only six major league games. The deal could be worth up to $44.5 million over nine seasons.

So far, he's delivered. 

Tampa Bay started play in 1998 and had never won more than 70 games until Longoria helped lead the MLB team Rays to 97 wins this year and the AL East title. He also hit a tying double with two outs in the eighth inning during the July all-star game at Yankee Stadium.

After his injury, Longoria, who turned 23 last month, returned to the lineup in time for Tampa Bay's playoff run. He homered in his first two post-season at-bats against the MLB team White Sox, then connected four times against Boston in the AL championship series to set a rookie record with six homers in one post-season.

But his offensive tear ended in the World Series, when Longoria went 1-for-20 with nine strikeouts and two RBIs as the Philadelphia Phillies beat Tampa Bay in five games.

All team sports information reports the NL Cy Young Award will be announced Tuesday.