New York, NY (My Sportsbook) - Toronto third baseman Eric Hinske became the first Blue Jay to capture the American League Rookie of the Year Award outright, when he received 19-of-28 first-place votes and nine second place votes from a panel of the Baseball Writers' Association of America on Monday.

Hinske, who hit .279 with 24 home runs and 84 RBI this season, finished ahead of Baltimore pitchers Rodrigo Lopez and Jorge Julio in the voting.

The 25-year-old Hinske, who finished with 122 points, bested Lopez by 25 points. Former Blue Jay Alfredo Griffin tied Minnesota's John Castino in the 1979 rookie voting.

After coming to the Blue Jays in the trade for Billy Koch last offseason, Hinske batted out of the two slot in Toronto's batting order for most of the year, and earned more walks than just 12 other American League players.

Hinske led American League rookies with 158 hits, 74 extra-base hits, 24 home runs, 99 runs scored, 13 stolen bases and 77 walks.

Lopez challenged Hinske after emerging as the ace on the Orioles' staff, compiling a 15-9 record with a 3.57 ERA. Hinkse, however, earned three hits and two walks in 10 plate appearances against Lopez, and no starting pitcher has won the AL Rookie of the Year since the Yankees' Dave Righetti in 1981.