CARLSBAD, Calif. _ Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander Walker Buehler was selected Monday as one of the three finalists for National League rookie of the year, joining Washington Nationals outfielder Juan Soto and Atlanta Braves outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr.
Buehler would be the third consecutive Dodger to be selected rookie of the year after Corey Seager and Cody Bellinger, and the 18th Dodger overall.
The Dodgers' top prospect entering the season, Buehler battled a rib injury in the first half before tapping into his potential after the All-Star break. The slender 24-year-old had a 2.03 earned-run average in 80 innings in the second half, which culminated with 6 2/3 scoreless innings in Game 163, against the Colorado Rockies for the NL West title.
At that point, Buehler had logged 137 1/3 innings. He was lingering close to the 140- to 150-inning range manager Dave Roberts had projected during spring training, two years after Buehler had elbow ligament-replacement surgery. But Buehler wasn't limited in the postseason and didn't appear fatigued while pitching in four postseason starts, in which he had a 3.80 ERA.
After giving up nine runs in his first two playoff starts, Buehler delivered his best postseason work in his final two outings. In Game 7 of the NL Championship Series, Buehler held the Milwaukee Brewers to one run in 4 2/3 innings. In his only World Series outing, he tossed seven scoreless innings in the Dodgers' 18-inning victory over the Boston Red Sox in Game 3. It was the only game the Dodgers won in the Series.
Acuna's time in the postseason was shorter _ the Dodgers eliminated the Braves in an NL Division Series _ but he shined at Buehler's expense when he hit a grand slam in Game 3. Widely regarded as baseball's top prospect before making his major league debut in late April, the 20-year-old batted .293 with 26 home runs, 16 stolen bases, and a .917 on-base-plus-slugging percentage in 111 games.
Soto, who played the season as a 19-year-old, was the youngest player to appear in a major league game this season after beginning the year with Hagerstown, the Nationals' low Class-A affiliate. He hit .292 with 22 home runs and a .923 OPS in 116 games.
