The Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Evan Longoria and Chicago Cubs catcher Geovany Soto won the Rookie of the Year awards for 2008.
Longoria, who played a key role in Tampa's run to the World Series where they eventually lost to the Philadelphia Phillies, claimed the American League award unanimously in the traditional vote of the Baseball Writers' Association of America.
Soto, born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, took the prize in the National League -- reward for a season when was outstanding in the vital defensive role while also producing 23 home runs and 86 RBIs.
Longoria is the first Tampa player to win the award.
