Sporting News Names Street Top AL Rookie

[Providence A's]

http://oakland.athletics.mlb.com/NAS...=.jsp&c_id=oak

OAKLAND -- A's closer Huston Street was named the 2005 American League Rookie of the Year by Sporting News on Tuesday.
Street, 22, converted all 18 of his save opportunities after the All-Star break and was an instrumental part of Oakland's climb from 15 games under .500 into playoff contention. In voting among 227 American League players, Street beat out teammates Nick Swisher, Dan Johnson and Joe Blanton, as well as Tadahito Iguchi of the White Sox and Robinson Cano of the Yankees.

Drafted out of the University of Texas in June 2004, Street worked his way through the A's organization last summer and turned heads with a spectacular showing in the Arizona Fall League. He made the big-league club this spring only because of an injury to Chad Bradford, but he performed well enough in various relief roles to earn a promotion when closer Octavio Dotel decided to have season-ending elbow surgery in May.

Street finished with 23 saves in 26 chances after taking over the role as closer and posted a 5-1 record with a 1.72 ERA in 67 games.

No other A's were named to Sporting News' annual postseason All-Star team.

[A's Baby Girl]

Congrats to Huston. Hope that's a good omen for his chances at winning the AL's ROY.