"Braves closer Craig Kimbrel shattered the major league rookie record for saves in 2011, and on Monday he and Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman accomplished something no rookie teammates had done in more than two decades.

Kimbrel was a unanimous winner of the National League Rookie of the Year award from the Baseball Writers Association of America, and Freeman was the runner-up. Philadelphia pitcher Vance Worley finished third.

The Braves became the first team with the top two finishers in National or American League rookie of the year balloting since 1989, when the Chicago Cubs' Jerome Walton and Dwight Smith finished first and second in the NL.

"It's an award you only get one chance to win and I'm honored to have that privilege," said Kimbrel, 23, who got all 32 first-place votes and 160 total points to become the 10th unanimous selection and first since Albert Pujols in 2001."