▁Juan ▁González ▁in ▁ball oting ▁for ▁the ▁AL ▁Most ▁Val u able ▁Player ▁( M VP ) ▁Award . ▁He ▁finished ▁three ▁points ▁behind ▁González ▁( 2 9 0 – 2 8 7 ), ▁matching ▁the ▁second ▁closest ▁AL ▁M VP ▁voting ▁in ▁history . ▁ ▁In ▁ 1 9 9 7 , ▁Rod rig uez ▁batt ed ▁. 3 0 0 ▁with ▁ 2 3 ▁home ▁runs ▁and ▁ 8 4 ▁R B Is . ▁He ▁hit ▁for ▁the ▁cycle ▁on ▁June ▁ 5 , ▁becoming ▁the ▁second ▁Mar iner , ▁and ▁at ▁ 2 1 ▁years , ▁ 1 0 ▁months , ▁the ▁fifth ▁young est ▁player ▁in ▁history , ▁to ▁accomplish ▁the ▁fe at . ▁He ▁was ▁the ▁fan ' s ▁choice ▁to ▁start ▁the ▁All - Star ▁Game ▁at ▁short stop ▁for ▁the ▁AL ▁team , ▁becoming ▁the ▁first ▁player ▁other ▁than ▁R ip ken ▁to ▁start ▁at ▁short stop ▁in ▁ 1 3 ▁years . ▁It ▁was ▁the ▁first ▁All - Star ▁start ▁of ▁his ▁career ▁and ▁his ▁second ▁All - Star ▁Game ▁in ▁two ▁years . ▁▁ 1 9 9 8 – 2 0 0 0 ▁Rod rig uez ▁reb ounded ▁in ▁ 1 9 9 8 , ▁when ▁he ▁set ▁the ▁AL ▁record ▁for ▁hom ers ▁by ▁a ▁short stop ▁and ▁became ▁just ▁the ▁third ▁member ▁of ▁the ▁ 4 0 – 4 0 ▁club , ▁( with ▁ 4 2 ▁home ▁runs ▁and ▁ 4 6 ▁st olen ▁bases ) ▁and ▁one ▁of ▁just ▁