Rookie of the Year

Rookie of the Year follows twelve-year-old Henry Rowengartner, a Chicago boy who loves baseball but has little talent for it. After he breaks his arm, the injury heals in a way that leaves him able to throw a ball with extraordinary speed. When the struggling Chicago Cubs notice what he can do, Henry is signed as a pitcher, and a schoolkid suddenly finds himself competing among professional adults. He adjusts to life in the major leagues with help from veteran player Chet Steadman, while his mother and his friends try to keep him grounded as his new career brings pressures and complications.

Released in 1993, the film is a family comedy directed by Daniel Stern and written by Sam Harper, with Robert Harper producing. Thomas Ian Nicholas plays Henry, Gary Busey appears as Chet Steadman, and Amy Morton plays Henry's mother, Mary. The credited cast numbers twenty.

Made for about 31 million dollars, the film took in roughly 57 million worldwide, a modest return. On IMDb it holds 6.1 out of 10 from around 33,000 votes, and on TMDB 6.2 out of 10 from over 400 votes, suggesting audiences regard it as agreeable light entertainment rather than a standout. A critics' rating of 5.2 out of 10 from 22 reviews places professional opinion lower than the audience scores.