Henry Rowengartner is a 12 year old boy who got injured in school trying to catch a ball. When the cast comes off, his arm becomes a rocket launcher. On his day in the Cubs bleachers, he takes a HR ball from the opposition and throws a clothsline to the plate. The desperate Cubs immediately tracks him down and signs him as a pitcher.This is Daniel Stern's only directorial full length movie. He's done some Wonder Years episodes before this. There isn't any glaring directing problems. It's a relatively good effort. Stern must be a long suffering Cubs fan. Only a Cubs fan could come up a 12 year old savior for the long suffering club.Thomas Ian Nicholas is a charming little boy. He encompasses the innocence and the wonder that this movie absolutely requires. The final 3 outs are the stuff of teen boys' fantasy. That's the kind of wholesome entertainment this is all about.

Rookie of the Year is a pretty good sports movie even though I have seen better. I thought that Daniel Stern as the pitching coach was hilarious but in reality a guy like him would have been fired before the first pitch of the season-at least the late, great Steinbrenner would. It was also nice to see how a young teenager would adapt to the adult world of baseball.This is about a 12-year-old who can suddenly throw a hundred miles an hour after he recovered from a broken arm. Once again, that's impossible in real life. Anyway, he is a midseason addition to the Cubs and he makes them more than the mediocre team that they were.Overall, this is a pretty solid sports movie. There was great acting by the kids. But the ending is all to predictable. I rate this film 7/10.

this is a movie the whole family can enjoy.it's fun and there's nothing offensive about it.sure it is a bit over the top on occasion,and there is one running joke that is stretched a bit too thin.you'll know which one i mean about halfway through the film or earlier.but other than that,it's enjoyable,and you can allow your inner child to live on courtesy of the fantasy elements.also,it helps that the lead,Thomas Ian Nicholas(13 years old at the time)is engaging and charismatic.this movie won't change your life,but it should provide some laughs and keep you entertained for one hundred minutes or so.for me,Rookie of the Year is a 7/10

I love sports movies and especially ones with nice characters, especially nice kids, ones that set good examples for others. So, call me old-fashioned or whatever else you want, but this film was stupid. Maybe if you're kid, you wouldn't think so, but adults - stay away.As for kids, I found way too many "OMGs" in this film, both by the mother and the 12-year- old kid (played by Thomas Ian Nicholas). This was actor Daniel Stern's directorial debut and he promised publicly to make "safe family films." That's great, but this isn't a great start. "Oh my gosh," said by the kid would have but a better and smarter example to set to other kids than the other blasphemes. We also see early '90s Hollywood "fad" of having a mother literally punch out her boyfriend. That's "safe family fare?" I am tired of Hollywood's PC-feminist baloney of showing women acting tough like Mike Tyson. It just ain't so.The one good part in this film was the role played by Gary Busey. At least he played someone who was a good role model.