In race with two deserving candidates, Blue Jays third baseman Josh Donaldson was named as the victor of the American League Most Valuable Player Award by the Baseball Association of America on Thursday.
Advertisement
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim’s Mike Trout finished as runner-up for the third time in the last four seasons.
Donaldson, who had 41 home runs along with a. 297 batting average and 123 RBI’s this season, led the resurgent Toronoto Blue Jays all the way to the American League Championship Series.
Over in the AL, Donaldson had a fantastic year for the Blue Jays, hitting.297/.371/.568 with 41 homers.
Donaldson nabbed 23 of the 30 first-place votes and finished with 385 points. He got a second-place vote and five third-place votes. The Royals’ Lorenzo Cain would finish third in the vote, despite having a tremendous season of his own.
Washington Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper was a unanimous choice for the National League MVP Award. He hit 13 of his homers in the first inning which led the majors and set a club record. It was the third time in his four-year major league career that he has been the runner-up. According to ESPN Stats & Info, he’s the first player to win the award in his first season with a new team since Vladimir Guerrero did it with the Angels in 2004.
Then again, Donaldson’s team fared better this season and part of the MVP voting comes down to a player’s character. He hit. 330 with 42 home runs and 99 RBIs. The Blue Jays made an improbable run to the ALCS, where they would fall to the eventual World Series Champions, the Kansas City Royals.
Harper was the fourth-youngest player overall to win an MVP, with Stan Musial, Johnny Bench and Vida Blue also 22 but not quite as old. Andrew McCutchen came in fifth with one second place vote and 139 points.
Other finalists for the NL award were Arizona Diamondbacks first baseman Paul Goldschmidt and Cincinnati Reds first baseman Joey Votto.
Advertisement
If Harper wins, he will be the first player in Nationals/Expos history to win MVP.
