After finishing second in MVP voting behind Detroit's Miguel Cabrera in his first 2 season, Los Angeles Angels OF Mike Trout has been named AL MVP. He joins Mickey Mantle as the only 2 players with to finish runner-up consecutive seasons before winning.
At 23 years-old, Trout is the 5th-youngest player to win the award, and the youngest unanimous winner. He hit .286 with a career-high 36 home runs, and and lead the American League with 111 RBI this season. He also lead the league with 115 runs scored and 338 total bases. He is the first unanimous AL MVP winner since Ken Griffey Jr. of the Seattle Mariners in 1997.
The Angels' star lead the majors in WAR (wins above replacement) at 7.9, the lowest of his 3-year career. This MVP comes in the same season that he won the All-Star game MVP and his 3rd straight silver slugger award. He lead the Angels to an AL-best 98-64 record, but lost to the Kansas City Royals in the ALDS. The young stud joins Vladmir Guerrero and Don Baylor as the only Angels in franchise history to win the award.
Meanwhile, from Anaheim to Los Angeles California, Dodgers P Clayton Kershaw took home the NL MVP award. This announcement comes in the same week that Kershaw was awarded the NL Cy Young award. Kershaw beat out Marlins' OF Giancarlo Stanton and Pirates' OF Andrew McCutchen for the win. He earned 18 of 30 firs-place votes and 355 points in balloting.
The Dodgers' ace is the first NL pitcher to win both awards since Bob Gibson in 1968. The Dodgers went 21-4 this season with Kershaw on the mound, going only 3 games over .500 with anyone else pitching. The last pitcher to win both awards in any league was Justin Verlander of the Detroit Tigers in 2011.
Despite his postseason struggles, Kershaw is the first pitcher to top the majors in ERA in 4 consecutive seasons. He lead the majors in wins and ERA, and added 239 strikeouts in 198.1 innings pitched. This includes a no-hitter against the Colorado Rockies on June 18th, where he struck out 15 and did not walk anyone.
These honors top off a stellar year for arguably the best player and pitcher in all of baseball, both in the golden state of California.
At 23 years-old, Trout is the 5th-youngest player to win the award, and the youngest unanimous winner. He hit .286 with a career-high 36 home runs, and and lead the American League with 111 RBI this season. He also lead the league with 115 runs scored and 338 total bases. He is the first unanimous AL MVP winner since Ken Griffey Jr. of the Seattle Mariners in 1997.
The Angels' star lead the majors in WAR (wins above replacement) at 7.9, the lowest of his 3-year career. This MVP comes in the same season that he won the All-Star game MVP and his 3rd straight silver slugger award. He lead the Angels to an AL-best 98-64 record, but lost to the Kansas City Royals in the ALDS. The young stud joins Vladmir Guerrero and Don Baylor as the only Angels in franchise history to win the award.
Meanwhile, from Anaheim to Los Angeles California, Dodgers P Clayton Kershaw took home the NL MVP award. This announcement comes in the same week that Kershaw was awarded the NL Cy Young award. Kershaw beat out Marlins' OF Giancarlo Stanton and Pirates' OF Andrew McCutchen for the win. He earned 18 of 30 firs-place votes and 355 points in balloting.
The Dodgers' ace is the first NL pitcher to win both awards since Bob Gibson in 1968. The Dodgers went 21-4 this season with Kershaw on the mound, going only 3 games over .500 with anyone else pitching. The last pitcher to win both awards in any league was Justin Verlander of the Detroit Tigers in 2011.
Despite his postseason struggles, Kershaw is the first pitcher to top the majors in ERA in 4 consecutive seasons. He lead the majors in wins and ERA, and added 239 strikeouts in 198.1 innings pitched. This includes a no-hitter against the Colorado Rockies on June 18th, where he struck out 15 and did not walk anyone.
These honors top off a stellar year for arguably the best player and pitcher in all of baseball, both in the golden state of California.
