The 2014 MVP awards were announced and Thursday night, and Mike Trout finally claimed his first AL MVP award, claiming all 30 first place votes in the process. Over in the National League, Clayton Kershaw became the first NL pitcher to win the MVP award since Bob Gibson in 1968.
Trout actually had the worst year of his career in 2014, hitting .287/.377/561 with 36 homers and 16 stolen bases. He didn’t go 30/30 like he did in 2012, or 20/20 like he did in 2013, but he still led baseball in fWAR by half a win over AL Cy Young winner Corey Kluber.
As mentioned, Trout swept the voting. Tigers DH Victor Martinez, fresh off of his new contract with the club, finished second with 229 points and 16 second place votes. Michael Brantley of the Indians finished third with eight second place votes and 185 points, while Jose Abreu of the White Sox was fourth and Jose Bautista of the Blue Jays was fifth. Robinson Cano, Nelson Cruz, Josh Donaldson, Miguel Cabrera, and Felix Hernandez rounded out the top ten.
Kershaw won the NL Cy Young award unanimously on Wednesday, though his path to the MVP award was more daunting. Even though tossed 198 1/3 innings of 1.77 ERA ball, struck out 239, and walked only 31, there were still questions about whether or not he’d be able to break through and claim the award. He did, taking 18 first place votes and 355 points overall. Giancarlo Stanton was the runner up with eight first place votes and 298 points, and 2013 NL MVP Andrew McCutchen came in third with four first place votes and 271 points. Jonathan Lucroy snagged the one second place vote that didn’t go to those three and finished fourth with 167 points, while Anthony Rendon just edged out Buster Posey to finish fifth. Posey, Adrian Gonzalez, Adam Wainwright, Josh Harrison, and Anthony Rizzo filled out the top ten.
Trout is just the third Angel to win the award, following in the footsteps of Don Baylor and Vladimir Guerrero before him. Kershaw is the first Dodger to win the award since Kirk Gibson in 1988, and the 13th overall MVP for the Dodges.
