Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout is the winner of the 2014 American League Most Valuable Player award, the Baseball Writers' Association of America announced on Thursday.
Mike Trout wins 2014 American League MVP award
Mike Trout unanimously beat out Michael Brantley and Victor Martinez to take home his first MVP award.
Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
It is the first MVP award for Trout, who finished second to Miguel Cabrera in 2012 and 2013 but won unanimously this time around. Trout led the league in runs scored (115) and RBI (111), finished second in isolated power (.274), and tied for third in home runs (36). He led the league in wRC+ (167) and both versions of WAR (7.8 fWAR, 7.9 bWAR), as well.
The 2014 season was the first one in which Trout produced negative value defensively according to Fangraphs, although Defensive Runs Saved thought he was sub-par in center in 2013 as well. It was also the first time he finished at fewer than 10 fWAR since his 40-game debut in 2011. His .287/.377/.561 batting line is a notch down from his last two seasons, but he finished with the same 167 wRC+ as he did in 2012 thanks to a significant league-wide decline in offense. Plus, his decreased batting average was partially offset by an increase in power.
The Angels signed Trout to a six-year, $144.5 million extension over the offseason, locking down the best player in the game through the 2020 season. That came before Trout helped power the Angels to their first postseason appearance since 2009.
Trout is the third Angels player to win the MVP, joining Vladimir Guerrero (2004) and Don Baylor (1979).
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