World Series MVP 2017: George Springer wins MLB playoffs’ biggest individual reward

LOS ANGELES — The Houston Astros won their first championship in franchise history, clinching the title with a win over the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 7 of the World Series on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium. Center fielder George Springer, who homered and doubled in the clincher, was named the 2017 World Series Most Valuable Player.

Springer was 11-for-29 (.379) in the series with five home runs, three doubles, five walks, eight runs scored and seven RBI in seven games.

Springer set records for most extra-base hits (eight), most total bases (29), most consecutive games with a home run (four), and most consecutive games with an extra-base hit (six) in a World Series.

With five home runs in the series Springer tied another record, matching Reggie Jackson of the New York Yankees (1977) and Chase Utley of the Philadelphia Phillies (2009).

Springer, who turned 28 in September, made his first All-Star team this season and hit .283/.367/.522 with a career-high 34 home runs. He struggled in the ALCS, going 3-for-26 against the Yankees, and began this World Series with four strikeouts in four at-bats in Game 1.

But manager A.J. Hinch remained confident in the slugger, and Springer responded with three hits in Game 2, including a double and the game-winning home run, and he homered in five of the last six games of the series.

“He’s an incredible player. I don’t really ride the roller coaster with players. You have to believe in what they can do, not what they’re doing,” Hinch said earlier in the series. “If you respond to every bad game or tough game, you’ll bounce these guys around and ruin their confidence in a heartbeat. This is one of the our best players.”

Springer’s postgame speech was great too.

Plus, he got a Chevy truck. So that’s a fun perk besides the whole “best player in the World Series” thing.