NEW YORK — Yankees infielder DJ LeMahieu finished third in the balloting for American League Most Valuable Player in 2020, as Chicago White Sox first baseman José Abreu took the award.
In the results announced Thursday evening, LeMahieu had 230 points and one first-place vote. Abreu had 374 points and 21 of the 30 first-place votes. Cleveland Indians second baseman José Ramírez was the runner-up with 303 points and eight first-place votes.
Despite contracting coronavirus earlier this year, LeMahieu lead Major League Baseball with a .364 batting average in 50 games in a season shortened by the pandemic. He also led the American League in on-base percentage (.421), OPS (1.011), and park-adjusted OPS+ (177). Those were all the best numbers of his career.
LeMahieu won a Silver Slugger as the best-hitting second baseman in the league in 2020, and also became just the second player in MLB history to win a batting title in both leagues. In his two seasons in New York, LeMahieu batted .336 with 36 home runs, 268 hits, and a .922 OPS.
The last time a member of the Yankees won the MVP award was 2007, when Alex Rodriguez took home the honors.
LeMahieu finished fourth in the MVP voting in 2019. Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout won the award last year.
Although he didn’t get the MVP award, LeMahieu is expected to score a big contract in free agency. He declined the Yankees’ $18.9 million qualifying offer this week.
In balloting results announced Wednesday evening, New York Mets ace Jacob deGrom finished a distant third to the Cincinnati Reds’ Trevor Bauer in the National League Cy Young Award race.
Atlanta Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman won the MVP on the National League side. Freeman had 410 points and 28 first-place votes. In second place, Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Mookie Betts had 268 points and the other two first-place votes. San Diego Padres third baseman Manny Machado finished third with 221 points.
------
Did you know you can now watch, read and stay informed with NY1 wherever and whenever you want? Get the new Spectrum News app here.