Royals’ Lorenzo Cain is one of three finalists for AL Most Valuable Player
Royals center fielder Lorenzo Cain is one of three finalists for the American League Most Valuable Player Award.
The winner of the award, which was voted on by members of the Baseball Writers Association of America before the postseason started, will be announced Nov. 19. The other finalists were Toronto’s Josh Donaldson and the Los Angeles Angels’ Mike Trout.
Cain hit .307/.361/.477 with a career-high .838 on-base-plus-slugging percentage. He also reached career highs with 16 home runs, 72 RBIs, 101 runs scored and 28 stolen bases in 140 games. He earned his first All-Star selection, starting for the AL team in right field. Cain’s 101 runs tied for fifth-best in the AL.
The center fielder for the All-Star game was Trout, who led the AL with a .991 OPS and .590 slugging percentage. He hit .299 with a .402 on-base percentage and hit 41 home runs, driving in 92 and scoring 104 in 159 games. Donaldson, who led the AL in RBIs with 123 and runs scored with 122 and was third in OPS at .939, hit .297/.371/.568.
Cain posted the best defensive wins above replacement of the three at 2.3, which was fourth-best in the AL. Trout led the AL in WAR with 9.4, followed by Donaldson at 8.8. Cain was fourth at 7.2.
The last and only Royal to win the AL MVP award was George Brett in 1980. Brett was also the last Royal to finish in the top three of AL MVP voting, placing second in 1985. Alex Gordon finished 12th last year.
Royals manager Ned Yost finished outside the top three in AL Manager of the Year voting. The finalists were Texas’ Jeff Banister, Houston’s A.J. Hinch and Minnesota’s Paul Molitor. The winner will be announced Nov. 17.
BBWAA award finalists
Awards were voted on by members of the Baseball Writers Association of America before the postseason started.
NL Rookie of the Year (winner announced Nov. 16): Chicago’s Kris Bryant, San Francisco’s Matt Duffy, Pittsburgh’s Jung Ho Kang
AL Rookie of the Year (Nov. 16): Houston’s Carlos Correa, Cleveland’s Francisco Lindor, Minnesota’s Miguel Sano
NL Manager of the Year (Nov. 17): New York’s Terry Collins, Chicago’s Joe Maddon, St. Louis’ Mike Matheny
AL Manager of the Year (Nov. 17): Texas’ Jeff Banister, Houston’s A.J. Hinch, Minnesota’s Paul Molitor
NL Cy Young (Nov. 18): Chicago’s Jake Arrieta, Los Angeles’ Zack Greinke and Clayton Kershaw
AL Cy Young (Nov. 18): Oakland’s Sonny Gray, Houston’s Dallas Keuchel, Toronto’s David Price
NL MVP (Nov. 19): Arizona’s Paul Goldschmidt, Washington’s Bryce Harper, Cincinnati’s Joey Votto
AL MVP (Nov. 19): Royals’ Lorenzo Cain, Toronto’s Josh Donaldson, Los Angeles’ Mike Trout.
This story was originally published November 10, 2015 at 6:23 PM with the headline "Royals’ Lorenzo Cain is one of three finalists for AL Most Valuable Player."