Josh Donaldson wins American League MVP Award - was standout player in Mobile and at Auburn Universi
By Mark Inabinett | minabinett@al.com AL.com
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series /series Aka Story Package gallery-preview /gallery-preview Aka Secondary Package The Baseball Writers Association of America has chosen Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Josh Donaldson as the winner of the American League Most Valuable Player Award for the 2015.
Donaldson was an All-State baseball and football player at Faith Academy in Mobile and played baseball at Auburn. He joins Frank Thomas as Auburn alumni who have won the award. Thomas won the AL MVP Award for the 1993 and 1994 seasons.
The 2015 AL MVP Award winner was announced on Thursday on MLB Network. The other finalists for the award were Kansas City Royals outfielder Lorenzo Cain and Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout.
Donaldson received 23 of the 30 first-place votes, with Trout getting the other seven. The seven voters who did not chose Donaldson as the MVP had him second on their ballots. Trout had 22 second-place vote and one third-place vote. Donaldson finished with 385 points to Trout's 304. Cain finished third with 225 points.
"It's amazing," Donaldson said. "I've got to thank a lot of people – my teammates first and foremost, our coaching staff, my friends and family."
Donaldson is in his third full season as a Major League regular. He finished fourth in the AL MVP voting in 2013 and eighth in 2014.
In the 2015 season, Donaldson hit .297 in 158 games. He had 122 runs, 184 hits, 41 doubles, two triples, 41 home runs, 123 RBIs, six stolen bases, 352 total bases, 10 sacrifice flies, a .371 on-base average and a .568 slugging percentage.
Donaldson led the American League in runs, RBIs, total bases and sacrifice flies and led the big leagues with 20 game-winning RBIs while helping the Blue Jays win the AL East pennant.
The Most Valuable Player Award joins the honors that Donaldson has received for the 2015 season. He was named The Sporting News Major League Baseball Player of the Year, the Players Choice Player of the Year and the Players Choice American League Outstanding Player. He received the Hank Aaron Award as the top hitter in the American League and a Silver Slugger Award as the top hitting third baseman in the American League.
Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Josh Donaldson will find out on Thursday night if he's been selected the BBWAA 2015 American League Most Valuable Player. If the former Faith Academy and Auburn standout does win the award, he'll join the list of eight players with Alabama roots who have been named league MVPs in the three major U.S. sports.
Donaldson became the second Toronto player to receive the MVP honor, following outfielder George Bell, who was the 1987 winner.
Washington Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper was a unanimous choice for the National League MVP Award.
Arizona Diamondbacks first baseman Paul Goldschmidt, a former Mobile BayBear, finished second.
Trout won the AL MVP Award last season after finishing second in 2012 and 2013.