Aaron Judge and Francisco Lindor
New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge was named the American League Player of the Year, as well as the Most Outstanding Player in the American League, by his fellow Major League Baseball players.
Judge won the Players Choice Award, given each year by the Major League Baseball Players Union.
The slugger set an American League record with 62 home runs, surpassing by one the mark set by Roger Maris, also of New York, in 1961.
Paul Goldschmidt, first baseman for the St. Louis Cardinals, was named the National League’s most outstanding player, the union announced Friday.
Puerto Rico’s Francisco Lindor, New York Mets star and member of the union’s eight-member executive subcommittee that was involved in negotiations to end the lockout, received the Marvin Miller Man of the Year award.
This recognition is given to a player whose leadership inspires others.
Former pitcher Steve Rogers, who has served for years as a special assistant to the union, received the Curt Flood Award for his contributions to the advancement of players’ rights and his work with the union.
Justin Verlander of the Houston Astros was selected as the American League’s most outstanding pitcher and won the Comeback Player of the Year award. Dominican Sandy Alcantara, of the Miami Marlins, was recognized as the National League’s most outstanding pitcher.
Venezuelan outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. of the Atlanta Braves won the National League Comeback Player of the Year award.
Julio Rodriguez, Dominican outfielder of the Seattle Mariners, won the distinction as the most outstanding rookie of the American League, while Spencer Strider, of Atlanta, won the same award, but in the National League.