The Baseball Writers Association of America has released their annual MVP award winners, with Bryce Harper taking National League Honors, and Josh Donaldson winning in the American League.
The press release from MLB follows.
Bryce Harper Unanimous NL MVP; Josh Donaldson wins AL MVP
The Baseball Writers’ Association of America named Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper the unanimous winner of the National League Most Valuable Player Award and Blue Jays third baseman Josh Donaldson the winner of the American League MVP on Thursday night during an hour-long special on MLB Network.
Harper, the youngest unanimous MVP winner in history, claimed all 30 first-place votes for 420 total points, topping runner-up Paul Goldschmidt of the D-backs (234 points) and third-place finisher Joey Votto of the Reds (175 points).
At 22 years, 353 days old on the final day of the season, Harper was the third-youngest player to win NL MVP, behind Hall of Famers Johnny Bench (22 years, 298 days for the Reds in 1970) and Stan Musial (22 years, 316 days for the Cardinals in ’43). Oakland’s Vida Blue is the youngest MVP in baseball history, having won the American League MVP Award in 1971 at 22 years, 64 days old.
Harper hit .330 in 2015, leading the NL in home runs (42, tied with Colorado’s Nolan Arenado), runs scored (118), on-base percentage (.460) and slugging percentage (.649).
Donaldson earned 23 first-place votes for 385 total points, ahead of Angels outfielder Mike Trout (seven first-place votes for 304 points) and Royals outfielder Lorenzo Cain (225 points).
Donaldson led the Blue Jays to the postseason for the first time since 1993 with one of the best offensive performances in franchise history. He hit .297 with 41 home runs and led the Majors with 122 runs scored while pacing the AL with 123 RBIs and appearing in all but four games. Donaldson was also first in the AL with 84 extra-base hits, second to Trout with 8.7 WAR and third with a .939 on-base plus slugging percentage.
George Bell was the first Blue Jays player to win the AL MVP in 1987. In the last several weeks, Donaldson has won the Hank Aaron Award, the Players’ Choice Most Outstanding Player Award and an AL Silver Slugger Award as the league’s top offensive third baseman. He finished fourth in voting for the AL MVP in 2013 and eighth last season as a member of the A’s.
Harper is the only player in Major League Baseball history with at least 42 home runs, 124 walks and 118 runs scored at age 22 or younger, and he is the youngest player in MLB history with at least 42 home runs and 124 walks in a season.
The previous youngest was Babe Ruth, who hit 54 home runs and had 150 walks in 1920 at the age of 25.
WASHINGTON, DC – JULY 3: Bryce Harper #34 of the Washington Nationals takes a swing during a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers on July 3, 2013 at Nationals Park in Washington, DC. The Brewers won 4-1. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
