On Wednesday, Major League Baseball named the winners of the 2016 Hank Aaron Awards, given to the best offensive players in each league, for the American League and National League. Over in the AL, the award went to former Boston Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz. In the NL, Chicago Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant took home the hardware following a season that has him sitting as the favorite to also win NL MVP.
Ortiz, Bryant Win 2016 Hank Aaron Awards
Ortiz, who retired following the conclusion of the American League Division Series against the Cleveland Indians, previously won the award in 2005. In his final year, he had the greatest statistical season ever produced by a 40-year-old hitter. He put up a .315 batting average and an absolutely ridiculous 1.021 OPS. He led the American League with 127 RBI, and led all of baseball in doubles (48), slugging percentage (.620), and OPS.
While Ortiz likely will not take home the AL MVP award, he did establish himself as a candidate. The Red Sox certainly would not have won the AL East without his contributions. His bat will be hard for Boston to replace, but his leadership and infectious, fun-loving attitude will prove impossible to replicate. He finished his illustrious career with 541 total home runs, in sole possession of 17th place on the all-time list.
Bryant was every bit as important to the Cubs this season as Ortiz was to the Red Sox, and perhaps more so. The best player on the best team in baseball, Bryant is all but a lock to win MVP. He finished the regular season with a slash line of .292/.385/.554, and crushed 39 home runs. He drove in 102 runners, and finished in the top 10 in baseball in almost every offensive category. As the sun sets on the great career of David Ortiz, it seems to be rising on the career of Kris Bryant. Fans should expect great things from him in years to come.
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