HOUSTON, TX - The Baseball Writers Association of America (BBWAA) announced the finalists for their yearly awards tonight, naming Astros second baseman Jose Altuve a finalist for the American League Most Valuable Player Award. The other nominees for this prestigious honor were Red Sox outfielder Mookie Betts and Angels outfielder Mike Trout. Earlier this offseason, Altuve took home a similar award, as he was named the 2016 Sporting News Player of the Year, an award which is voted on by players from both leagues and given to the Major League player who had the most outstanding season.
The winner of each BBWAA award will be announced live on MLB Network next week with the Rookie of the Year named on Monday (Nov. 14), the Manager of the Year on Tuesday (Nov. 15), the Cy Young on Wednesday (Nov. 16) and the Most Valuable Player on Thursday (Nov. 17).
Altuve won the AL batting title with a .338 (216x640) average in 2016, while posting 108 runs scored, 42 doubles, 24 home runs, 96 RBI, 60 walks, 30 stolen bases, a .396 on-base percentage, a .531 slugging percentage and a .928 OPS. In addition to leading all American League players in batting average, he also led the circuit in hits, while ranking tied for second in stolen bases, third in WAR (7.6), tied for third in doubles, fourth in OBP, fourth in total bases (340) and fifth in OPS. On top of his well-rounded season, Altuve took home two AL awards in 2016, the AL Player of the Month for June and the AL Player of the Week for the week of April 11-17.
His historic season is one of the best by a second baseman in Major League history, as he became the first second baseman to reach 100 runs, 200 hits, 40 doubles, 20 homers, 95 RBI and 30 steals in a single season. He's just the sixth player in Major League history to reach all of those marks, regardless of position. By winning the batting title for the second time in the last three seasons, Altuve became the first second baseman to win multiple batting titles since Rod Carew won five between the 1969-75 seasons.
In franchise history, the Astros have only had one BBWAA Most Valuable Player in Jeff Bagwell, who earned the award for his 1994 campaign. Other Astros to finish in the top three in MVP voting were Jose Cruz (third in 1980), Glenn Davis (second in 1986), Bagwell (third in 1997, second in 1999), Moises Alou (third in 1998) and Lance Berkman (third in 2002, third in 2006).
This announcement begins a busy award week, as Gold Glove winners will be announced tomorrow, for which the Astros have three finalists in left-handed pitcher Dallas Keuchel, left fielder Colby Rasmus and right fielder George Springer. The MLBPA Player of the Year Award, which Altuve has been named a finalist with Red Sox teammates David Ortiz and Mookie Betts, will be announced on Wednesday, and the Silver Sluggers winners will be announced on Thursday.
In his brief career, Altuve has earned four All-Star Game appearances (two starts), two Silver Slugger Awards, a Gold Glove Award, two batting titles and two stolen base titles.

-ASTROS-