Altuve a finalist for AL Most Outstanding Player Award
Winner to be announced on MLB Network tonight at 7 p.m. CT
HOUSTON, TX - Astros All-Star second baseman and American League batting champion Jose Altuve is one of three finalists for the American League's Outstanding Player Award, which is one of several awards that will be announced as part of the Players Choice Awards tonight at 7 p.m. CT on MLB Network.
The Players Choice Awards are chosen each year by Major League players. The other finalists for the AL Most Outstanding Player Award are Angels outfielder Mike Trout and Tigers DH/1B Victor Martinez. *Note - The Baseball Writers Association of America will announce their annual awards next week (Nov. 10-13).
In 2014, Altuve had one of the finest seasons in Astros history as well as one of the most productive seasons by any second baseman in Major League history. Altuve led the Majors in batting with a .341 clip, becoming the first Houston player ever to win a batting crown. He also led the Majors with 225 hits, which is a club record, and led the AL in with 56 stolen bases. In the process, he became just the third player since 1945 to lead his league in batting, hits and stolen bases. The other two were Snuffy Stirnweiss in 1945 and Ichiro Suzuki in 2001. Suzuki was named AL MVP that season.
Additionally, Altuve's 225 hits are the most by a second baseman since 1936 when Detroit's Charlie Gehringer collected 227.
The Players Choice Awards annually honor the outstanding player, rookie, pitcher and comeback player in each league, while the Player of the Year and Marvin Miller Man of the Year awards recognize top honors without regard to league. Voting for the 2014 Players Choice Awards was conducted in MLB clubhouses on Sept. 16.
2014 Players Choice Awards Finalists
American League
Outstanding Player: Jose Altuve (Houston), Victor Martinez (Detroit), Mike Trout (LA Angels)
Outstanding Pitcher: Felix Hernandez (Seattle), Corey Kluber (Cleveland), Chris Sale (Chicago White Sox)
Outstanding Rookie: Jose Abreu (Chicago White Sox), Danny Santana (Minnesota), Matt Shoemaker (LA Angels)
Comeback Player: J.D. Martinez (Detroit), Victor Martinez (Detroit), Chris Young (Seattle)
National League
Outstanding Player: Josh Harrison (Pittsburgh), Clayton Kershaw (LA Dodgers), Giancarlo Stanton (Miami)
Outstanding Pitcher: Johnny Cueto (Cincinnati), Clayton Kershaw (LA Dodgers), Adam Wainwright (St. Louis)
Outstanding Rookie: Jacob deGrom (NY Mets), Billy Hamilton (Cincinnati), David Peralta (Arizona)
Comeback Player: Tim Hudson (San Francisco), Casey McGehee (Miami), Edinson Volquez (Pittsburgh)
Player of the Year: Clayton Kershaw (LA Dodgers), Giancarlo Stanton (Miami), Mike Trout (LA Angels)
Marvin Miller Man of the Year: Clayton Kershaw (LA Dodgers), Adam LaRoche (Washington), Anthony Rizzo (Chicago Cubs)