Keuchel, Correa, Altuve win Players Choice Awards
The awards keep piling up for the Astros.
Three Astros took home Players Choice Awards on Monday night, with lefty Dallas Keuchel being voted by his peers as American League Outstanding Pitcher, shortstop Carlos Correa winning American League Outstanding Rookie and second baseman Jose Altuve taking the first Majestic Athletic Always Game Award.
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The Players Choice Awards, which have been in existence since 1992, are voted on by all Major League players. The players annually honor the top player, rookie, pitcher and comeback player in each league and name a Player of the Year and Man of the Year regardless of league.
Keuchel went 20-8 with a 2.48 ERA in 33 starts in 2015. He led all AL pitchers in wins, WAR (7.2), innings pitched (23) and ground-ball-to-fly-ball ratio (3.68), ranked second in ERA and batting average against (.217) and tied for third in complete games (3).
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A model of consistency throughout the season, he was the starting pitcher for the AL in the All-Star Game, earned three AL Pitcher of the Month Awards (April, May, August) and is a finalist for a Rawlings Gold Glove Award. In his two postseason starts, Keuchel went 2-0 with a 0.69 ERA.
"Definitely didn't expect to get this call, just being in the category meant a lot to me," Keuchel said. "To be respected by your peers, couldn't ask for anything more."
Video: Correa wins the 2015 AL Outstanding Rookie Award
Correa, who made his Major League debut June 8 and was the youngest position player in the Majors this season, hit .279 with 22 doubles, 22 home runs, 68 RBIs, 14 stolen bases and a .857 OPS in 99 games. He led all AL rookies in home runs, slugging (.512) and OPS, while ranking second in RBIs and on-base percentage (.345) and third in batting average.
Correa set the franchise rookie record for home runs and the franchise record for home runs by a shortstop. The 21-year-old was named Sporting News American League Rookie of the Year last month.
"It means a lot for the players to vote for me," Correa said. "They're out there playing with you, against you, trying to beat you, get you out. To get the most votes from them really means a lot."
Video: Altuve wins the 2015 Majestic Always Game Award
Altuve this year became the first player in club history to record multiple 200-hit seasons, leading the AL in hits (200) and steals (38). The Always Game Award, which was created this year, is given to the player who constantly exhibits grit, tenacity, perseverance and hustle.
"The only thing I try to do every day is play hard," Altuve said. "That's something I have to do every day, play hard for your team. Fans want to see you playing hard every time. Thank God for the opportunity to be in big leagues, and I never take [it for granted]."
Keuchel is the second Astros player to be named the MLBPA Most Outstanding Pitcher, joining fellow lefty Mike Hampton (1999), and Correa is the second player in franchise history to win the Outstanding Rookie of the Year, joining center fielder Willy Taveras (2005).