MILWAUKEE -- Travis Shaw's strong debut season with the Brewers netted him a pair of honors Tuesday from the Milwaukee chapter of the Baseball Writers' Association of America.
Shaw was named Brewers MVP and Top Newcomer by the chapter after batting .273 with 31 home runs and 101 RBIs. Acquired in a December trade with the Red Sox, Shaw led the Brewers in RBIs and tied fellow newcomer Eric Thames for the team's home run crown.
He posted those numbers while managing a challenging family situation. Shaw's wife, Lindy, gave birth to a baby girl in June who required multiple surgeries throughout the summer for a heart defect. She remained at Children's Hospital of Wisconsin as of season's end.
"Travis has just been a rock through this whole thing, he really has," Brewers manager Craig Counsell said. "He's going through more than we know. We don't talk about it a lot, to respect what he's going through. But he's been able to put together a wonderful season under very difficult circumstances."
Brewers closer Corey Knebel topped Jimmy Nelson for Brewers Pitcher of the Year honors. In a team-high 76 games, Knebel had a 1.78 ERA and 39 saves while making his first National League All-Star team. He took over as closer from Neftali Feliz in May and set a Major League record by striking out at least one batter in 46 straight games (including his final appearance of the season).
Left-hander Brent Suter, who bounced between Triple-A and the big leagues -- as well as the Brewers' bullpen and starting rotation -- was voted the team's Unsung Hero, and Thames won the "Good Guy" Award.