Davis is Esurance Best Postseason Player
All-Star closer's escape against Toronto sent KC to World Series
KANSAS CITY -- Royals closer Wade Davis captured the Esurance Award for "Best Major Leaguer, Postseason" after his sensational performance in a run toward a World Series championship.
Other finalists for the award were the Mets' Daniel Murphy, who homered in a remarkable six consecutive postseason games, and Davis' teammate Alcides Escobar.
Davis was virtually flawless in the postseason, throwing 10 2/3 innings of scoreless baseball. He picked up four saves and a win.
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And Davis' win in Game 6 of the American League Championship Series against Toronto was likely the best relief outing from anyone in the postseason.
Davis entered a 3-3 game in the eighth inning and recorded the final two outs. He then sat through a 45-minute rain delay, but Davis still came back out for the ninth to then protect a 4-3 lead. The Blue Jays quickly got the potential tying run on third with none out. But after a walk, Davis struck out the next two hitters before inducing American League MVP Josh Donaldson to ground out to third, thus securing the Royals' trip to the World Series.
Video: 2015 MLB Awards: Best Postseason - Davis
The Esurance MLB Awards annually honor Major League Baseball's greatest achievements as part of an industry-wide balloting process that includes five components, each of which accounts for 20 percent of the overall vote: media, front-office personnel, retired MLB players, fans at MLB.com and Society for American Baseball Research (SABR) voters.
Individual awards were presented for 22 separate categories, including Best Major Leaguer, Everyday Player, Bounceback Player, Social Media Personality and Postseason Performer. Winners were also recognized for the year's Best Offensive Play, Defensive Play, Moment, Single-Game Performance, Social Media Post, Celebrity Fan and Fan Catch.
Manager and executive winners will be announced at the Winter Meetings in December.
Nominees were judged on their bodies of work from the entire year -- from Opening Day through the postseason -- and selected after a careful review of all 30 clubs. Winners in all 24 categories receive a Greatness in Baseball Yearly (GIBBY) trophy.