The Milwaukee Brewers announced their postseason award winners today as selected by a five-person panel from the Milwaukee Chapter of the Baseball Writers Association of America (BBWAA).
Third baseman Travis Shaw earned Brewers Most Valuable Player and Top Newcomer honors. Shaw, who was acquired via trade from Boston last December 6, batted .273 with 31 HR, 101 RBI and 10 stolen bases in 144 games this season. He led the team in HR (T10th in NL), RBI (9th in NL), doubles (34), hits (147), extra-base hits (56) and total bases (276) while posting a .975 fielding percentage, which ranked fourth among qualifying Major League third basemen.
Corey Knebel was voted Brewers Most Valuable Pitcher. Knebel, who was the team's lone All-Star representative, posted a 1.78 ERA and 39 saves in 76 relief appearances. He ranked among Major League relievers in strikeouts (T1st, 126), strikeouts per nine innings (3rd, 14.92 / 1st in NL), saves (T4th) and appearances (T5th / T1st in NL). Knebel's 126 strikeouts shattered the franchise record for relievers in a single season (previous record was 98 by Julio Machado in 1991). His 45 consecutive appearances with a strikeout from April 3 to July 15 broke a single-season Major League record for relievers (previous record was 39 games by Bruce Sutter in 1977).
Pitcher Brent Suter was voted Brewers Unsung Hero. During six stints with Milwaukee this season, Suter went 3-2 with a 3.42 ERA in 22 games, including 14 starts. He earned Brewers Pitcher of the Month honors for July (5gs, 2-0, 1.50era) after joining the rotation on July 3 for the injured Chase Anderson. Overall in 2017, Suter was 3-2 with a 3.45 ERA as a starter (70.1ip, 27er) and 0-0 with a 3.18 ERA in relief (11.1ip, 4er).
First baseman Eric Thames received the Good Guy Award, which is presented to the player who has the most outgoing, friendly presence in the clubhouse and interacts well with the media on a daily basis in a cooperative and pleasant manner. Thames (138g, .247, 31hr, 63rbi) signed with Milwaukee as a free agent last November 29 after spending three seasons playing for the NC Dinos of the Korean Baseball Organization.