Oakland, Calif. – Oakland A’s shortstop Marcus Semien was named a finalist for the American League Most Valuable Player Award. This marks the first time an Athletics player has been in the top three of MVP voting since Miguel Tejada was named AL MVP in 2002. An A’s player has won the award seven times in Oakland history. 

Among American League leaders, Semien ranked second in total bases (343); tied for second in times on base (276); third in runs (123), doubles (43) and extra base hits (83); fifth in hits (187); tied for fifth in triples (7); sixth in walks (87); tied for seventh in multiple hit games (53); and ninth in plate appearances per strikeout (7.32). His 123 runs scored tied the Oakland record set by Reggie Jackson in 1969.

Semien started all 162 regular season games and finished in the top five in Oakland history in eight different categories: runs (t-1st), games played (t-1st), at bats (2nd), extra base hits (3rd), hits (t-3rd), total bases (t-3rd), at bats (4th), doubles (t-4th) and multiple hit games (5th). 

In Major League history, the only players to surpass his totals in runs, hits, doubles, triples, home runs, RBI, walks and stolen bases in the same season are Babe Ruth (1921, 1923) and Lou Gehrig (1927).

He had 747 plate appearances, which was the most in the majors since Rickie Weeks had 754 for Milwaukee in 2010. Semien was one of five players to appear in each of his team’s games and played all but 30 innings at shortstop. He has a consecutive games played streak of 243, dating back to June 28, 2018 (all starts) and has played all but 37 innings at shortstop over that span.

Semien was named a 2019 Rawlings Gold Glove Award finalist. He led AL shortstops in fielding percentage (.981), total chances (634), assists (436) and double plays (85) and ranked second in putouts (186). He led Major League shortstops in games, starts and innings (1435.0). His innings were the most ever by an A’s shortstop and his fielding percentage was third-best in Athletics history.