11/23/2020

MVPs are first basemen

Two first basemen won the MVP awards. Braves’ Freddie Freeman received 28 first-place votes in the NL MVP voting and Jose Abreu from the White Sox received 21 first-place votes in the AL MVP voting. Previously, Jose Abreu won the 2014 AL Rookie of the Year award and finished 4th in the 2014 MVP voting. Freddie Freeman finished 4th in the 2018 MVP voting. In the 2020 season, their outstanding performances convince the members of the Baseball Writers' Association of America.


Runs

American League

National League

Player

R

Player

R

Tim Anderson

45

Freddie Freeman

51

Jose Ramirez

45

Fernando Tatis Jr.

50

Jose Abreu

43

Dansby Swanson

49


Tim Anderson, Jose Abreu’s teammate in the White Sox, scored 45 runs, leading the AL. Jose Ramirez, who finished 2nd in the AL MVP voting, also scored 45 runs in the 2020 season. Jose Abreu scored 43 runs.

Freddie Freeman scored 51 runs, leading the majors. Fernando Tatis Jr., who finished 4th in the MVP voting, scored 50 runs. Freeman’s teammate Dansby Swanson scored 49 runs, 3rd most in the majors.

 

Hits

American League

National League

Player

H

Player

H

Jose Abreu

76

Trea Turner

78

DJ LeMahieu

71

Marcell Ozuna

77

Whit Merrifield

70

Freddie Freeman

73

Jose Abreu had 76 hits in the 2020 season, leading the AL. DJ LeMahieu, who finished 3rd in the MVP voting, had 71 hits. Whit Merrifield, who was an All-Star in the 2019 season, had 70 hits.

Nationals’ shortstop Trea Turner had 78 hits, leading the majors. Freeman’s team Marcell Ozuna had 77 hits, 2nd most in the majors. Freeman had 73 hits.   


Runs Batted In

American League

National League

Player

RBI

Player

RBI

Jose Abreu

60

Marcell Ozuna

56

Luke Voit

52

Freddie Freeman

53

Jose Ramirez

Mike Trout

46

Manny Machado

47


Jose Abreu collected 60 RBI, leading the majors. Yankees’ Luke Voit had 52 RBI. Jose Ramirez and 3-time MVP Mike Trout each had 46 RBI in the 2020 season. Marcell Ozuna had 56 RBI, leading the NL. Meanwhile, Freddie Freeman collected 53 RBI. Manny Machado finished 3rd in the MVP voting and he had 47 RBI. Back in 2018, Machado played 66 games with the Dodgers and he collected 42 RBI. 

 

Extra Base Hits

American League

National League

Player

XBH

Player

XBH

Jose Abreu

34

Freddie Freeman

37

Jose Ramirez

34

Marcell Ozuna

32

Rafael Devers

Eloy Jimenez

Mike Trout

28

Dominic Smith

32

Jose Abreu and Jose Ramirez each had 34 extra base hits in the 2020 season. Among these 34 extra base hits, Jose Abreu had 19 home runs and Jose Ramirez had 17 home runs. Luke Voit crushed 22 homers, leading the majors. Rafael Devers, third baseman of the Red Sox, had 28 extra base hits. Eloy Jimenez and Mike Trout each had 28 extra base hits as well.

Freddie Freeman had 37 extra base hits, leading the majors. Freeman had 13 homers and 23 doubles, 23 doubles were the most in the MLB. Marcell Ozuna had 32 extra base hits and Dominic Smith from the New York Mets also had 32.


OPS

American League

National League

Player

OPS

Player

OPS

DJ LeMahieu

1.011

Juan Soto

1.185

Jose Ramirez

Mike Trout

.993

Freddie Freeman

1.102

Nelson Cruz

.992

Marcell Ozuna

1.067

Jose Abreu

.987

 


DJ LeMahieu’s OPS was 1.011, leading the AL. LeMahieu had been very productive in his two years in pinstripes. It will be truly worth watching whether he will return to the Bronx. Jose Ramirez and Mike Trout each posted an OPS of .993. Nelson Cruz, who’s already 40 years old, had an OPS of .992. He just showed he can still hit very well and he’s also a free agent. Jose Abreu’s OPS was .987 in 2020.

Juan Soto only played 47 games in 2020 due to being tested positive for COVID-19. However, he’s one of the most dangerous hitters in the league. His OPS was 1.185, leading the majors. Soto finished 5th in the NL MVP voting. He’s only 21 and we will probably see him win the MVP award in the future.

Freddie Freeman’s OPS was 1.102 and Marcell Ozuna’s OPS was 1.067. If the Braves can re-sign Ozuna, the Braves lineup will be many pitchers’ nightmares.


Jose Abreu and Freddie Freeman both had a very productive season. In the AL, Jose Abreu led in hits, extra base hits and RBI. In the NL, Freddie Freeman led in runs and extra base hits. It’s not a big surprise to see them win the MVP awards. In addition, it will be worth waiting to see whether great players such as Jose Ramirez, Juan Soto and DJ LeMahieu would someday win the MVP award.

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