1. Josh Donaldson
Sep 30, 2015; Baltimore, MD, USA; Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Josh Donaldson (20) hits a RBI double in the fifth inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
I don’t particularly like to be caught up in narrative, but let’s face it: the Toronto Blue Jays were one of baseball’s top stories this year. Third baseman Josh Donaldson was arguably the greatest linchpin in their successful campaign, leading the Jays to their first postseason appearance and division title since 1993.
The man popularly known as the “Bringer of Rain” certainly did that a lot in 2015. Acquired from the Oakland A’s last offseason, Donaldson’s fearsome bat padded an already intimidating lineup. He finished the regular season with a .297/.371/.568 slash line, 41 home runs (fifth in MLB) and an AL-leading 123 RBI. He also scored 122 runs, the most in the major leagues this year.
You could hardly fault someone for choosing Mike Trout to nab his second MVP award this season. But Toronto’s special season, highlighted by a truly torrid second half, gives a slight edge to Donaldson.
Next: NL ROY end-of-season rankings
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