MLB awards: Some Hank Aaron Award selections miss their mark
MLB announced the nominees for the Hank Aaron Award as part of MLB awards announcements recently and nearly half of the selections were not the “best overall hitter” on their team.
The Hank Aaron Award is an annual award given to the best overall hitter in each league as part of MLB awards. In 1999, 25 years after Hank Aaron broke Babe Ruth’s all-time home run record, MLB introduced the award to honor Hammerin’ Hank. Originally, the winner was based on a points system that awarded points to hits, home runs and RBI. The player with the highest point total was the Hank Aaron Award winner.
The point system lasted one year. In 2000, the use of specific statistics was tossed out and the rules were changed to a ballot system. The radio and television play-by-play broadcasters and color analysts voted for three players in each league. A first place vote was worth five points, a second place vote was worth three points and a third place vote was worth one point.
That system lasted until 2003, when baseball fans were given the opportunity to vote. The fan vote makes up 30 percent of the points, with the votes by broadcasters and analysts making up the other 70 percent. You can vote for one player from each league here.
The phrase “best overall hitter” is a subjective one. The original point system gave credit to hits and home runs, which is fine, but also to RBI, which is very context-dependent. It essentially eliminated leadoff hitters who don’t get the opportunity to drive in runs.
Of course, a subjective vote isn’t necessarily a better system, even if it’s more engaging for the fans. Also, some of the greatest hitters in the last two decades have won the award, including Alex Rodriguez four times and Barry Bonds three times. Then again, the best player in baseball, Mike Trout, has only won the Hank Aaron Award one time.
This year’s nominees are (almost) all fine hitters, but not necessarily the best hitter on each team. I’ve looked at each team’s nominee and whether another player on that team would have been a better choice. For me, the statistic wRC+ is the best single statistic to credit a hitter for everything he does and put it on an easy-to-understand scale.
Each MLB team's Hank Aaron Award nominee versus the team leader in wRC+. The nominee was the leader in wRC+ for 17 of 30 teams. #MLB #HankAaronAward #baseball pic.twitter.com/i6tR5F9AFJ
— BobbyBaseball (@bballonthebrain) October 4, 2018
An in-depth explanation for wRC+ can be found here. The main idea is that a hitter gets credit for everything he does and that is adjusted for league and ballpark effects, with the resulting number put on a scale with 100 being league average. Mike Trout, for example, had a 191 wRC+. He was 91 percent better than league average, which was the best mark in baseball for a qualifying hitter.
On other end of the scale was Baltimore’s Chris Davis, with a 46 wRC+. Davis was 54 percent worse than league average. There were four starting pitchers this year with at least 50 plate appearances who were better offensively than Chris Davis (Clayton Kershaw, German Marquez, Zack Greinke, and Max Scherzer). With all that in mind, let’s take a look at each team’s Hank Aaron Award nominee and whether a teammate would have been a better option. I used 350 plate appearances as the cut-off point, except in the case in which the nominee had fewer than 350 plate appearances.
American League East
Baltimore Orioles
Hank Aaron Award nominee: Adam Jones (613 PA, 98 wRC+)
Best hitter by wRC+: Mark Trumbo (358 PA, 107 wRC+)
The best hitter on the Orioles this year was Manny Machado (155 wRC+ in 413 PA with the Orioles), but he was traded to the Dodgers during the season. Of the remaining players, Mark Trumbo had a 107 wRC+, but only played in 90 games. Adam Jones is basically the default choice here, as he was one of only three Orioles with more than 500 plate appearances and he was better than the other two (Trey Mancini and Chris Davis).
Boston Red Sox
Hank Aaron Award nominee: J.D. Martinez (649 PA, 170 wRC+)
Best hitter by wRC+: Mookie Betts (614 PA, 185 wRC+)
Choosing J.D. Martinez over Mookie Betts isn’t an egregious choice. Martinez had a terrific year, with 111 runs scored, 43 homes, and 130 RBI. He hit .330/.402/.629, which is excellent. Despite this, Betts was better. He out-hit Martinez in all three rate stat categories (.346/.438/.640). He also scored 129 runs, launched 32 homers, and drove in 80 runs. He added 30 steals to complete his all-around excellence.
New York Yankees
Hank Aaron Award nominee: Giancarlo Stanton (705 PA, 127 wRC+)
Best hitter by wRC+: Aaron Judge (498 PA, 149 wRC+)
Stanton has the big power totals, with 102 R, 38 HR and 100 RBI, but Aaron Judge was a better hitter. Perhaps the playing time component was a factor. Two other Yankees regulars were right around the same level of offensive production as Stanton—Miguel Andujar (606 PA, 128 wRC+) and Aaron Hicks (581 PA, 127 wRC+). In limited playing time, Luke Voit outhit them all (148 PA, 194 wRC+ with the Yankees).
Tampa Bay Rays
Hank Aaron Award nominee: Joey Wendle (545 PA, 116 wRC+)
Best hitter by wRC+: C.J. Cron (560 PA, 122 wRC+)
Joey Wendle had a great season and is a legitimate AL Rookie of the Year candidate, but Cron had a slightly better season on offense. Cron led the Rays in home runs and RBI (30 HR, 74 RBI). Wendle was the better overall player when you roll in his defense and base running, but the Hank Aaron Award is all about offense and Cron topped him there.
Toronto Blue Jays
Hank Aaron Award nominee: Justin Smoak (594 PA, 121 wRC+)
Best hitter by wRC+: Justin Smoak (594 PA, 121 wRC+)
Hey, hey, what do you know? They got one right! Justin Smoak is the Blue Jays’ Hank Aaron Award nominee and he deserves his spot on the list. The second best hitter on the Blue Jays this year was Randal Grichuk (462 PA, 115 wRC+).
American League Central
Chicago White Sox
Hank Aaron Award nominee: Jose Abreu (553 PA, 114 wRC+)
Best hitter by wRC+: Jose Abreu (553 PA, 114 wRC+)
Another solid choice for Hank Aaron Award nominee is Jose Abreu. He wasn’t quite as good as catcher Omar Narvaez (322 PA, 122 wRC+), but Narvaez didn’t have the admittedly arbitrary cut off of 350 plate appearances, so Abreu is the guy. Even though he was the best hitter on the White Sox this year, it was Abreu’s worst year in the big leagues. Not only was he limited to a career-low 128 games because of an injury that no man wants to contemplate, he also had the lowest wRC+ of his career.
Cleveland Indians
Hank Aaron Award nominee: Jose Ramirez (698 PA, 147 wRC+)
Best hitter by wRC+: Jose Ramirez (698 PA, 147 wRC+)
Jose Ramirez had some competition from Francisco Lindor and Michael Brantley, but in the end it wasn’t all that close. Ramirez filled the stat sheet with 110 runs scored, 39 homers, 106 RBI, and 34 steals. He also hit a very impressive .272/.388/.555. He should get a top-five finish in AL MVP voting.
Detroit Tigers
Hank Aaron Award nominee: Nicholas Castellanos (678 PA, 130 wRC+)
Best hitter by wRC+: Nicholas Castellanos (678 PA, 130 wRC+)
This was an easy choice because there were no other legitimate options on a Detroit team that struggled mightily on offense this year. Castellanos was one of just two hitters with 300 or more plate appearances who was better than average with the bat. The other was Niko Goodrum (492 PA, 103 wRC+).
Kansas City Royals
Hank Aaron Award nominee: Whit Merrifield (707 PA, 120 wRC+)
Best hitter by wRC+: Whit Merrifield (707 PA, 120 wRC+)
Merrifield was another easy pick. He hit .304/.367/.438 and led the Royals in runs scored and stolen bases. In fact, he led the American League in hits and steals, making it two years in a row in which Merrifield led the AL in stolen bases. The only other Royal with more than 300 plate appearances who was above average offensively was Mike Moustakas and Moose was traded to the Brewers during the season.
Minnesota Twins
Hank Aaron Award nominee: Eddie Rosario (592 PA, 113 wRC+)
Best hitter by wRC+: Eddie Rosario (592 PA, 113 wRC+)
The Twins, who are re-assigning former manager Paul Molitor to another position in the organization, had a half dozen hitters who were above average, but Rosario is the logical choice. He led the team in runs scored, home runs and RBI. His 113 wRC+ wasn’t as good as Eduardo Escobar (408 PA, 124 wRC+), but Escobar finished his season with the Arizona Diamondbacks, so Rosario is the pick here.
American League West
Houston Astros
Hank Aaron Award nominee: Alex Bregman (705 PA, 157 wRC+)
Best hitter by wRC+: Alex Bregman (705 PA, 157 wRC+)
Alex Bregman outhit Jose Altuve, George Springer and Carlos Correa to be the best hitter on the Astros. He’s shown an impressive progression from his 49-game sample as a rookie, when he had a 114 wRC+, to last year’s 123 wRC+, to this year’s elite production. I had Bregman third on my IBWAA ballot for AL MVP, behind Mookie Betts and Mike Trout and just ahead of Jose Ramirez.
Los Angeles Angels
Hank Aaron Award nominee: Mike Trout (608 PA, 191 wRC+)
Best hitter by wRC+: Mike Trout (608 PA, 191 wRC+)
It will surprise exactly no one that Mike Trout is the best hitter on the Angels. He set a career high with a .460 OBP and just missed by a single point of tying his career high in slugging percentage (.628 this year, .629 last year). The combination gave him the best wRC+ of his career. There’s a good chance Trout will finish second in AL MVP voting for the fourth time in his seven full seasons in the big leagues (he’s won the award twice and finished fourth last year). The second-best hitter on the Angels was DH Shohei Ohtani (.285/.361/.564, 152 wRC+ in 367 plate appearances).
Oakland Athletics
Hank Aaron Award nominee: Khris Davis (654 PA, 135 wRC+)
Best hitter by wRC+: Matt Chapman (616 PA, 137 wRC+)
It would be nit-picking to worry about Khris Davis being the A’s nominee over Matt Chapman. They were very close in offensive production and Davis has the big power numbers that make sense for a Hank Aaron Award nominee. Davis crushed 48 homers and had 123 RBI. Chapman had the advantage in on-base percentage and base running, but Davis is a fine choice.
Seattle Mariners
Hank Aaron Award nominee: Mitch Haniger (683 PA, 138 wRC+)
Best hitter by wRC+: Mitch Haniger (683 PA, 138 wRC+)
The Mariners had three hitters who finished very close in wRC+. Haniger led the team and had 683 plate appearances, so he not only provided good production, he did so in the most plate appearances of the team’s three best hitters. Second on the team in wRC+ was Robinson Cano, who missed 80 games with a PED suspension but still had a 136 wRC+ in the 80 games he played. Finally, free agent to be Nelson Cruz had a 134 wRC+ in 591 plate appeareances. Cruz also led the team in home runs and RBI (37 dongs, 97 ribbies).
Texas Rangers
Hank Aaron Award nominee: Joey Gallo (577 PA, 110 wRC+)
Best hitter by wRC+: Shin-Soo Choo (665 PA, 118 wRC+)
Joey Gallo had a second straight season with more home runs than singles, but he still wasn’t the best overall hitter on the Rangers. That honor goes to veteran Shin-Soo Choo, who hit .264/.377/.434 to Gallo’s .206/.312/.498. Choo’s advantage in on-base percentage was enough to counteract Gallo’s advantage in slugging percentage. Choo also had 88 more plate appearances this season.
National League East
Atlanta Braves
Hank Aaron Award nominee: Freddie Freeman (707 PA, 137 wRC+)
Best hitter by wRC+: Ronald Acuńa, Jr. (487 PA (143 wRC+)
In less playing time, likely NL Rookie of the Year Ronald Acuńa, Jr. was a slightly better hitter than Freddie Freeman, but Freeman is still a good pick. He played in 50 more games than the rookie and he led Braves regulars in on-base percentage and was second in slugging percentage. Freeman’s offense was down a bit from the last two years, when he had on-base percentages over .400 and slugged above .550 each year.
Miami Marlins
Hank Aaron Award nominee: J.T. Realmuto (531 PA, 127 wRC+)
Best hitter by wRC+: J.T. Realmuto (531 PA, 127 wRC+)
Baseball’s best catcher is a very worthy choice for the Marlins’ Hank Aaron Award nominee. Realmuto had the best offensive production of his four years in the big leagues as a regular starter. He set career highs in runs scored, home runs, and RBI. The team’s second-best hitter was Brian Anderson (670 PA, 113 wRC+), who led the Marlins’ regulars with a .357 OBP.
New York Mets
Hank Aaron Award nominee: Michael Conforto (638 PA, 120 wRC+)
Best hitter by wRC+: Brandon Nimmo (535 PA, 149 wRC+)
Conforto had a fine season. He led the Mets in runs scored, home runs and RBI, while hitting .243/.350/.448. He also led the team in plate appearances. He wasn’t the team’s best overall hitter, though, as that designation belongs to Brandon Nimmo (.263/.404/.483).
Philadelphia Phillies
Hank Aaron Award nominee: Rhys Hoskins (660 PA, 129 wRC+)
Best hitter by wRC+: Rhys Hoskins (660 PA, 129 wRC+)
After hitting .259/.396/.618 (159 wRC+) in 50 games as a rookie last year, Hoskins had sky-high expectations. He didn’t live up to the hype, but was still the best hitter on the Phillies. In addition to leading the team in wRC+, Hoskins led all Phillies in home runs and RBI. The team’s second-best hitter was Carlos Santana (.229/.352/.414, 109 wRC+). This team could use a Machado or Harper or perhaps even both?
Washington Nationals
Hank Aaron Award nominee: Anthony Rendon (597 PA, 140 wRC+)
Best hitter by wRC+: Juan Soto (494 PA, 145 wRC+)
Anthony Rendon has quietly had back-to-back seasons with between 6 and 7 WAR. He’s been terrific without getting much hype. He didn’t lead the Nationals in wRC+ this year, but was still very good and had 103 more plate appearances than the phenom, history-making rookie Juan Soto. Right behind Soto and Rendon in wRC+ was Bryce Harper, who recovered from a slow start to hit .249/.393/.496 and finished with a 135 wRC+.
National League Central
Chicago Cubs
Hank Aaron Award nominee: Javier Baez (645 PA, 131 wRC+)
Best hitter by wRC+: Javier Baez (645 PA, 131 wRC+)
Baez led the Cubs in games played, plate appearances, hits, runs, doubles, triples, home runs, RBI, and steals as he finally had the season Cubs fans were waiting for. Before this year, Baez regularly hovered a bit below average on offense, mainly because of his low on-base percentage. His on-base percentage wasn’t great this year either (.326), but he hit for more power than he ever has (.554 slugging percentage). Other strong Cubs hitters included Anthony Rizzo (125 wRC+), Kris Bryant (125 wRC+) and Ben Zobrist (123 wRC+).
Cincinnati Reds
Hank Aaron Award nominee: Scooter Gennett (638 PA, 125 wRC+)
Best hitter by wRC+: Eugenio Suarez (606 PA, 135 wRC+)
Scooter Gennett had a fine year, especially for a second baseman. He hit .310/.357/.490 and was second on the team in home runs (23) and RBI (92). He wasn’t the best overall hitter, though. Eugenio Suarez (.283/.366/.526, 79 R, 34 HR, 104 RBI) was better, as was Joey Votto (.284/.417/.419, 131 wRC+). Even Jesse Winker, with a .405 OBP and .431 SLG, had a higher wRC+ than Gennett, although Winker had 300 fewer plate appearances.
Milwaukee Brewers
Hank Aaron Award nominee: Christian Yelich (651 PA, 166 wRC+)
Best hitter by wRC+: Christian Yelich (651 PA, 166 wRC+)
It’s fitting that the player who many will argue deserves the NL MVP Award is one of the nominees for the Hank Aaron Award. Yelich was easily the best hitter on the Brewers this year, with his .326/.402/.598 batting line and a team leading 118 runs, 36 homers and 110 RBI. He also finished second on the team in steals, with 22. The next two hitters for the Brew Crew after Yelich were Jesus Aguilar (134 wRC+) and Lorenzo Cain (124 wRC+).
Pittsburgh Pirates
Hank Aaron Award nominee: Gregory Polanco (534 PA, 123 wRC+)
Best hitter by wRC+: Francisco Cervelli (404 PA, 125 wRC+)
Polanco and Cervelli were so close in wRC+, it’s basically a toss-up. Polanco deservedly gets the edge because he had 130 more plate appearances. He also led the Pirates in home runs and RBI. Cervelli didn’t hit for the power that Polanco hit for, but his on-base percentage was nearly 40 points higher. Only three catchers in baseball had more WAR (per Fangraphs) than Cervelli this season.
St. Louis Cardinals
Hank Aaron Award nominee: Matt Carpenter (677 PA, 138 wRC+)
Best hitter by wRC+: Matt Carpenter (677 PA, 138 wRC+)
When Carpenter was hitting .140/.286/.272 on May 15, it didn’t look like he would have a snowball’s chance to be the Hank Aaron Award nominee for the St. Louis Cardinals. Then he hit .287/.397/.587 from that point forward and finished as the Cardinals’ best hitter. Second to Carpenter was Jose Martinez, who hit .305/.364/.457, good for a 125 wRC+.
National League West
Arizona Diamondbacks
Hank Aaron Award nominee: Paul Goldschmidt (690 PA, 144 wRC+)
Best hitter by wRC+: Paul Goldschmidt (690 PA, 144 wRC+)
It’s likely not surprising to fans of the Arizona Diamondbacks that Paul Goldschmidt is the proper choice for the team’s Hank Aaron Award nominee. Goldy had another strong season, with a .290/.389/.533 batting line and team leading 95 runs scored and 33 home runs. If this were the Most Surprising Hitter Award, the trophy would go to David Peralta, who launched 30 dingers and led the team in RBI, with 87. Peralta also had the second-best wRC+ on the team (130).
Colorado Rockies
Hank Aaron Award nominee: Trevor Story (656 PA, 127 wRC+)
Best hitter by wRC+: Nolan Arenado (673 PA, 132 wRC+)
Story and Arenado had similar slugging percentages, but Arenado topped him by 25 points of on-base percentage, which was enough to give him the edge in wRC+. Both players had great seasons, though. Story hit 37 homers and stole 27 bases, which could land him the Comeback Player of the Year Award. Arenado had 38 dingers and 110 RBI. Third on the team in wRC+ was Charlie Blackmon, at 116. Blackmon’s on-base percentage dropped 41 points from last year and his slugging percentage was down almost 100 points.
Los Angeles Dodgers
Hank Aaron Award nominee: Max Muncy (481 PA, 162 wRC+)
Best hitter by wRC+: Max Muncy (481 PA, 162 wRC+)
The surprising season of Max Muncy is a worthy choice for the Hank Aaron Award nominee for the Dodgers this year. Muncy hit .195/.290/.321 in 245 plate appearances across two season with the Athletics in 2015-2016, then spent the 2017 season in Triple-A for the Dodgers. He started this season in Triple-A, but came up to the Dodgers in mid-April and led the team with 35 homers. Second in wRC+ was Justin Turner, who hit .312/.406/.518 (154 wRC+).
San Diego Padres
Hank Aaron Award nominee: Franmil Reyes (285 PA, 129 wRC+)
Best hitter by wRC+: Franmil Reyes (285 PA, 129 wRC+)
There weren’t many bright spots on the Padres this year, but Franmil Reyes was one of them. He only played in 87 games, but hit .280/.340/.498, with 16 homers. The second best hitter on the Padres was Hunter Renfroe, who didn’t have a very good on-base percentage, but led the team in slugging percentage (.248/.302/.504). He also led the Padres in home runs and was second in RBI.
San Francisco Giants
Hank Aaron Award nominee: Evan Longoria (512 PA, 85 wRC+)
Best hitter by wRC+: Brandon Belt (456 PA, 107 wRC+)
The player with the worst wRC+ of any Hank Aaron Award nominee is Evan Longoria. There were seven players on the Giants who had 250 or more plate appearances who outhit Longoria’s .244/.281/.413. Andrew McCutchen was tops on the team, with a 115 wRC+, but he was traded to the Yankees. Next up were Brandon Belt, mentioned above, or Buster Posey (448 PA, 106 wRC+). Either would have been a better choice than Longoria.
For the most part, the nominees for the Hank Aaron Award were among the top two or three hitters on their teams, but there were some egregious picks. The most glaring pick was Evan Longoria, who was 15 percent below average as a hitter, yet is the nominee for the Giants. The biggest difference between a nominee and the team’s best hitter by wRC+ was Michael Conforto over Brandon Nimmo.
Next. MVP in an objective alternate universe. dark
So what do you think? Who should win the Hank Aaron Award when MLB Awards are announced? Comment below!