2019 MLB season: AL MVP update after Trout’s season-ending injury
As the 2019 MLB season nears its end and Mike Trout is out for the season, the AL MVP race is a wide-open book. Here are some real contenders for the award.
And just like that, AL MVP favorite Mike Trout’s impeccable 2019 MLB season comes to an end. After being shut down for right foot surgery, the best player in baseball’s season is cut short.
The Los Angeles Angels announced Sunday that Trout will have surgery to remove Morton’s neuroma on his right foot. This difficult decision closes the chapter on Trout’s historic 2019 campaign.
Finishing with a career-high 45 home runs, 104 RBI, batting .291 with 110 runs scored, and an OPS of 1.083, Trout will still receive votes for the American League MVP, an award that he seemed to have locked up for months.
Since he only played in 134 games and missed the last three weeks due to his injury, voters might shy away from putting Trout on the top of their ballots. The eight-time All-Star.
Being an awful week to be an MVP candidate, the Milwaukee Brewers Christian Yelich, who was a front-runner for the National League MVP, was also injured and will be missing the rest of the season after fracturing his kneecap.
Even though players like the Oakland A’s Matt Chapman and the Boston Red Sox Xander Boegarts are having accomplishing season, they are honorable mentions for the AL MVP and will most likely both finish in the top ten.
Trout has done all that he has could in the 2019 MLB season. Whether he wins his third AL MVP this offseason or not is up to the voters and relies on how the other stars in the American League finish. Here is a look at possible players in the AL that could win MVP after Trout’s injury.
2019 MLB Season: AL MVP Update
Alex Bregman, HOU, 3B/SS
Alex Bregman is the best possible candidate to win the AL MVP after Trout’s season-ending injury because he has been the most consistent player on a dominant, playoff team. Bregman has played 145 of the Astros 151 games, the most by any player on the club this season.
Through September 16th, the 25-year-old leads the Astros in home runs (36), RBI (104), runs scored (114), walks (109), and OPS (.999) Bregman is on the cusp of having an OPS over 1.000, which would be elite.
Bregman has been the ore component to Houston’s offensive success this year. Jose Altuve and Carlos Correa both missed a lot of time due to injury and Bregman did a great job bridging the gap in their absence. He improved offensively and even become a dominant leadoff hitter while Altuve and George Springer were on the IL.
Defensively, Bregman really stepped up by starting 53 games shortstop in Correa’s absence. Even though he is primarily a third baseman, his versatility came in huge this season.
Bregman’s value to his team is incontestable. The two-time All-Star really needs to utilize these last two weeks of the season if he wants to be crowned the American League MVP.
2019 MLB Season: AL MVP Update
Rafael Devers, BOS, 3B
Similar to Mike Trout and the Los Angeles Angels, Rafael Devers is having an absolutely incredible season, but the Boston Red Sox are doubtful to make the postseason.
Through 144 games, Devers is hitting .311, has 29 home runs, 107 RBI, 183 hits, and has cored 118 runs. He has been the most consistent player on the reigning World Series champions. The 22-year-old has been impressive and underrated the whole entire season. He has been impressing the baseball community each and every day.
With a possibility to reach 200 hits, Devers’ last two weeks are huge if he wants to be on the top of AL MVP ballots.
Going into this year, Devers would not have been the Red Sox that people would have thought would be the MVP for Boston. However, he has been the most consistent out J.D. Martinez and Mookie Betts. Xander Boegarts has been playing at an elite-caliber and has been the best shortstop of 2019.
Even though Devers is at the top of most categories, he suffers in WAR because he is a slow baserunner and is only adequate in the field.
The fact that Devers is only 22 should scare the American League. He is one of baseball’s talented, young superstars and his 2020 campaign might be even better than this one.
2019 MLB Season: AL MVP Update
DJ LeMahieu, NYY, INF
Possibly the best bargain of the offseason, DJ LeMahieu surpassed all possible expectations during his 2019 campaign. Coming to the Yankees on a two-year, $24 million contract in the Winter, New York got an MVP caliber performance for a very nice bargain
Still chasing a batting title, the three-time All-Star is hitting .328, currently four points behind the Chicago White Sox Tim Anderson. If LeMahieu passes Anderson and wins the batting title, he will definitely be more appealing to voters. A battle title definitely adds value to a player’s resume.
As of September 16th, he leads the Yankees in hits with 185, runs scored with 103, and average. This Yankees team was injury-ridden since March, and LeMahieu served as the switch army knife that kept this team alive.
He was versatile in the lineup, able to hit from almost any spot. He was the most successful when he batted leadoff and was the sparkplug to this dangerous Yankees’ lineup.
Primarily a third baseman, the 20-year-old stepped up and played plenty of games at third base and first base. He did whatever the team needed him to do in order to have the best lineup and team in the field.
Depending on how he ends up, LeMahieu might have a chance to surprise the whole baseball community and surpass Mike Trout.
2019 MLB Season: AL MVP Update
Carlos Santana, CLE, 1B
The 33-year-old is having the best season of his career. After being traded to the Cleveland Indians, where he spent the first eight seasons of his career, Carlos Santana has managed to put together an impressive season that will catch the eyes of AL MVP voters.
Through 147 games, Santana is batting .280 with an OPS of .925. He has 34 home runs, 89 RBI, and has scored 102 times and has walked 103 times, which all rank top ten in the American League. His presence in Cleveland’s order has been vital towards their success.
The Indians really missed his power and were happy to have him back in the middle of their lineup in 2019. Santana’s success was huge, especially because Jose Ramirez had a big downfall from his elite play last season.
With 12 games left in the 2019 regular season, the Cleveland Indians are 1.5 games back of the last Wild Card spot. If Santana goes on a tear, dominates these last two weeks, and lead the Indians to the postseason, he will definitely have a heavy narrative to win AL MVP.
This award could be decided by the last few weeks of the year due to Trout’s injury. Players like Santana have something special to play for, a chance to make the playoffs and do some damage in October.
2019 MLB Season: AL MVP Update
Mike Trout, LAA, CF
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Even a broken right foot could not take Mike Trout out the AL MVP conversation. Ever since his rookie season in 2012, Trout has yet to finish below fourth in the AL MVP ballot.
Despite only playing in 134 games this season, Trout is obviously still a legitimate MVP candidate. Through September 16th, Trout leads the AL in home runs with a career-high 45, WAR with 8.3, and walks with 110.
It is not even a conversation that Mike Trout was the most impressive player in baseball this season. However, some writers might think missing 28 games is too much time. This debate is going to be very fiery and intense.
Trout may have a chance to take home his third MVP trophy is the past six season because there was not really anyone close to him in the conversation before his injury.
Despite missing the last two weeks of the season and not making the playoffs, Mike Trout will still foster a plethora of support from the BBWAA when the time comes.
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The 28-year-old can no longer make a case for the MVP, but his 134-game campaign was so impressive that he might already have it secured. Not even a broken bone can stop Mike Trout.