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The 2020 MLB Players Choice Award winners are announced

By Ryota Nishino

SEATTLE, WA - AUGUST 23: Kyle Lewis of the Seattle Mariners waits for a pitch during an at-bat in a game against the Texas Rangers on August 23, 2020 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Stephen Brashear/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WA - AUGUST 23: Kyle Lewis of the Seattle Mariners waits for a pitch during an at-bat in a game against the Texas Rangers on August 23, 2020 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Stephen Brashear/Getty Images) /
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Freddie Freeman of the Braves jogs into the dugout smiling.
(Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /

Braves standout first baseman wins two Players Choice Awards: Player of the Year and NL Outstanding Player

Freddie Freeman had an impressive 2020 season after battling Covid-19 prior to the start of the regular season. He performed so well that it won him National League Outstanding Player, and Player of the Year as the cherry on top.

As you could guess, the Outstanding Player and Player of the Year Award are correlated. It just means Freeman was basically the best player in the MLB from the players’ perspective.

There is a lot to like about Freeman’s 11th season with the Braves as he hit .341, recorded a 1.102 OPS, 13 home runs, 53 RBIs, and a league-leading 23 doubles and 51 runs. What is there not to like about that offensive stat line?

Freeman also played consistent defense as he always has. He only made one error in the 2020 regular season and a solid 7.91 range factor per game. To compare, Anthony Rizzo’s range factor per game in 2020 was 8.11.

Interestingly enough, Freeman was left off of the 2020 Gold Glove finalists. This season, the finalists are Anthony Rizzo, Brandon Belt, and Paul Goldschmidt. Freeman did win a Gold Glove Award in 2018, so maybe they thought he couldn’t win all of the awards in 2020.

Overall, Freeman finished with a 3.4 WAR and tied Jose Ramirez for baseball’s highest total. Freeman had some tough competition for the two awards but he certainly deserves it after leading the Braves to a first-place finish in the NL East.

For the NL Outstanding Player Award, he battled against Mookie Betts and Juan Soto. For Player of the Year, Freeman’s competition was Jose Abreu and Shane Bieber.

Now to the AL Outstanding Player Award.

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