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The 2020 MLB Players Choice Award winners are announced

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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Shane Bieber the Indians' ace throws a pitch during a regular season game.
(Photo by Ron Schwane/Getty Images)

Shane Bieber wins the 2020 American League Outstanding Pitcher Award

Shane Bieber was absolutely dealing this season and was a part of arguably the best starting rotation in all of baseball. It is crazy to think he is only 23-years-old as one of the most dominant pitchers in the American League. And the Players Choice Award cements that statement.

In 2020, he led the league with eight wins, a 1.63 ERA, and 122 strikeouts. The Indians’ ace started 12 games and threw 77.1 innings only allowing 46 hits and 14 earned runs. Bieber held an impressive 0.866% WHIP and 14.2 K/9 which also led the league.

Bieber made his first All-Star appearance in 2019 and finished fourth in Cy Young voting in the AL. He made an impressive leap in 2020 and truly leveled up.

Bieber was a no-doubter for me and is my pick to win the Cy Young Award a couple of weeks as well. Bieber beat out Gerrit Cole and Lance Lynn.

Trevor Bauer from the Reds won the National League Outstanding Pitcher Award

On the other side of the league, Trevor Bauer took the NL Outstanding Pitcher Award. The 29-year-old has been excellent in his first full season with the Reds. Bauer had a league-leading 1.73 ERA and two complete-game shutouts.

Bieber outperformed Bauer, but it does not take anything away from Bauer’s season. The Reds pitcher struck out 100 batters in 73 innings, only allowing 41 hits and 14 earned runs. He led the National League with a 0.795% WHIP as well.

Bauer is similar to Bieber in that he flipped the switch in 2020 as well. Although Bauer struggled hard last season, he made a huge jump into 2020. Bauer was an All-Star in 2018 and finished sixth in Cy Young voting in 2018 when they were teammates, but Bauer could not find it in 2019.

Imagine in the Indians kept Bauer in Cleveland alongside Bieber…. now that would have been something.

Bauer outperformed Jacob deGrom and Yu Darvish in 2020 for this award. It will be interesting to see who takes home the Cy Young Award because it is not as clear cut for me as it is in the American League. We will have to wait until November to find out.

On deck, we have the AL and NL Outstanding Rookies Awards.

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