2014 Players Choice Awards: Results and Analysis

The votes are in, the ballots have been tabulated, and Mike Trout of your Los Angeles Angels has been crowned by his peers as the American League Player of the Year. The Players Trust officially announced the recipients of the 2014 Players Choice Awards live on MLB Network Monday night. Jose Altuve of the Houston Astros and Victor Martinez of the Detroit Tigers both had wonderful seasons in 2014, and were deserving nominees, but Trout was quite simply on another level this year. Along with the trophy each winner had the opportunity to donate $20,000 to a charity of his choice. Trouty humbly chose to split his donation between the Ryan Dempster foundation and the Marshall Smith Childhood Cancer Foundation.

Unfortunately, Trout came up just short in his pursuit of the Players Trust overall Player of the Year Award. This year the title went to Clayton Kershaw of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Kershaw had a season for the ages in 2014, going 21-3 with a 1.77 ERA. Kershaw is one of the good guys in the game, and tonight he won 3 awards. Kershaw also was named the National League Outstanding Pitcher. Kershaw would probably say the Marvin Miller Man of the Year Award meant the most to him, which speaks to his character. Trout was the only American League player nominated for the big prize this year, as Giancarlo Stanton from the National League’s Miami Marlins was the only other nominee.

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The last five players to take home the American League Player of the Year Award from the Players Trust have gone on to win the AL MVP. Mike Trout is hoping this trend will continue in 2014. Trout arguably should have won the MVP in 2012 and 2013, but ultimately lost out to Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera. 2014 was Trout’s third straight remarkable season, batting .287, with 36 dingers and leading the American League in both runs scored (115) and runs driven in (111). If anybody other than Trouty wins the AL MVP this year it will be criminal.

Mike Trout was not the only Angel up for an award on Monday, as Matt Shoemaker was nominated for Outstanding Rookie in the American League. Shoemaker had an impressive debut season pitching in Anaheim, tallying 16 wins and recording an impressive 3.04 ERA. The Chicago White Sox slugging rookie first baseman Jose Abreu took home the hardware tonight. Abreu was the overwhelming favorite to take home the award as he finished tied for fourth in the entire league in long balls with 36. Shoemaker finished second in the voting and can hold his head high tonight knowing he earned the respect of his fellow players.

Felix Hernandez of the Seattle Mariners took home the American League Pitcher of the Year Award. The Halos are very familiar with King Felix, and no doubt he received more than a few votes from Angels players. Chris Young winning the Comeback Player of the Year in the AL was the upset of the night. The Princeton grad made a huge impact in 2014 for the resurgent M’s.

Giancarlo Stanton was named the National League’s Outstanding Player after clubbing an NL best 37 home runs. Stanton nearly led the upstart Marlins into the postseason for the first time since 2003. The New York Mets promising young right-hander hurler Jacob deGrom earned the National League Outstanding Rookie Award. DeGrom relies on his power fastball, and his Harry Styles hair to intimidate hitters. Marlins third baseman Casey McGehee pulled off the upset and took home the Comeback Player of the Year for the NL. McGehee spent 2013 playing in Japan before getting another shot with Miami in 2014.

Check back with Halo Hangout on November 13^th to find out if Mike Trout took home the Most Valuable Player Award for the American League in 2014.

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