Baez NL Most Outstanding Finalist
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This doesn’t have the notoriety of the MVP, but perhaps it should. Based on his peers, Chicago Cubs super-utility man, and complete defensive wizard, Javier Baez has been voted as a finalist for the National League’s Most Outstanding Player.
2018 Players Choice Awards Outstanding Player Finalists — AL players select @JDMartinez14 @MrLapara and @mookiebetts; NL players choose @javy23baez @Tstory2 and @ChristianYelich #PlayersChoiceAwards2018https://t.co/0U05UodQss pic.twitter.com/zDhIEn9uwR
— MLBPA Communications (@MLBPA_News) October 30, 2018
He was joined with Colorado Rockies shortstop, Trevor Story, and Milwaukee Brewers outfielder, Christian Yelich.
On the season, Baez excelled in almost every category. He had career highs in average (.290), OBP (.326), slugging (.554), home runs (34), RBI (111), doubles (40), triples (9), hits (176), runs (101), stolen bases (21), AB (606), games (160). Unfortunately he also had a career high in strikeouts, going down on strikes 160 times in 2018.
Story had an excellent season for the Rockies, slashing .291/.348/.567 with 37 homers and 27 stolen bases. He also played solid defense all season, only misplacing 13 balls in 626 total chances.
This award, along with the NL MVP is likely Yelich’s to lose. His numbers trumped those of both Baez and Story, as he slashed .326/.402/.598, blasting 36 bombs and scoring 118 runs. Not only was his final line impressive, it was the work he did down the stretch that likely earned him the nod. In the second half Yelich slashed .367/.449/.770, hit 25 of his homers, and drove in 67 of his 110 runs – all in 17 less games. In fact, his 94 hits in 256 AB’s were one more than his 93 first half hits in 357 ABs.
Just as Jake Arrieta stole the Cy Young award in 2015 from Clayton Kershaw or Zack Greinke, Yelich equally stole the MVP and NL’s most outstanding player because of his second half run.
