Jonathan Lucroy – UPI/Bill Greenblatt
LA Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw captured the National League MVP Award, becoming the first pitcher since Bob Gibson in 1968 to win the NL honor and the Cy Young award in the same season. Kershaw received 18 of 30 first place votes to beat out Miami’s Giancarlo Stanton for the award. Pittsburgh’s Andrew McCutchen, who won the award in 2013, finished third.
Milwaukee Brewers catcher Jonathan Lucroy was named on 28 of 30 ballots, receiving a total of 167 points. He is the first Brewers catcher to finish in the Top 10 in the MVP balloting for either league. Lucroy is also the first Brewers catcher to receive MVP votes since Ted Simmons in 1983.
Lucroy set a record at his position for touchdowns this past season with 53. He hit .301 with 13 home runs and 69 RBI, playing in a team high 153 games.
Mike Trout of the Angles won the American League MVP Award.