MLB announced the finalists of the 2022 Hank Aaron Award, an honor that recognizes the most outstanding regular season offensive performer in each League.
A panel of MLB.com writers determined the eight finalists for each league from the list of players teams nominated. Fans additionally have the opportunity to vote for one American League and one National League winner through Monday, Oct. 24.
In addition to the fan vote, a special panel of Hall of Fame players will vote on the winners of the award. The group includes Ken Griffey Jr., Chipper Jones, Pedro Martínez, John Smoltz, Johnny Bench, Craig Biggio, Eddie Murray and Robin Yount.
The Hank Aaron Award was introduced in 1999 to honor the 25th Anniversary of his breaking Babe Ruth’s all-time home run record. At the time it was the first major award introduced by MLB in more than 25 years.
Past winners of the Hank Aaron Award include Vladmir Guerrero Jr. and Bryce Harper (2021); José Abreu and Freddie Freeman (2020); and Mike Trout and Christian Yelich (2019), among others.
2022 Hank Aaron Award Finalists
Rafael Devers (Boston Red Sox)
Rafael Devers batted .295/.358/.521 with 42 doubles, 27 home runs and 88 RBI in 555 plate appearances for the Boston Red Sox this season (141 games).
José Ramírez (Cleveland Guardians)
José Ramírez hit .280/.355/.514 with an AL-best 44 doubles, 29 home runs, 126 RBI and 20 stolen bases in 685 plate appearances for the Cleveland Guardians (157 games).
Jose Altuve (Houston Astros)
Jose Altuve batted .300/.387/.533 with 39 doubles, 28 home runs, 57 RBI and 18 stolen bases in 604 plate appearances for the Houston Astros (141 games).
Yordan Alvarez (Houston Astros)
Yordan Alvarez hit .306/.406/.613 with 29 doubles, 37 home runs and 97 RBI in 561 plate appearances for the Astros (135 games).
Shohei Ohtani (Los Angeles Angels)
Along with being a Cy Young Award candidate, Shohei Ohtani continued to put up big numbers at the plate. He batted .273/.356/.519 with 30 doubles, 34 home runs, 95 RBI and 11 stolen bases in 666 plate appearances for the Los Angeles Angels (157 games).
Mike Trout (Los Angeles Angels)
Mike Trout missed some time this season due to injury but was his usual productive self when healthy, hitting .283/.369/.630 with 28 doubles, 40 home runs and 80 RBI in 499 plate appearances for the Angels (119 games).
Aaron Judge (New York Yankees)
Aaron Judge enjoyed one of the best individual seasons in MLB history, batting .311/.425/.686 with 28 doubles, an AL-record 62 home runs and 131 RBI in 696 plate appearances for the New York Yankees (157 games).
Julio Rodríguez (Seattle Mariners)
Julio Rodríguez had a terrific rookie season, hitting .284/.345/.509 with 25 doubles, 28 home runs, 75 RBI and 25 stolen bases in 560 plate appearances for the Seattle Mariners (132 games).
Austin Riley (Atlanta Braves)
Austin Riley batted .273/.349/.528 with 39 doubles, 38 home runs and 93 RBI in 693 plate appearances for the Atlanta Braves (159 games).
Mookie Betts (Los Angeles Dodgers)
Mookie Betts hit .269/.340/.533 with 40 doubles, 35 home runs and 82 RBI over 142 games while serving as the spark out of the leadoff spot in the Dodgers lineup. Betts tied with Freeman for the NL lead in runs (117), and his slugging percentage was second in the league.
Freddie Freeman (Los Angeles Dodgers)
In his first season with the Dodgers, Freeman batted .325/.407/.511 with 47 doubles, 21 home runs and 100 RBI while appearing in 159 games. Freeman remained in the Dodgers lineup for every game until the night after the team clinched the NL West title.
Freeman led the Majors with 199 total hits and in doubles. His on-base percentage and runs scored (117) were tops in the NL. He ranked second in the league in batting average, on-base plus slugging (.918), wOBA (.393) and wRC+ (157).
Pete Alonso (New York Mets)
Pete Alonso hit .271/.352/.518 with 27 doubles, 40 home runs and an MLB-best 131 RBI in 685 plate appearances for the New York Mets this season (160 games).
Kyle Schwarber (Philadelphia Phillies)
Kyle Schwarber batted .218/.323/.504 with 21 doubles, an NL-best 46 home runs, 94 RBI and 10 stolen bases in 669 plate appearances for the Philadelphia Phillies (155 games).
Nolan Arenado (St. Louis Cardinals)
Nolan Arenado hit .293/.358/.533 with 42 doubles, 30 home runs and 103 RBI in 620 plate appearances for the St. Louis Cardinals (148 games).
Paul Goldschmidt (St. Louis Cardinals)
Paul Goldschmidt batted .317/.404/.578 with 41 doubles, 35 home runs and 115 RBI in 651 plate appearances for the Cardinals (151 games).
Manny Machado (San Diego Padres)
Manny Machado hit .298/.366/.531 with 37 doubles, 32 home runs and 102 RBI in 644 plate appearances for the San Diego Padres (150 games).
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