Despite the end result, the Los Angeles Dodgers enjoyed a historic 2017 season that included 104 wins during the regular season and a record 57 wins at Dodger Stadium. The club fell one victory shy of their first World Series championship in 29 years, but remain in good shape going forward.
To no surprise, there were many individual performances on the Dodgers that earned the team six nominations in the 2017 Esurance MLB Awards. Justin Turner leads the way with three selections, while Yasiel Puig was nominated for two awards and Kiké Hernandez up for one honor.
Best Major Leaguer, Postseason
Since signing with the Dodgers in 2014, Turner has established himself as one of the league’s most successful postseason performers.
In 69 postseason plate appearances, Turner hit .286 and posted a .956 on-base plus slugging behind four home runs and a league-leading 14 RBI in 15 games.
Turner’s showing in the National League Championship Series against the Chicago Cubs earned him co-MVP honors with teammate Chris Taylor. He batted .333/.478/.667 with two homers and seven RBI over 23 trips to the plate against the Cubs.
Other nominees for the Esurance MLB Best Major Leaguer, Postseason Award are the Houston Astros’ Jose Altuve, Carlos Correa, George Springer and Justin Verlander.
Best Postseason Moment
Turner finds himself nominated for another Esurance MLB Award — this time, for Best Postseason Moment.
The 32-year-old shocked the defending World Series champion Cubs with an unforgettable walk-off home run in Game 2 of the NLCS that gave the Dodgers a 2-0 lead in the series.
Turner’s home run fell on the 29-year anniversary of Kirk Gibson’s dramatic walk-off home run in Game 1 of the 1988 World Series — making the moment that much more special for Dodgers fans.
Joining Turner in contention of the award are the Cleveland Indians’ Francisco Lindor, and Altuve, Alex Bregman, Correa and Springer.
Personality Of The Year
Yasiel Puig enjoyed his best year at the plate since debuting for the Dodgers in 2013, posting an .833 OPS and career-high 28 home runs and 74 RBI during the regular season.
Puig’s vibrant personality makes him one of the more polarizing players in the league. From his epic bat flips to the high energy he provides every game, Puig is worth the price of admission alone for some fans.
Over the 2017 season, Puig began kissing Dodgers hitting coach Turner Ward in the wake of every home run that he hit. Then in the postseason, Puig started licking his bat in between pitches in the batters box.
Off the field, Puig boasts a strong social media presence with hundreds of thousands of followers. He participated in this summer’s solar eclipse and created the #PuigYourFriend movement.
Other nominees for Personality of the Year include the Texas Rangers’ Adrian Beltre, Seattle Mariners’ Nelson Cruz, Washington Nationals’ Bryce Harper, and Lindor.
Best Performance
In Game 5 of the NLCS at Wrigley Field, Hernandez cemented his name in postseason lore.
He clubbed three home runs and drove in seven RBI — tying single-game postseason records for both categories — and led the Dodgers to their first World Series appearance in 29 years.
As a result, Hernandez was nominated for Best Performance, along with the Arizona Diamondbacks’ J.D. Martinez, Cincinnati Reds’ Scooter Gennett, Colorado Rockies’ Nolan Arenado, Miami Marlins’ Edinson Volquez and the Nationals’ Anthony Rendon.
Best Fan Catch
A Dodgers fan was nominated for Best Fan Catch for snagging a Cody Bellinger home run with her hat. She wasn’t initially aware that the ball landed in her hat, but nonetheless, she got to take home a souvenir.
Best Player-Fan Interaction
Puig is up for his second nomination, which again involves his personality.
On April 21 at Chase Field, Puig recorded a fly out to end the inning and attempted to give the ball to a young fan in the stands.
The ball bounced out of the fan’s glove not once, but twice, so Puig personally placed it in his glove on the third attempt — creating laughs around the ballpark.
The annual Esurance MLB Awards are voted on by media, front-office personnel, retired MLB players, Society for American Baseball Research (SABR) voters, and fans.
Fans can vote for their selections here. Winners will be announced on Nov. 17.
Last year, Seager won the Best Rookie award and went on to earn NL Rookie of the Year honors. Vin Scully additionally claimed the award for Best Call TV/Radio, for Charlie Culberson’s home run that clinched the NL West against the Colorado Rockies — his final home game as a broadcaster.
