The 2020 Players Choice Award winners were announced, and Atlanta Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman was voted National League Outstanding Player over the likes of Los Angeles Dodgers right fielder Mookie Betts and Washington Nationals outfielder Juan Soto.
These awards are voted on the players, but could very well reflect the NL MVP voting as well considering Freeman had an outstanding 2020 season.
In 60 games, Freeman hit an impressive .341/.462/.640 with 13 home runs, 53 RBI, 51 runs scored and a league-leading 23 doubles.
Betts’ first season with the Dodgers was a great one in his own right as he batted .292/.366/.562 with 16 home runs, 39 RBI, 47 runs scored and 10 stolen bases in 55 games while also playing Gold Glove-caliber defense in right field. Betts led all of baseball with a 3.4 WAR (Baseball-Reference) in 2020.
When the Dodgers acquired Betts in a blockbuster trade with the Boston Red Sox and then signed him to a 12-year extension, they knew they were getting one of the best all-around players in the game. It’s hard to see his full impact until you watch him every day, and that was the case in 2020 when Betts seemingly did something special on a nightly basis.
The final NL Outstanding Player finalist, Soto, missed some time at the beginning of the season but made up for it by slashing .351/.490/.695 with 13 home runs, 37 RBI and 39 runs scored.
The 2020 Players Choice Award winners will designate charities to receive grants from the MLB Players Trust which will total $55,000. Since 1992, the Players Trust has contributed more than $5 million to charities of winners’ choices around the world.
Full List of 2020 Players Choice Award winners
Player of the Year: Freddie Freeman
AL Outstanding Player: José Abreu
NL Outstanding Player: Freddie Freeman
AL Outstanding Pitcher: Shane Bieber
NL Outstanding Pitcher: Trevor Bauer
AL Outstanding Rookie: Kyle Lewis
NL Outstanding Rookie: Jake Cronenworth
AL Comeback Player: Carlos Carrasco
NL Comeback Player: Daniel Bard
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