Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Philadelphia Phillies right fielder Bryce Harper were named the respective American League and National League winners of the 2021 Hank Aaron Award.
The Hank Aaron Award has recognized the most outstanding regular season offensive performer in each league since 1999. All 30 clubs nominated one player and then a panel of MLB.com writers determined the seven finalists for both leagues from the list of nominees.
The winners were decided via fan vote and a special panel of Hall of Fame players that included Chipper Jones, Pedro Martinez, John Smoltz, Johnny Bench, Craig Biggio, Ken Griffey Jr., Eddie Murray and Robin Yount.
At 22 years old, Guerrero is the youngest player in MLB history to earn the Hank Award Award. He is coming off a historic season in which he hit .311/.401/.601 with 29 doubles, 48 home runs and 111 RBI over 698 plate appearances (161 games).
Guerrero led the Majors in runs scored (123) and tied for the home run lead with Kansas City Royals catcher Salvador Perez. Guerrero also led the AL in on-base plus slugging (1.002), slugging percentage and on-base percentage.
Guerrero was named one of three finalists for the AL MVP Award, along with teammate Marcus Semien and L.A. Angels two-way star Shohei Ohtani.
Harper is the NL first player to win the Hank Aaron Award with multiple clubs, having previously earned the honor as a member of the Washington Nationals in 2015.
The 29-year-old batted .309/.429/.615 with 42 doubles, 35 home runs, 84 RBI and 13 stolen bases in 599 plate appearances (141 games). He led the Majors in OPS (1.044) and slugging percentage, and also tied for first in doubles.
Harper became just the fourth outfielder in MLB history to accumulate at least 100 runs, 100 walks, 40 doubles and 35 home runs in a season, joining Babe Ruth (1921, 1923), Stan Musial (1949) and Barry Bonds (1998).
Harper was named one of three finalists for the NL MVP Award, along with San Diego Padres shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. and Nationals right fielder Juan Soto.
Dodgers didn’t have finalist for 2021 Hank Aaron Award
Although Corey Seager was a runner-up for last year’s honor, the Los Angeles Dodgers did not have a finalist in 2021 Hank Aaron Award voting.
The seven finalists for the NL trophy were Harper, Tatis, Soto, Atlanta Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman, Cincinnati Reds right fielder Nick Castellanos, San Francisco Giants shortstop Brandon Crawford and St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Paul Goldschmidt.
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