Los Angeles Dodgers star Mookie Betts was named a finalist for National League Outstanding Player, voted on by players across the league as part of the 2020 Players Choice Awards.
The other two finalists included Atlanta Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman and Washington Nationals outfielder Juan Soto, who both had outstanding seasons in their own right.
When the Dodgers acquired Betts from the Boston Red Sox and gave him a record-breaking 12-year extension, they knew they were getting one of the best all-around players in the league.
He was still able to exceed expectations by hitting .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.
Freeman will likely be named the NL’s MVP and could very well take home the Outstanding Player Award as well thanks to the offensive season he put up. In 60 games, Freeman slashed an impressive .341/.462/.640 with 13 home runs, 53 RBI, 51 runs scored and a league-leading 23 doubles.
Soto missed some time at the beginning of the season but made up for it by hitting .351/.490/.695 with 13 home runs, 37 RBI and 39 runs scored.
Cody Bellinger was nominated for the 2019 NL Outstanding Player Award, which went to former Washington Nationals All-Star Anthony Rendon.
MLB Players Trust donating to charity
As is normally the case, the 2020 Players Choice Award winners will designate charities to receive grants from the Major League Baseball Players Trust which will total $55,000. The Players Trust has contributed more than $5 million to charities of winners’ choices around the world since 1992.
Betts has said since he joined the Dodgers that he is not concerned with winning individual awards as his lone focus is on the World Series.
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