MLB Awards Watch: Rolling with Mike Trout
By Brad Rowland
AL MVP
- Mike Trout, OF Los Angeles Angels – I’m (still) rolling with Mike Trout. In 76 games, Trout has blasted 19 home runs and claimed 8 stolen bases to go along with a .300/.389/.575 slash line. Beyond that, he is an elite defender in the outfield with virtually no weaknesses in his game, and until someone unseats him, it is hard to go in another direction. Trout may not lead the AL in fWAR right now (we’ll get there), but he’s still the best player in that league.
- Jason Kipnis, 2B Cleveland Indians – Your fWAR leader is… Jason Kipnis. In fact, it isn’t all that close, as Kipnis stands at 4.6 by the end of June. That is unquestionably impressive, and Kipnis has been fantastic is virtually every aspect, ranging from a 164 wRC+ to high level defense. The power isn’t there (5 home runs) but a .410 OBP lifts all boasts, and if he can climb toward the neighborhood of 20 home runs by season’s end, the MVP buzz will pick up.
- Miguel Cabrera, 1B Detroit Tigers – Cabrera has been the best hitter in the American League, running up a 186 wRC+ to this point. That harkens back to Miggy’s prime as the most feared hitter in baseball, and an obscene slash line of .350/.454/.589 leaps off the page. In fact, Cabrera’s defense, where he is an unmitigated disaster at times, is all that stands in the way of another MVP run, and some fans/voters may just ignore that end of the field. We will see.