Fansided

Josh Donaldson wins 2015 AL MVP

By Charles Rahrig V

Oct 21, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Josh Donaldson (20) runs out a double during the seventh inning against the Kansas City Royals in game five of the ALCS at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 21, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Josh Donaldson (20) runs out a double during the seventh inning against the Kansas City Royals in game five of the ALCS at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports /
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After leading a resurgent Toronto Blue Jays to the postseason, Josh Donaldson has been awarded with the 2015 AL MVP

While the NL MVP vote was unanimous, the AL MVP vote was a bit closer this year, as Josh Donaldson of the Toronto Blue Jays is taking home some hardware after a resurgent season north of the border.

Through the power in his bat, Donaldson led the Blue Jays to a late-season run that propelled them to an AL East Championship. On the season, Donaldson hit 41 home runs and knocked in 123 RBI. The Blue Jays made an improbable run to the ALCS, where they would fall to the eventual World Series Champions, the Kansas City Royals.

By winning the AL MVP, Donaldson edged out Mike Trout of the Los Angeles Angels, who after winning his first MVP last season, has fallen just short of the MVP again, much like two seasons prior when he lost to Miguel Cabrera of the Detroit Tigers.

Trout led the league in slugging and OPS in 2015. The Royals’ Lorenzo Cain would finish third in the vote, despite having a tremendous season of his own.

Both gentlemen had tremendous seasons for their respective ball clubs and Trout is going to be a perennial MVP candidate for the rest of his career. This year, though, it was Donaldson’s year to win the MVP, thanks in part to the success of the Blue Jays.

It’s arguable that the Blue Jays finishing strong and making the playoffs influenced the voters enough to give the award to Donaldson, as Trout and the Angels just missed the playoffs during their final series of the season. It was just too hard to deny the success that the Toronto Blue Jays had this season.

By winning the MVP, Donaldson becomes the second member of the Toronto Blue Jays to win the AL MVP, after George Bell won the award in 1987 for the Jays.

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