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MLB awards watch: MVP races

By John Buhler

Apr 16, 2017; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Nationals right fielder Bryce Harper (34) runs the bases after hitting a game winning, walk-off three-run home run against the Philadelphia Phillies at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 16, 2017; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Nationals right fielder Bryce Harper (34) runs the bases after hitting a game winning, walk-off three-run home run against the Philadelphia Phillies at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports /
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Apr 21, 2017; Anaheim, CA, USA; Los Angeles Angels center fielder Mike Trout (27) runs the bases after hitting a solo home run against the Toronto Blue Jays during the fifth inning at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 21, 2017; Anaheim, CA, USA; Los Angeles Angels center fielder Mike Trout (27) runs the bases after hitting a solo home run against the Toronto Blue Jays during the fifth inning at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports /

American League No. 1

1

Mike Trout

CF, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

New year, same story. Mike Trout is the best player in the American League wasting his prime playing for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, an organization that doesn’t really know what it’s doing. At least Trout the best catch in the Junior Circuit, so good for all the suburban Angelinos out there.

Trout won his second MVP award last year. The sounds insane, but Trout has finished either first or second in AL MVP voting since his first full season in 2012. He’s a Silver Slugger every year. Can we get the dude some help, please?

Los Angeles is 10-12 through its first 22 games. While the Angels are in third place in the American League West, this looks to be Houston’s division. Oakland looks to be competitive, while Texas and Seattle have yet to find themselves.

Trout always finds himself because he’s just better at baseball than you are at anything. He already has a 1.9 WAR. Trout is hitting .346/.419/.704 with six home runs and 15 runs batted in. He was a home shy of going 30-30 last year. Unless he can carry the Angels to the postseason, that should be an interesting pair of storylines for Los Angeles: Can Trout win back-to-back MVPs and can he go 30-30?

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