Houston Astros slugger Yordan Alvarez isn’t just an AL MVP, he is the unanimous AL MVP, taking home the top honor on Thursday night in a vote that left absolutely no doubt. Every single one of the 30 first-place votes from the Baseball Writers’ Association of America went to Alvarez, a truly commanding performance that capped off an absolutely ridiculous season.
The Monster Season That Made History
This wasn’t just any MVP campaign, folks. Alvarez put up a career-best .316 batting average, crushed 42 homers, and drove in 106 RBIs for the AL West champions. Think about that for a second: he led the entire majors in batting average! And while he didn’t quite snag the Triple Crown, he was knocking right on its door, finishing tied for second in the AL in dingers and grabbing second by himself in RBIs. Baltimore’s Pete Alonso edged him out with 43 homers and 113 RBIs, but Alvarez was right there, a legitimate threat.
His offensive brilliance went beyond just power and average. Alvarez also led all of Major League Baseball in walks with 109, showcasing incredible plate discipline. His on-base percentage of .432 and slugging percentage of .601 also topped the majors. Yeah, he’s primarily a designated hitter, but when you put up numbers like that, the bat speaks for itself. The 29-year-old left no room for argument, proving his bat alone was enough to carry him to this historic award.
A Career Defined By Dominance
This MVP award isn’t just a flash in the pan for Alvarez. He’s been a force since breaking into the majors with Houston back in 2019. Right out of the gate, he proved he was different, hitting .313 with 27 homers and 78 RBIs in only 87 games, earning him the AL Rookie of the Year award. He’s a four-time All-Star, the ALCS MVP in 2021, and a big reason the Astros grabbed that 2022 World Series championship. This MVP award is just the latest jewel in an already stacked resume.
Alvarez is the first AL MVP from Houston since Jose Altuve did it in 2017. His career numbers are straight-up insane, too: a .300 batting average, 212 homers, and 599 RBIs over eight big league seasons. He’s a consistent, destructive force at the plate. While Tampa Bay’s third baseman Junior Caminero had a fantastic season, batting .276 with 42 homers and 101 RBIs, receiving 27 of 30 second-place votes, and Kansas City shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. came in third, Alvarez’s unanimous win shows just how far ahead he was. Meanwhile, the NL MVP is still being announced, with Pete Crow-Armstrong from the Cubs, Shohei Ohtani of the Dodgers, and the Brewers’ Brice Turang as the finalists.
What a season for Yordan Alvarez. This unanimous MVP solidifies his place as one of the game’s elite, proving his offensive firepower is simply unmatched in the American League. It is going to be something else watching him try to follow up this kind of incredible year.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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