Astros' Altuve, Marlins slugger Stanton win MVP awards
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[November 17, 2017]
By Rory Carroll
(Reuters) - Jose Altuve of the World
Series champion Houston Astros won the American League MVP award on
Thursday while Marlins Giancarlo Stanton slugged his way to the
National League honour.
Altuve, 27, led the majors in batting average and had 204 hits
during a campaign that saw the Astros win their first world
championship in the franchise's 55-year history.
The nimble second baseman beat out New York Yankees' hulking
outfielder Aaron Judge, who hit 52 home runs in his first full
season in the majors.
Altuve won 27 of 30 first-place votes from the Baseball Writers'
Association of America for 405 in total to handily defeat Judge in a
race many thought would be closer.
The 25-year-old Judge won the AL Rookie of the Year award earlier in
the week by unanimous vote.
The award is a remarkable achievement for the 5-ft 6-in (1.68m)
Altuve, who was told early on that he had no place in Major League
Baseball.
"I remember when I was 16 years old I went to a try-out and they
told me not to come back," he told reporters on a call after the
award was announced.
"But there was something inside me and my dad, who went with me,
that said we have to go again. We have to try again because I feel I
can make something happen."
Altuve is just the fifth American League second baseman to win the
MVP, which has been awarded only 11 times to a second baseman. No
position has had fewer MVP winners.
Marlins powerhouse right fielder Stanton narrowly defeated
Cincinnati Reds slugger Joey Votto for the NL award.
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Miami Marlins right fielder Giancarlo Stanton (27) flips his bat
after striking out against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the
second inning at Chase Field. Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
The 28-year-old Stanton received 302 votes, just two more than Votto
in the fourth-closest MVP ballot of all-time.
Stanton led the majors with 59 home runs and 132 RBIs and posted a
slugging percentage of .631.
"I always try to think positive but it was a surprise to hear,"
Stanton told reporters on a call.
Despite having the best season of his career, Stanton's future with
the Marlins is uncertain as the team looks to rebuild after
finishing 23 games behind the Astros in the AL West this season.
"It's an interesting feeling and situation for me," said Stanton,
who joined the Marlins as a rookie in 2010.
"This is the only place I've known but I also understand the
business side of it and the direction that the ownership wants to
go," he said.
"We're going to try to figure out a plan."
(Reporting by Rory Carroll; Editing by Ian Ransom)
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