Kemp, Brantley comebacks headline Players Choice awards
The Major League Baseball Players' Association handed out the Players Choice Awards on Tuesday night, headlined by Comeback Player of the Year nods going to Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Matt Kemp and Cleveland Indians outfielder Michael Brantley.
The 34-year-old Kemp was sent back to Los Angeles as part of a salary dump after a season with the Atlanta Braves in which he authored a .781 OPS over 115 games. He posted an .818 OPS over 146 games with the Dodgers in 2018.
Brantley returned to again become an integral member of Cleveland's outfield, appearing in 143 games - his most since 2014. Over 631 plate appearances, the 31-year-old produced a .309/.364/.468 slash line with 17 home runs and 12 stolen bases.
The full awards list was as follows:
| Award | Winner |
|---|---|
| Player of the Year | J.D. Martinez |
| Marvin Miller Man of the Year | Curtis Granderson |
| Award | National League | American League |
|---|---|---|
| Comeback Player | Matt Kemp | Michael Brantley |
| Outstanding Rookie | Ronald Acuna Jr. | Miguel Andujar |
| Outstanding Pitcher | Jacob deGrom | Blake Snell |
| Outstanding Player | Christian Yelich | Mookie Betts |
Curtis Granderson, who split time between the Toronto Blue Jays and Milwaukee Brewers, earned the Marvin Miller Man of the Year award for his "hard work, commitment, and goodwill." The veteran outfielder, famous for his Grand Kids Foundation, beat out fellow finalists Paul Goldschmidt and Mike Trout.
While the Players Choice pitchers stayed the same as the Cy Young nods, the MLBPA did go in a different direction with the AL rookie, giving it to New York Yankees third baseman Miguel Andujar. Los Angeles Angels pitcher and designated hitter Shohei Ohtani won AL Rookie of the Year.