Abreu claims AL MVP honors

Chicago White Sox first baseman Jose Abreu won the American League MVP award Thursday, the Baseball Writers' Association of America announced.

Abreu, 33, led MLB with 60 RBIs and 148 total bases while also pacing the Junior Circuit with 76 hits and a .617 slugging percentage. He's the first White Sox player to earn the honor since Frank Thomas in 1994. "The Big Hurt" also won MVP in 1993.

The first baseman adds his MVP award to a mantle that already includes the 2014 AL Rookie of the Year trophy. He becomes the 10th player to win the AL ROY and go on to claim an MVP award.

Abreu is the third Cuban player to ever win MVP, joining Zoilo Versalles in 1965 and Jose Canseco in 1988, according to ESPN Stats & Info.

Abreu collected 21 of the 30 first-place votes. Cleveland Indians third baseman Jose Ramirez garnered eight first-place votes while free-agent infielder DJ LeMahieu earned one. LeMahieu spent the previous two seasons with the New York Yankees.

Indians ace Shane Bieber, who was announced as the unanimous AL Cy Young winner Wednesday, placed fourth in MVP voting. Three-time MVP winner Mike Trout wound up in fifth, the worst finish of his career.