Soler blasts way to World Series MVP honors

Call this one the Soler-powered World Series.

Atlanta Braves slugger Jorge Soler took home the Willie Mays World Series MVP trophy following his team's six-game win over the Houston Astros.

Soler - who appeared in all six contests, primarily as a designated hitter - hit .300/.391/.800 with six hits, three homers, six RBIs, and four runs scored. It was his titanic blast in the third inning Wednesday that served as the series-clinching three-run homer for Atlanta.

The 29-year-old is the third member of the Braves - and the first position player - to win World Series MVP, joining pitchers Lew Burdette (1957) and Tom Glavine (1995).

Soler was one of several midseason acquisitions who lifted the 88-win Braves to this improbable World Series title. The Kansas City Royals traded him to Atlanta before the July 30 deadline for pitching prospect Kasey Kalich. Soler's the third player to win World Series MVP after a midseason trade, joining Donn Clendenon of the 1969 New York Mets and Steve Pearce of the 2018 Boston Red Sox, according to MLB Stats.

The Havana native is the second Cuban-born player to win the award, following the Marlins' Livan Hernandez in 1997, according to Sarah Langs of MLB.com.

Despite missing five playoff games due to COVID-19, Soler posted a .948 OPS over three playoff rounds. In 55 regular-season games for Atlanta, he hit .269/.358/.524 with 14 homers and 33 RBIs.