The 2018 Major League Baseball season has come to an end. The Boston Red Sox won the World Series two weeks ago. It is now time for the major awards: Rookie of the Year, Manager of the Year, Cy Young Award, and Most Valuable Player.
On Thursday, the National League MVP will be announced. The finalists are Chicago Cub Javier Baez, Colorado Rocky Nolan Arenado, and Milwaukee Brewer Christian Yelich.
Javier Baez
.290/.326/.554/.881, 34 HR, 111 RBI
The Cub second baseman led the National League with 111 RBI. Baez set career highs in every major offensive statistic. His versatility was on display as he played all 4 infield positions. The 25 year old helped the Cubs to their fourth consecutive playoff appearance.
Baez made his first All-Star team this year and received his first Silver Slugger last week.
Nolan Arenado
.297/.374/.564/.935, 38 HR, 110 RBI
The Rocky third baseman led the National League with 38 home runs and finished 1 RBI behind Baez for the lead. Arenado hit 3 home runs and had 4 RBI in the last two games against the Washington Nationals to force a 163rd game for the NL West Division crown.
Arenado is a 4-time All-Star and Silver Slugger as well as a 6-time Gold Glove winner.
Christian Yelich
.326/.402/.598/1.000, 36 HR, 110 RBI
Yelich finished just 2 home runs and 1 RBI short of the first National League Triple Crown since 1937. The Brewer outfielder became just the third player in the modern era to hit 2 cycles in the same season, and the first to do it against the same team. He hit .488 with 6 home runs, 21 RBI, and 17 runs scored in the last 13 games to help the Brewers go 11-2 and win the NL Central.
Yelich made his first All-Star team this year and earned his second Silver Slugger to go with his 2014 Gold Glove.
Who Will Win?
Yelich came close to the Triple Crown and stepped up when the Brewers needed him most. He will be the National League MVP.