*Photo from the Los Angeles Times*
Wrapping up awards week in baseball, it's only fitting that the announcement of the MVP in each league is the way to end it. Los Angeles Angels two way player Shohei Ohtani and Philadelphia Phillies OF Bryce Harper have won the 2021 AL and NL MVP award for the 2021 season, as announced by the BBWAA on Thursday night.
The rise of Ohtani is now complete, as he collected all 30 first place votes to win MVP unanimously, also the only unanimous winner for any award announced this week. He's the 11th unanimous winner, and the first since his teammate Mike Trout did it in 2014. He's also the 4th player in Angels history to win MVP, joining Trout, Vladimir Guerrero Sr, and Don Baylor.
Blue Jays slugger Vladimir Guerrero Jr came in second place, collecting 269 points after earning 29 second place votes and one 3rd place vote. Blue Jays teammate Marcus Semien came in 3rd with 232 points, receiving 24 votes for 3rd place. Rounding out the top 5 was Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge and Astros SS Carlos Correa.
At the plate, Ohtani had a 40 homer and 25 steal season, while hitting .257 with 100 RBI and 8 triples. When he was pitching, he had a 9-2 record with a 3.18 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, a 3.52 FIP, and 156 strikeouts in 23 starts. His 10.8 strikeouts per 9 was 4th best in the AL. He's the first pitcher to win MVP since Justin Verlander in 2011, and the 15th all time.
Harper has now won the NL MVP for the second time in his career, after winning in 2015 with the Washington Nationals. In the voting, Harper collected 17 first place votes, 9 second place votes, and two 3rd place votes, for a total of 348 points. Harper posted a .309 average with 35 home runs and 84 RBI in 141 games, leading the majors in WRC+ and slugging percentage.
Finishing in second place was former teammate and Nationals star Juan Soto, who got 6 first place votes, 11 second place votes, and 7 for 3rd place, collecting 274 points. Padres SS Fernando Tatis Jr came in 3rd place, with two first place votes, 5 second place votes, and 15 votes for 3rd place, getting 244 points. Giants SS Brandon Crawford came in 4th place, and Dodgers SS/2B Trea Turner came in 5th.
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