New York, United States (AFP) — Chicago Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant and Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout were named Thursday as winners of the 2016 Major League Baseball Most Valuable Player awards.
Bryant, who took the National League award, helped propel the Cubs to their first World Series crown in 108 years and became only the fourth player in Major League history to follow up the Rookie of the Year with the MVP award the next year.
Trout won the American League honor for the second time in his career after 2014. The 25-year-old slugger finished second for the award in 2012, 2013 and 2015.
Both selections were made by executives, fans, retired players, historians and journalists.
Bryant, 24, joined Cal Ripken Jr, Dustin Pedroia and Ryan Howard as second-year players to pair the top newcomer and MVP trophies in back-to-back seasons. He also became the first Cubs player to capture the honor since Sammy Sosa in 1998.
Bryant smashed 39 home runs, third in the NL and the most by any Cub in 11 years. He also drove in 102 runs while leading the league by scoring 121 runs.
Trout joined his teammate Albert Pujols and Barry Bonds, the retired all-time US home run king, as the only players to finish in the top three in MVP voting for five years in a row.
Trout was the runner-up to Detroit Tigers slugger Miguel Cabrera in 2012 and 2013, then a unanimous choice for the 2014 award only to finish second again last year to Toronto third baseman Josh Donaldson.
This season, Trout led the Major Leagues with 123 runs scored and 116 walks. He batted .315 with 29 homers and 30 stolen bases, and drove in 100 runs.
