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MARVIN MILLER MAN OF THE YEAR FINALISTS
The Marvin Miller Man of the Year award goes to the player whose leadership most inspires others to higher levels of achievement. Marvin Miller served as the Major League Baseball Players Association’s first full-time executive director from 1966 through 1982 and guided its emergence as one of the country’s strongest and most cohesive labor unions, was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in September.
ANDREW MILLER
St. Louis Cardinals
Andrew Miller, an Executive Subcommittee Association Player Representative, has provided a voice for players and been heavily involved in the union throughout his 16-year career. Miller won the Thurman Munson award, given to a professional athlete for “athletic achievements and their contributions to the community”, in 2016. He has provided leadership in many union matters, including past CBA negotiations. Now a member of the St. Louis Cardinals, the two time All-Star and 2015 Mariano Rivera American League Reliever of the Year winner remains a strong and active presence on behalf of his fellow players.
MAX SCHERZER
Los Angeles Dodgers
As an Executive Subcommittee Association Player Representative, Max Scherzer has had an impact off the field that matches his achievements on the mound. He has been involved in numerous charitable efforts, such as “Nats for Masks” which helped provide masks to underprivileged and at-risk communities in the Washington, D.C., area during the pandemic in 2020. He helped support the development of a new Legacy Field -- an education and recreation complex consisting of a high school and indoor and outdoor recreation spaces. Max also has worked with the Human Rescue Alliance to help raise money to find homes for rescue animals.
MARCUS SEMIEN
Toronto Blue Jays
A nine-year MLB veteran, Marcus Semien has not only been an All-Star player, but also one of the game’s true leaders. Serving as an Executive Subcommittee Alternate Association Player Representative, he has had the opportunity to provide guidance on and off the field for his fellow major leaguers. This season, Semien had his best statistical campaign, but also had the opportunity to mentor some of the league’s brightest young stars on the Toronto Blue Jays’ roster. In Oakland with the Athletics, he won the Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association (MLBPAA) Heart and Hustle Award twice, given to the player who best demonstrates a passion for baseball and “best embodies the values, spirits and traditions of baseball.”
PLAYER OF THE YEAR FINALISTS
VLAD GUERRERO JR.
Toronto Blue Jays
At age 22, Vlad Guerrero Jr. shattered records in 2021 and flirted with a Triple Crown. With a home run in his first All-Star Game start, he became the youngest player to win the game’s MVP honor. With his season total of 48 home runs, which tied for the most in baseball, he set a record for homers by a player 22 or younger. He became the fourth-youngest player to have 100+ runs, 40+ HR and 100+ RBIs in a season. His 123 runs scored led MLB, and his OBP (.401), slugging percentage (.601) and OPS (1.002) topped the American League.
The Player of the Year is the Major League Player (either league) who exhibited the best on-field performance in 2021.
BRYCE HARPER
Philadelphia Phillies
A former first-overall pick and PCA recipient for NL Outstanding Player in 2015, Bryce Harper recaptured his MVP winning form for the Philadelphia Phillies this season. He led the majors in slugging (.615), OPS (1.044) and doubles (T- 42). Providing power all season for the Phillies, he was the only player in baseball to amass 40+ doubles, 35+ home runs (35) and 100+ walks (100). He became the fourth active player to hit his 250th career home run before his 29th birthday with a solo shot in August against his former team, the Washington Nationals. Harper joined Albert Pujols, Miguel Cabrera, and Mike Trout in that elite club.
SHOHEI OHTANI
Los Angeles Angels
Shohei Ohtani provided fans, teammates and opponents with a captivating, historic season. He was the first player to be selected to an All-Star Game as both a pitcher and hitter, as well as the first player in league history to start the contest as a pitcher and hitter. He participated in the MLB Home Run Derby and slugged the second-most home runs (46) in baseball. In April, he became the first player since Babe Ruth in 1921 to enter a start as a pitcher while also leading (or co-leading) the league in homers. His WAR (9) led the league, and he was the first American League player ever to hit 45+ home runs, steal 25+ bases and score 100+ runs. On the mound, he went 9-2 with a 3.18 ERA in 23 starts, with 156 strikeouts in 130.1 innings.
AMERICAN LEAGUE OUTSTANDING PLAYER FINALISTS
VLAD GUERRERO JR.
Toronto Blue Jays
At age 22, Vlad Guerrero Jr. shattered records in 2021 and flirted with a Triple Crown. With a home run in his first All-Star Game start, he became the youngest player to win the game’s MVP honor. With his season total of 48 home runs, which tied for the most in baseball, he set a record for homers by a player 22 or younger. He became the fourth-youngest player to have 100+ runs, 40+ HR and 100+ RBIs in a season. His 123 runs scored led MLB, and his OBP (.401), slugging percentage (.601) and OPS (1.002) topped the American League.
Los Angeles Angels
SHOHEI OHTANI
Shohei Ohtani provided fans, teammates and opponents with a captivating, historic season. He was the first player to be selected to an All-Star Game as both a pitcher and hitter, as well as the first player in league history to start the contest as a pitcher and hitter. He participated in the MLB Home Run Derby and slugged the second-most home runs (46) in baseball. In April, he became the first player since Babe Ruth in 1921 to enter a start as a pitcher while also leading (or co-leading) the league in homers. His WAR (9) led the league, and he was the first American League player ever to hit 45+ home runs, steal 25+ bases and score 100+ runs. On the mound, he went 9-2 with a 3.18 ERA in 23 starts, with 156 strikeouts in 130.1 innings.
The AL Outstanding Player is the position Player in the American League who exhibited the best on-field performance in 2021.
SALVADOR PEREZ
Kansas City Royals
Salvador Perez built off a solid 2020 season with one of the best offensive seasons by a catcher in MLB history in 2021. After a steady first half, he was named an All-Star for the seventh time and took part in the Home Run Derby. In the second half, Perez was one of the most dangerous hitters in baseball with 27 home runs and 68 RBIs. He hit 33 of his 48 total home runs as a catcher. He chased down and broke Johnny Bench’s single-season home run record (45) by a catcher with 10 home runs between September and October. He also tied Jorge Soler for the Royals’ record for most home runs in a season and led all of baseball in home runs (T-1) and RBIs (121), becoming the first primary catcher to lead the league in both of those categories since Johnny Bench in 1972.
NATIONAL LEAGUE OUTSTANDING PLAYER FINALISTS
BRYCE HARPER
Philadelphia Phillies
A former first-overall pick and PCA recipient for NL Outstanding Player in 2015, Bryce Harper recaptured his MVP winning form for the Philadelphia Phillies this season. He led the majors in slugging (.615), OPS (1.044) and doubles (T- 42). Providing power all season for the Phillies, he was the only player in baseball to amass 40+ doubles, 35+ home runs (35) and 100+ walks (100). He became the fourth active player to hit his 250th career home run before his 29th birthday with a solo shot in August against his former team, the Washington Nationals. Harper joined Albert Pujols, Miguel Cabrera, and Mike Trout in that elite club.
AUSTIN RILEY
Atlanta Braves
A first-round pick out of high school in 2015, Austin Riley found a home in the middle of the Atlanta Braves’ lineup with 33 home runs and 107 RBI in 2021. He was one of the best-hitting third basemen this season, leading the position in batting average (.303) and OPS (.898). He was one of two National League third basemen (along with Nolan Arenado) with 30+ doubles and 30+ home runs, and the only one in baseball with 30+ home runs, 100+ RBIs and a batting average over .300. He was at his best with runners in scoring position, with 66 RBI and a .313/.376/.488 slash line in those clutch situations.
JUAN SOTO
Washington Nationals
Juan Soto followed up his top-five MVP finish in 2020 with another MVP-caliber season in 2021. Soto made his first All-Star team and flashed his great eye and plate discipline with a league-high 145 walks and .465 OBP. Post All-Star Game, he slashed .348/.525/.639 predominantly out of the No. 3 hole for the Washington Nationals. His 26 games of reaching base 4+ times in a game landed him on a list with Barry Bonds, Lou Gehrig and Babe Ruth for most such games in a single season since 1910. In September, Soto reached base in 12 straight plate appearance, which passed Ken Griffey Jr. in 1989 for the longest such streak by a player 22-years old or younger since 1961.
FERNANDO TATIS JR.
San Diego Padres
Fernando Tatis Jr. was an MVP candidate last year, and this year he generated more MVP buzz with his dynamic play for the San Diego Padres. He led the National League in home runs (42) and at-bats per home run (11.4), and his 73 extra-base hits were third best. In August, he became the only player 22 or younger to hit 36 home runs in his first 100 games in a season. In May, he became the first shortstop in history to have at least 50 home runs among his first 200 career hits. In July, he became the fastest player, measured by games played, to eclipse 50 career stolen bases and home runs since 1898. In May, he won NL Player of the Month.
The NL Outstanding Player is the position Player in the National League who exhibited the best on-field performance in 2021.
AMERICAN LEAGUE OUTSTANDING PITCHER FINALISTS
New York Yankees
GERRIT COLE
All eyes were on Gerrit Cole when he joined the New York prior to the 2020 season. In his first year in the Bronx, he put together a Cy Young-caliber campaign. In 2021, he followed that up with another exceptional season. Cole made his fourth All-Star team and had the most wins (16) by an American League pitcher and the third most strikeouts in baseball (243) while averaging 97.7 MPH on his four-seam fastball. He tossed two complete games, including a dominant three-hit, 12-strikeout shutout against the Houston Astros in July, becoming the first Yankees pitcher to strike out 12+ hitters in a shutout effort since Mike Mussina in 2002. He surpassed that total with a 15-strikeout start in September against the Los Angeles Angels.
LANCE LYNN
Chicago White Sox
Lance Lynn became the staff ace for the American League Central champion Chicago White Sox in 2021. He went 18.2 innings before surrendering his first earned run of the year, and he pitched to a 1.99 ERA with a 9-3 record and 105 strikeouts entering the All-Star break. His 2.69 ERA for the season was the best of his career, and he was named to his second All-Star game. On April 8th against the Kansas City Royals, Lynn punched out 11 batters in a five-hit complete game shutout.
The AL Outstanding Pitcher is the pitcher in the American League who exhibited the best on-field performance in 2021.
ROBBIE RAY
Toronto Blue Jays
Robbie Ray appeared to enjoy his first full season with the Toronto Blue Jays. The hard-throwing lefty missed bats all season on his way to posting a career year, during which he led the American League in ERA (2.84), WHIP (1.04), innings pitched (193.1), and quality starts (23). He also led the majors with 248 strikeouts. In August, he struck out 14 Chicago White Sox, tying a career high for a single game. He also set a record for most strikeouts (1,241) in a pitcher’s first 1,000 innings. He had 10 starts of 10+ strikeouts, and 15 games with 100+ pitches thrown.
NATIONAL LEAGUE OUTSTANDING PITCHER FINALISTS
Milwaukee Brewers
CORBIN BURNES
Corbin Burnes spent most of his season missing bats and striking out batters at a historic rate. His spectacular command of the zone was evident throughout the year, and on May 13 he held the longest active streak for most strikeouts without a walk in any stretch of a season since 1893 (58 strikeouts, 0 walks). He posted career highs in every major statistic, going 11-5 in 28 starts with 167 innings pitched. He was named an All-Star for the first time, and his 2.43 ERA and 12.61 strikeouts-per nine innings (also a franchise record) led baseball. His final WHIP (0.940) set a Brewers’ single-season record.
The NL Outstanding Pitcher is the pitcher in the National League who exhibited the best on-field performance in 2021.
MAX SCHERZER
Los Angeles Dodgers
Max Scherzer is no stranger to the Outstanding Pitcher award, as he has received the honor twice –2013 & 2017 – in both the American League and National Leagues. The three-time Cy Young winner made his 8th All-Star Game and started the contest, giving him four Midsummer Classic starts for his career. His 0.86 WHIP led all of baseball, and his 2.46 ERA was the second-best mark in the National League. After a deadline day trade that sent him from the Washington Nationals to the Los Angeles Dodgers, he posted a 7-0 record in 11 starts with a 1.98 ERA. In September against the San Diego Padres, he eclipsed the 3,000-strikeout mark, becoming the 19th pitcher in MLB history to do so. He achieved the milestone in his 404th career game -- the second fewest games to reach that threshold behind Randy Johnson’s 362 games.