MLB Announces MVPs- Mike Trout And Clayton Kershaw, Pitcher Wins For The First Time Since 1968, But Was It Warranted?

The two winners of Major League Baseball's MVP awards have been announced, and one comes a huge shock. Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout was the unanimous vote as the American League's MVP - at 23, becoming the third youngest winner of the award in MLB history - but it was Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw, the winner of the National League MVP that sent ripples throughout baseball, with Kershaw becoming the first NL pitcher to win the MVP/Cy Young award double in over 45 years. 

In addition to the MVP, Kershaw also won the National League's Cy Young pitching award for the third time in four years, making him the first NL pitcher to ring up the double since 1968. As for the MVP award, MLB.com reported that in beating Miami's Giancarlo Stanton and Pittsburgh's Andrew McCutchen, "Kershaw earned 18 first-place votes to claim the NL MVP". ESPN report that "Stanton got eight first-place ballots and 298 points. McCutchen got four first and 271 points."

Speaking to the MLB Network, Kershaw said "It really is a huge honor for me." 

"You never in a million years think you're going to win an MVP, let alone win a Cy Young Award, let alone, you know, being in the big leagues. It really is amazing. Individual awards aren't why we play this game, but I definitely don't take this honor lightly, especially being a pitcher and winning the MVP. It's pretty awesome."

The Dodgers blog also reported Kershaw paying tribute to his teammates, telling a media conference "You just try to celebrate accomplishments. That's what a lot of teammates have told me ... when you win anything, you celebrate it, because this game is hard."

Mike Trout - accepting his MVP in his parents dining room - also made history, says ESPN, in joining Mickey Mantle as the only player in MLB history to win an MVP award after finishing second the two years previous. Trout told MLB network "it felt great" to win, and that his experience in the last two years "helped out a bit"  

He added, "But it means a lot... To have all these high expectations, you want to be so good, you can go out there and do too much, especially me as a player, I try to hit the ball so far, or try to do so much, i get in trouble. you've got to trust yourself and stay within your game and do what you've done to get you there."

ESPN's report also breaks down the AL voting, noting that "Trout received all 30 first-place votes and 420 points. Detroit designated hitter Victor Martinez was second with 229 points and Cleveland outfielder Michael Brantley third with 185."

Considering that Kershaw is only 26-years-old and Trout only 23, the pair could be teaming up for MVP doubles for years to come.