Players choose Player of Year finalists

MLB players, through the MLB Players Association, named finalists for the 2019 Players Choice Awards on Friday afternoon, including naming Angels center fielder Mike Trout, Nationals third baseman Anthony Rendon and Brewers right fielder Christian Yelich as finalists for the Player of the Year Award. None of the three finalists have ever won the award.

Players Choice Award winners will receive grants from the MLBPA's Players Trust to direct to a charity of their choice. Winners of all the Players Choice Awards will be announced next week.

Mike Trout, Angels

Trout continued to show why he is considered the best player in the game this season as he put together a monster 2019. The two-time American League Most Valuable Player hit .291 with a career-high 45 home runs and a robust 1.083 OPS in just 470 at-bats. Trout was on pace to lead the American League in homers and surpass 50 for the first time before a foot injury ended his season in early September.

Anthony Rendon, Nationals

While no one knew how the Nationals would perform after the departure of Bryce Harper, Rendon's MVP-caliber season left no doubt that he was up for the challenge. Rendon set career-highs in almost every offensive category, hitting .319 with 34 homers and driving in an MLB-leading 126 runs. In addition to his defensive prowess on the other side of the ball, Rendon's success has helped the Nationals make the World Series for the first time in franchise history.

Christian Yelich, Brewers

After winning the 2018 NL MVP Award, Yelich was out to show that his standout performance wasn't a fluke. The outfielder picked up where he left off and was once again on of the game's biggest superstars. Yelich hit slashed .329/.429/.671 with 44 home runs, 97 RBIs and 30 stolen bases. Yelich was on the verge of achieving MLB's first 50-HR/30-SB season, but had his season cut short after fouling a ball off his kneecap in early September.

Here are the 2019 finalists in other Players Choice Awards categories:

Marvin Miller Man of the Year:
Curtis Granderson, Marlins
CC Sabathia, Yankees
Mike Trout, Angels

AL Outstanding Player:
Mike Trout, Angels
Rafael Devers, Red Sox
Alex Bregman, Astros

NL Outstanding Player:
Anthony Rendon, Nationals
Christian Yelich, Brewers
Cody Bellinger, Dodgers