Abreu a finalist for MVP, Robert for ROY
CHICAGO -- José Abreu, Luis Robert Jr. and Rick Renteria represented the White Sox among the 2020 BBWAA American League award finalists announced on MLB Network Monday night. The final three candidates were presented for each award with Abreu in the Most Valuable Player category, Robert in Rookie of the Year and Renteria for Manager of the Year.
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Abreu, 33, is an MVP finalist for the first time in his stellar seven-year career with the White Sox. The first baseman topped the AL in RBIs for the second straight season, driving in 60 over 60 games, while finishing second with 19 home runs and fourth with a .317 batting average. He also ranked fifth with a .987 OPS and was the only AL player to rank in the top five in hits (76, first), RBIs, slugging percentage (.617, first), extra-base hits (34, first), total bases (148, first), home runs, average and OPS.
There was also a noticeable improvement defensively for Abreu, though he was not a finalist at first base for the Gold Glove Award, and he was the team’s clear leader in this abbreviated campaign. The Yankees' D.J. LeMahieu and the Indians' José Ramirez join Abreu in the final three, with the winner being announced on Nov. 12, live on MLB Network.
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Robert, 23, was the favorite for the AL Rookie of the Year Award for a good portion of the season before a rough September. The center fielder was 11-for-81 in that final month, compared to his .298 average in August and a .296 mark over 27 at-bats in July. For the season, Robert slashed .233/.302/.436 with 11 homers, nine stolen bases and 31 RBIs. He also joined Ramón Laureano and Byron Buxton as a Gold Glove finalist in center.
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Seattle’s Kyle Lewis and Houston’s Cristian Javier complete the AL Rookie of the Year finalists. The winner will be announced on Nov. 9, also on MLB Network.
• All-time Rookie of the Year Award winners
Renteria has the strangest nomination of the group in that the White Sox parted ways with their manager 10 days after the team was eliminated by Oakland in a deciding Game 3 of the AL Wild Card Series. Renteria, who presided over the rebuild from 2017-19, led the White Sox to a 35-25 record in 2020 and their first postseason appearance since '08. The White Sox became the first AL team to clinch a postseason berth on Sept. 17, but they finished 3-10 including the postseason.
Nonetheless, the White Sox appreciated the job done by Renteria before he was replaced by Tony La Russa on Thursday.
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“He did a very good job as a manager,” Robert said through interpreter Billy Russo after the season came to a close. “We had very good communication. He taught me and it was very good to play for him.”
• All-time Manager of the Year Award winners
The Rays' Kevin Cash and the Blue Jays' Charlie Montoyo joined Renteria in the final three, with the AL Manager of the Year Award winner to be announced on Nov. 10.
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Nellie Fox (1959), Dick Allen ('72) and Frank Thomas ('93-94) are the previous White Sox MVP winners. Robert would be the first White Sox AL Rookie of the Year since Abreu in 2014, and Renteria would be the sixth White Sox manager to win the top BBWAA award, including La Russa in '83.