LOS ANGELES -- Dodgers outfielder Mookie Betts, who somehow exceeded sky-high expectations in 2020, is a finalist for the National League Most Valuable Player Award. The winner will be revealed on MLB Network at 3 p.m. PT on Thursday:

Joining Betts as finalists for NL MVP are Atlanta’s Freddie Freeman and San Diego’s Manny Machado.

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Betts, acquired from Boston with David Price just before Spring Training opened, is bidding to join the late Frank Robinson as the only players to win an MVP Award in each league.

The 2018 American League MVP with Boston, Betts signed a 12-year, $365 million contract extension with the Dodgers before play resumed this summer. He ranked among NL leaders in hits (64, T-10th), runs (47, 4th), batting average (.292, 16th), OBP (.366, 17th), SLG (.562, 13th), steals (10, T-5th) and homers (16, T-3rd).

He went 18-for-41 (.439) with runners in scoring position, the third-best mark in the Majors, and Betts was at his best late in games, posting a .343 (24-for-70)/.370/.643 slash line from the seventh inning on.

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Betts led the league in WAR. He had a .302/.383/.570 slash line out of the leadoff spot, and when he batted first, the Dodgers posted a 33-9 record. The Dodgers went 31-5 when Betts scored a run.

On Aug. 13, he homered three times against the Padres, joining Hall of Famer Johnny Mize and Sammy Sosa as the only players in MLB history with six career three-homer games. Betts also collected career hit No. 1,000 on Aug. 27 vs. San Francisco.

Defensively, Betts was spectacular, making difficult catches look easy, showing off his powerful arm when runners dared him and cutting off balls to prevent extra bases. He finished second in the league in defensive runs saved.

In the clubhouse, Betts challenged his new teammates in Spring Training to raise their game and provided invaluable leadership to young players.

Perhaps his greatest baseball skill is baserunning, not just stealing bases but his instinctive ability to advance on dirt balls, contact plays and fielders’ missteps.

Although postseason play does not factor into award voting, as balloting is completed before any playoff games are played, Betts impacted just about every game the Dodgers played during their final march to a title.