Christian Yelich and J.D. Martinez were awarded the Hank Aaron Award for the best offensive player in the National and American League. The awards ceremony took place at the Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles in the run-up to Game 3 of the World Series.
Outfielder Yelich beat .326 this year with 36 home runs and 110 RBI in his first season for the Milwaukee Brewers. He came in the off-season via trade from the Miami Marlins. Yelich also led the NL with his average punch and slugging percentage day.
Martinez in turn beat .330 with 43 home runs and 130 RBI in his again first season for the Red Sox. He led the AL in RBI and Total Bases. Martinez joined Boston as a Free Agent after working for the Detroit Tigers and Arizona Diamondbacks last year.
This year, the Aaron Award celebrates its 20th anniversary since its launch in 1999. Yelich is the second Brewers player to receive this honor after Prince Fielder in 2007. Martinez is the fourth Red Sox player to receive the award. His predecessors were Manny Ramirez, David Ortiz and Kevin Youkilis – Ramirez and Ortiz even won him twice each.
While Yelich with his Brewers had failed in seven games in the National League Championship Series at the Los Angeles Dodgers, Martinez with the Red Sox is against the Dodgers in the World Series.
This article was published without prior review by Major League Baseball.