Houston Astros slugger Yordan Alvarez and Chicago Cubs outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong were named the American League and National League Hank Aaron Award winners on Wednesday.
Yordan Alvarez Dominates American League
The award honors the top offensive performer from each league, selected through a combination of fan voting and a panel of Hall of Fame players. Alvarez, 29, topped the American League with a .316 batting average and a 1.033 OPS. He also tied for second in home runs with 42, placed second in RBIs with 106, tied for third in runs with 105, tied for fourth in doubles with 34, and recorded a 6.8 wins-above-replacement mark among position players, which ranked second in the league.
While competitors like Pete Alonso contributed 43 home runs, 113 RBIs, and an .884 OPS, alongside Junior Caminero who hit 42 home runs with 101 RBIs and an .885 OPS, Alvarez secured the honor following his standout campaign.
Pete Crow-Armstrong Leads National League Batters
Crow-Armstrong, 24, batted .280 while tying for the National League lead with 45 home runs. He also finished first in the league with 119 runs scored, a .943 OPS, and a 9.8 position-player WAR, while placing third in RBIs with 107 and tied for fifth in triples with eight.
Although his MVP-caliber value stems partly from his exceptional defensive play, his offensive output proved he was the National League’s most impactful bat. Other standout contenders in the National League included Kyle Schwarber, who hit 45 home runs with 97 RBIs and an .857 OPS, and James Wood, who recorded 30 home runs, 77 RBIs, 106 runs, 21 stolen bases, and an .891 OPS.
With both players widely anticipated to claim their respective league MVP awards, neither selection came as a surprise.
