Overview
The MLB American League MVP award is one of the more exciting MLB futures you can wager on, as there are two, one award in the American League and one in the National League.
This narrows the pool a bit compared to other sports where there is one overall MVP, but in baseball there’s one per league.
There is always plenty of speculation of who will win the MLB American League MVP award, and rightfully so. There are so many excellent players in the American League, it can be challenging to just pick one.
The award has a rich history, being awarded since 1931, and is chosen by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America. The award recipients are voted on before the postseason begins, yet the winners are not announced until after the World Series takes place.
Therefore, performances in the postseason do not have any influence over the winners of the awards.
Statistically, the MLB American League MVP awards have gone to many outfielders, although there has been a good mix of positions in past years to showcase all different positions on the field.
Last year, in 2021, Shonhei Ohtani a multi-talented pitcher, designated hitter and outfielder, swept the awards category, taking home the AL MVP, and found himself on the All-Star team as both a hitter and pitcher, as well as taking the Silver Slugger award and the Edgar Martinez award.
Past MLB AL MVP Awards
2021 – Shonhei Ohtani (RHP/DH)
2020 – Jose Abreu (1B)
2019 – Mike Trout (OF)
2018 – Mookie Betts (OF)
2017 – Jose Altuve (2B)
2016 – Mike Trout (OF)
2015 – Josh Donaldson (3B)
2014 – Mike Trout (OF)
2013 – Miguel Cabrera (3B)
2012 – Miguel Cabrera (3B)
2011 – Justin Verlander (RHP)