Yordan Alvarez was voted by his peers as the best player in the American League this year, an auspicious start to his awards month.
Alvarez, the Houston Astros slugger, was named the American League Outstanding Player and Comeback Player of the Year in the Players Choice Awards, as announced Wednesday by the Major League Baseball Players Association.
The Players Choice Awards are determined by player voting conducted in September.
Alvarez beat out Junior Caminero and Bobby Witt Jr. for the AL Outstanding Player honor and Gerrit Cole and Mike Trout for the AL Comeback Player award. Alvarez was one of three finalists for the Player of the Year honor, which went to Pete Crow-Armstrong of the Cubs.
Limited to 48 games in 2025 by hand and ankle injuries, Alvarez returned to lead the majors in OPS and capture the American League batting title this season amid a prolific campaign.
Alvarez led the majors in batting average (.316), on-base percentage (.432) and slugging (.601) while finishing second or tied for second in the AL in home runs (42) and runs batted in (106) this year. He drew a majors-leading 109 walks, of which 33 were intentional.
Alvarez became the third player since 1970 to win an AL batting title while hitting at least 40 home runs, joining Aaron Judge and Miguel Cabrera. He joined Jose Altuve and Yuli Gurriel as Astros players to win a batting title and his home run total matched the fifth-highest in franchise history.
Altuve won the latest of his three batting titles in 2017, the year in which he was voted AL Most Valuable Player. Altuve and Jeff Bagwell are the only Astros players to win a league MVP award. Alvarez appears to have a strong chance to join them.
Finalists for the BBWAA awards will be announced Monday. Most Valuable Player winners will be named Nov. 12. Alvarez, who finished third in AL MVP voting in 2022, will likely be Houston's only finalist for any of the BBWAA awards this year.
Last year, a right hand fracture, which the Astros initially diagnosed as a muscle strain, sidelined Alvarez for 100 games, and a left ankle sprain ended his season in mid-September. He returned to play a career-high 158 games this season, including 134 at designated hitter, while producing his best year yet.
In other Players Choice Awards winners, Crow-Armstrong was named the overall Player of the Year and the NL Outstanding Player. Cam Schlittler was voted the AL Outstanding Pitcher and Kevin McGonigle the AL Outstanding Rookie. Jacob Misiorowski was named the NL Outstanding Pitcher, Sal Stewart the NL Outstanding Rookie and Zack Wheeler the NL Comeback Player. Chris Bassitt received the Marvin Miller Man of the Year Award, recognizing leadership that "inspires others to higher levels of achievement."
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This article originally published at Astros slugger Yordan Alvarez wins two Players Choice Awards ahead of AL MVP vote .
