Former Legion Baseball players dominate 2016 MLB awards
Former Legion Baseball players Kris Bryant (National League MVP), Rick Porcello (American League Cy Young), Max Scherzer (National League Cy Young) and Corey Seager (National League Rookie of the Year) all earned awards this week, as Major League Baseball and the Baseball Writers' Association of America doled out accolades.
Bryant, a Las Vegas Legion Baseball alum, continued an unprecedented start to his career by being named the runaway winner of the National League’s Most Valuable Player award.
Already a Rookie of the Year, two-time All-Star and Hank Aaron Award winner, Bryant earned the highest regular season honor in the National League.
Bryant led the Cubs to their first World Series victory in 108 years and was named the National League Championship Series Most Valuable Player, as well.
This is the second straight year a Las Vegas Legion alum was named National League MVP, as Bryce Harper accomplished the feat in 2015.
Legion alumni headlined the Cy Young voting for top pitchers, as well.
In the National League, Max Scherzer, formerly of Coeur Post 397 (Mo.), won his second Cy Young Award. The Washington Nationals’ workhorse led the league in innings pitched and WHIP.
The American League had a battle between two Legion alums in the race for the top pitching award as Porcello and Justin Verlander finished in a near dead heat.
Detroit’s Verlander, formerly of Powhatan Post 201 (Va.) was narrowly edged out by Boston’s Porcello, formerly of Vailsburg Post 395 (N.J.).
The former Tigers teammates both had stellar years, with Porcello leading the league in wins and Verlander finishing with the most strikeouts.
Seager, who played Legion Baseball for Kannapolis Post 115 (N.C.), rounded out the Legion’s sweep of the National League awards as he was named the unanimous winner of the National League’s Rookie of the Year award.
An All-Star and Silver Slugger, Seager finished third in the Most Valuable Player voting, as well.
He is the third straight Legion alum to win the National League’s award for top newcomer, joining Bryant and Mets pitcher Jacob deGrom (DeLand Post 6 in Florida).