Players Choice Awards: MLB Players Have Handed Out Their Hardware

Who knows the skills of major league players better than their peers who face them on the field every day? The Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA) poll their own constituents every year to hand out their own Players Choice Awards; they've now announced the winners of the 2022 hardware. And there isn't one choice that should surprise anyone.

Congratulations to the 2022 Players Choice Awards Winners! 🏆

We tip our cap to each of you for your outstanding performances on the field, leadership off the field and the example you set for others. #PCA2022

On behalf of all Players, congratulations again! pic.twitter.com/tyHnyjsqiz
— MLBPA (@MLBPA) November 4, 2022

The winners are an impressive list; all of whom earned their honors this season.

It all starts with the Player of the Year, Aaron Judge. His season was one of the greatest in major league history. In addition to breaking the all-time single-season mark for home runs in the American League (62), he also led the majors in runs scored (133), OBP (.425), slugging (.686), OPS (1.111) and extra-base hits, while tying for first with 131 RBIs.

Other winners:

AL Outstanding Player: Aaron Judge
NL Outstanding Player: Paul Goldschmidt. Batted .317 for the St. Louis Cardinals with a National League-best .981 OPS, to go with 35 HR and 115 RBIs
AL Outstanding Pitcher: Justin Verlander. 1.75 ERA at the age of 39, after missing two years due to Tommy John surgery
NL Outstanding Pitcher: Sandy Alcantara. 2.28 ERA with ML-leading 228 IP. 0.98 WHIP, 207:50 K/BB
AL Outstanding Rookie: Julio Rodriguez. All-Star at age 21. .284 avg, .853 OPS, 28 HR, 25 SB
NL Outstanding Rookie: Spencer Strider. Reached 200 strikeouts in just 130 innings, quicker than any other pitcher in major league history, topping Randy Johnson's mark. 2.67 ERA, 0.99 WHIP
AL Comeback Player: Justin Verlander
NL Comeback Player: Ronald Acuna Jr.