MLB Players Name 3 Finalists For Players Choice Player Of The Year

The AL MVP and the NL MVP are chosen by the Baseball Writers Association of America. But the players themselves want to voice their own takes on who's the best among their ranks. Thus, the MLBPA polls its major league members to choose the Players Choice Awards. The three finalists for Player of the Year have been announced.

Congratulations to 2022 Players Choice Awards Player of the Year Finalists, @TheJudge44, Paul Goldschmidt and Shohei Ohtani! #PCA2022

Who will take home the PCA hardware? Tune in to @SportsCenter at 6 pm ET on 11/4 to find out who the Players selected as 2022 Player of the Year. pic.twitter.com/Hrh8W7QfhK

— MLBPA (@MLBPA) November 3, 2022

Defending champion Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Angels is once again up for the award. The DH/starting pitcher once again displayed an incredible never-before-seen combination of dominant pitching and offensive prowess. He became the first player in MLB history to accumulate 10 or more wins (15) and 30 or more home runs (34). 

All Aaron Judge did was break the all-time single-season record for home runs in the American League, blasting 62 round-trippers for the New York Yankees. He had 16 more home runs than any other player, the biggest gap since 1932. Judge 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 RBI.

Paul Goldschmidt is the third finalist, after posting one of the greatest seasons of his 12-year career. The 7-time All-Star hit a career-best .317 for the St. Louis Cardinals with a National League-best .981 OPS, to go with 35 HR and 115 RBIs. His .578 slugging also led the NL. 

The winner of the Players Choice Player of the Year Award will be announced Friday evening. 

Photo: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports