Tigers ace Justin Verlander has been named the Player of the Year in voting of major league players conducted by the Sporting News. This comes via the Detroit Free Press.
The Free Press also notes that this is the Player of the Year NOT Pitcher of the Year which could improve his changes of winning the American League Most Valuable Player.
According to the Sporting News: “Purely dominant. That best describes Detroit Tigers ace Justin Verlander’s season…. In voting by 289 major league players (177 players from the AL, 112 from the NL), Verlander was the first pitcher to win the award since the Los Angeles Dodgers’ Orel Hershiser in 1988.”
To further add to Verlander’s masterful resume in 2011, he won the pitching triple crown leading the league in wins (24), strikeouts (250) and ERA (2.40). To top all this off, he also threw his second no-hitter in May against the Toronto Blue Jays.
Verlander seems to be a virtual lock to win the American League Cy Young which is announced on November 15th. The American League MVP will be announced on November 21st.
Ref: Detroit Free Press, Sporting News,
