Dodgers News: Four Dodger Players Receive NL MVP Votes

With the announcement of the National League Most Valuable Player award today, the Dodgers didn’t have any finalists, but had four players that received consideration. Pirates’ outfielder Andrew McCutchen won the award, beating out finalists Paul Goldschmidt of the Arizona Diamondbacks and Yadier Molina of the St. Louis Cardinals.

While none of the Dodgers were named finalists for the award, there were four players that received votes for their 2013 season. The Dodgers haven’t had an MVP winner since Kirk Gibson took the award in 1988. Overall, the team has four MVP winners in franchise history.

According to Bill Shaikin of the L.A. Times, the Dodgers’ had a quartet in the top 20:

Where #Dodgers finished in NL MVP vote: Kershaw 7th, Ramirez 8th, Puig 15th, Gonzalez 19th.

— Bill Shaikin (@BillShaikin) November 14, 2013

NL Cy Young award winner Clayton Kershaw finished seventh after a season in which he was 16-9 with a 1.83 ERA and 232 strikeouts in 33 starts. The 25-year-old received MVP votes in 2011 and 2012, finishing 12th and 16th, respectively. Kershaw was also recognized in another MVP vote when he was nominated for the NL MVP for the GIBBY Awards. There hasn’t been a pitcher win the NL MVP since Bob Gibson won it in 1968, while the last pitcher to win the award in any league was Justin Verlander in 2011.

Shortstop Hanley Ramirez finished in the top-10 even though he played in just 86 games this season due to injuries. Ramirez finished the season hitting .345 with 20 home runs and 57 RBI, leading the Dodgers’ charge from last place to first place. It was the first time Ramirez received some MVP votes since he finished second in the voting in 2009. He also received votes in 2007 and 2008, finishing 10th and 11th, respectively. The 29-year-old has taken home an award before when he won the Rookie of the Year award in 2006 with the Florida Marlins.

Yasiel Puig finished in the top 15 in his rookie season, just days after finishing second in the NL Rookie of the Year award. First baseman Adrian Gonzalez also received some votes for his consistent play this season. Gonzalez has finished as high as fourth in the MVP vote in his career, back in 2010 with the San Diego Padres.

It was a great season all around for the Dodgers and it’s great to see this quartet of players get the attention they deserve with some MVP consideration.

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