Josh Donaldson named American League MVP

ByABC News
November 19, 2015, 6:55 PM

— -- Josh Donaldson was named the American League's Most Valuable Player on Thursday, becoming the first member of the Toronto Blue Jays to win the MVP in nearly 30 years.

Acquired in an offseason trade with the Oakland Athletics, Donaldson was a spark plug for Toronto's potent offensive attack. The Blue Jays led the majors in a myriad of offensive categories including runs scored (891), home runs (232), doubles (308), total bases (2,518) and RBIs (852).

A fifth-year third baseman, Donaldson led the AL in RBIs with 123 and was third in the AL in home runs (41). His 8.8 WAR was the third-best in the majors.

Donaldson was also voted the top major leaguer and the AL's outstanding player by his peers at the annual Players Choice Awards earlier this month.

He is Toronto's first MVP since George Bell won the award in 1987.

Donaldson's award caps off the Blue Jays' best season since winning the World Series in 1993. The team won 93 games and made the AL Championship Series, where they lost to Kansas City in six games.