Freeman Baseball Digest Player of Year; Bieber top pitcher

NEW YORK — Atlanta first baseman Freddie Freeman was voted Major League Player of the Year by Baseball Digest on Monday, and Cleveland’s Shane Bieber was a unanimous pick as Major League Pitcher of the Year.

Freeman received eight of 17 first-place votes and 34 points after hitting .341 with 13 homers and 53 RBIs in the pandemic-shortened season. Chicago White Sox first baseman José Abreu was second with four firsts and 26 points.

Bieber was 8-1 with a 1.63 ERA and 122 strikeouts in 77 1/3 innings, leading the major leagues in wins, ERA and strikeouts. He received all 17 first-place votes and 51 points. Cincinnati’s Trevor Bauer was second with 28 points.

Milwaukee’s Devin Williams was voted relief pitcher of the year. He had a 0.33 ERA and struck out 53 in 27 innings. Williams received 12 first-place votes and 39 points. Oakland’s Liam Hendricks was second with four firsts and 32 points.

Voters included writers and broadcasters.

Atlanta Braves' Cristian Pache, rear left, heads home to score the winning run as Braves' Freddie Freeman celebrates heading to first after hitting an RBI single to beat the Reds 1-0 in 13 innings in Game 1 of a National League wild-card baseball series, Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2020, in Atlanta.

http://accesswdun.com/article/2020/10/944317/freeman-baseball-digest-player-of-year-bieber-top-pitcher