Thursday night, Jose Altuve of the Houston Astros was named the American League's Most Valuable Player. Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees finished second in the voting, followed by Tribe infielder Jose Ramirez.
Ramirez's teammate, Tribe shortstop Francisco Lindor, finished fifth in voting. Indians pitcher and 2017 American League Cy Young Award winner Corey Kluber was seventh.
There was a time when Ramirez was thought of as nothing more than just a utility man. Two years ago, he might have been the unlikeliest of all of the Cleveland Indians to be a finalist for MVP. That's what made Jose Ramirez so special in 2017.
He hit .318 with 29 home runs and 83 RBI, all career highs. Ramirez's 56 doubles were the most in the Major Leagues, and his 91 extra base hits tied for the most in all of baseball. He was a key part of a Tribe offense that was second in the American League in batting average and third in runs scored.
Perhaps the thing that stands out the most about Ramirez's 2017 season was his incredible versatility. He batted in virtually every part of the Tribe's order, hitting .370 as the Indians' number three hitter and .295 in the five spot. Injuries also moved him around the infield as he played 88 games at third base and 71 at second.
Ramirez was seeking to become the first Indian to win the American League MVP award since Al Rosen in 1953.
