Major League Baseball (MLB) is the premier baseball league in North America, and each year thousands of players compete for the title of best player. 2015 was no exception, as the competition was fierce and the level of play was as high as ever. It can be difficult to choose a single best player, as the criteria for judging a player’s performance are subjective and vary from person to person. However, there were a few players who clearly stood out in 2015, and this article will take a look at who the best MLB player of 2015 was.
The Criteria
In order to decide who the best MLB player of 2015 was, a set of criteria must be established. This criteria will include offensive performance, defensive performance, overall contribution to the team, and intangibles such as leadership and sportsmanship. The most important criteria will be offensive performance, as the goal of any MLB player is to score runs and help their team win games.
The Contenders
There were many contenders for the title of best MLB player in 2015, but the five players who stood out the most were Josh Donaldson, Bryce Harper, Paul Goldschmidt, Mike Trout, and Miguel Cabrera. All five of these players had outstanding seasons, and they have all had successful careers in the MLB.
Josh Donaldson
Josh Donaldson was the American League MVP in 2015, and he had a career year for the Toronto Blue Jays. He hit .297 with 41 home runs and 123 RBIs, and he also had an impressive .371 on-base percentage and .568 slugging percentage. He was also a reliable fielder, as he had a .991 fielding percentage and 11 defensive runs saved.
Bryce Harper
Bryce Harper had a breakout season in 2015, as he hit .330 with 42 home runs and 99 RBIs for the Washington Nationals. He also had a .460 on-base percentage and .649 slugging percentage. He was also a reliable fielder, as he had a .987 fielding percentage and 10 defensive runs saved.
Paul Goldschmidt
Paul Goldschmidt had another excellent season in 2015, as he hit .321 with 33 home runs and 110 RBIs for the Arizona Diamondbacks. He also had a .435 on-base percentage and .570 slugging percentage. He was also a reliable fielder, as he had a .992 fielding percentage and 10 defensive runs saved.
Mike Trout
Mike Trout had another spectacular season in 2015, as he hit .299 with 41 home runs and 90 RBIs for the Los Angeles Angels. He also had a .402 on-base percentage and .590 slugging percentage. He was also a reliable fielder, as he had a .991 fielding percentage and 10 defensive runs saved.
Miguel Cabrera
Miguel Cabrera had another tremendous season in 2015, as he hit .338 with 18 home runs and 76 RBIs for the Detroit Tigers. He also had a .440 on-base percentage and .534 slugging percentage. He was also a reliable fielder, as he had a .989 fielding percentage and six defensive runs saved.
The Winner
After considering all five contenders, it is clear that Mike Trout was the best MLB player of 2015. He had the highest batting average and on-base percentage, and he was also the only player to hit over 40 home runs and steal 20 bases. He was also a reliable fielder, and he had the most defensive runs saved of any of the contenders.
Why Mike Trout?
Mike Trout is the best MLB player of 2015 for a variety of reasons. He led all of baseball in WAR (Wins Above Replacement), which is a statistic that measures a player’s overall contribution to their team. He also led the league in runs scored, and he was the only player to have a 30-30 season (30 home runs and 30 stolen bases). He was also a reliable fielder, and he had the most defensive runs saved of any of the contenders.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Mike Trout was the best MLB player of 2015. He had an incredible season, and he led all of baseball in WAR. He was also a reliable fielder, and he had the most defensive runs saved of any of the contenders. His offensive and defensive performances were unparalleled, and he was the clear-cut choice for best player of the year.
Key Takeaways
- Josh Donaldson was the American League MVP in 2015, and he had a career year for the Toronto Blue Jays.
- Bryce Harper had a breakout season in 2015 for the Washington Nationals.
- Paul Goldschmidt had another excellent season in 2015 for the Arizona Diamondbacks.
- Mike Trout had another spectacular season in 2015 for the Los Angeles Angels and was the best MLB player of 2015.
- Miguel Cabrera had another tremendous season in 2015 for the Detroit Tigers.
References
1. Etheridge, E. (2016, February 12). Major League Baseball’s best players of 2015. Sports Illustrated. Retrieved from si.com/mlb/2016/02/12/best-players-2015
2. Kane, P. (2020, January 16). WAR leaders 2015. Baseball Reference. Retrieved from baseball-reference.com/leaders/WAR_2015.shtml
3. Major League Baseball. (2020). 2015 annual baseball statistics. Major League Baseball. Retrieved from mlb.com/stats/annual
4. Rains, A. (2015, October 28). Mike Trout is the American League MVP for 2015. Los Angeles Times. Retrieved from latimes.com/sports/angels/la-sp-mike-trout-mvp-20151028-story.html