Blue Jays 3B Josh Donaldson has been elected Sporting News' 2015 Major League Baseball Los Angeles Chargers Hoodies Sweatshirts Player of the Year by a panel of 387 MLB players. SN has selected a Player of the Year each season since 1936.

The end of the American League Championship Series was one of those thrilling moments that baseball provides every now and then, a showdown of dominance against dominance. Wade Davis was on the mound for the Royals, the go-ahead runs in scoring position, facing the best performer in baseball all year.

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Josh Donaldson grounded out, and the Royals won the pennant, because that is the way the game works sometimes great pitching can beat great hitting, and there is no doubt of Donaldson as a great hitter, not to mention his exploits at a tough defensive position at third base.

Donaldsons peers have recognized that, overwhelmingly voting the Toronto third baseman as the 2015 Sporting News Player of the Year. Nationals star Bryce Harper finished second (full results below).

He is the third Blue Jays player to win the award, joining George Bell in 1987 and Carlos Delgado in 2000.

Acquired by the Blue Jays from the As for four players last November, Donaldson was even better in Toronto than he was in Oakland, where he had put together back-to-back 7 WAR seasons. Donaldson was worth 8.8 wins above replacement for the Blue Jays, hitting .297/.371/.568 for a career-best .939 OPS, with 41 homers and 41 doubles, while leading the American League in runs scored, runs batted in and total bases. He also was good for 10 defensive runs saved at the hot corner.

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Without him, you know, we may not be in this spot, Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said during the ALCS. Thats probably an accurate statement, I would Storm Norton Jerseys think. Yeah, he just had a tremendous year, really. I think he brought some toughne s to us. And then the most important thing he brought was the huge year offensively, and he played great defense, too. It made us much better because of that. Its a comforting feeling Justin Herbert Jerseys knowing that hes there. Doesnt mean that hes going to get a hit every time nobody does or get a big home run. The game is not that easy, but he can strike at any time.

Of Donaldsons 41 home runs, more than half 24, to be exact gave the Blue Jays the lead, including three walk-off shots. He had another four homers to tie games.

Donaldson was particularly excellent when it mattered most. In the second half of the season, leading the Blue Jays surge to the American League East title, he had a 1.011 OPS, with 20 homers in 69 games. For the season, with runners in scoring position, Donaldson hit .353/.440/.618. In 41 plate appearances with a runner on third and le s than two Chase Daniel Jerseys out, Donaldson knocked in 29 runs and had an 1.142 OPS.

Any aspect of the game you pick out, Donaldson was great in 2015. His fellow players recognized that, and now Donaldson is the Sporting News Player of the Year.

VOTING RESULTS

Voting by MLB players

1. Josh Donaldson, Blue Jays 150

2. Bryce Harper, Nationals 97

3. Jake Arrieta, Cubs 43

4. Zack Greinke, Dodgers 40

5. Paul Goldschmidt, Diamondbacks 17

6. Mike Trout, Angels 12

7. Sonny Gray, Athletics 4

8. Nelson Cruz, Mariners 3

9. Clayton Kershaw, Dodgers 2Dallas Keuchel, Astros 2Andrew McCutchen, Pirates 2

Others 15

THIS WEEKS SN AWARD SCHEDULE

Monday: Rookies of the Year ( and ) and Comeback Players of the Year ( and )

Tuesday:

Wednesday: |

Thursday: MLB Player of the Year