Bryant, Ortiz named 2016 Hank Aaron Award winners
Chicago Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant and retiring Boston Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz have been named this year's Hank Aaron Award winners as the top offensive players in their respective leagues.
Bryant and Ortiz were presented with their awards in a ceremony before Game 2 of the World Series by Aaron and commissioner Rob Manfred.
"It is an honor that the awards, which distinguish the top offensive performers in baseball, have my name on it," Aaron said, according to Mark Newman of MLB.com. "I want to congratulate Kris and David on their terrific seasons and extend my thanks to the Hall of Famers and fans who once again helped select the winners."
Ortiz won the award thanks to a remarkable final season that saw him shatter records for players in his age bracket. The 40-year-old slashed .315/.401/.620 with 38 homers and 79 runs scored while leading the American League in slugging percentage, OPS (1.021), doubles (48), and RBIs (137) over 151 games. His RBI total set a new single-season record for players aged 40 or over; in addition, he now holds records for the most homers, RBIs, doubles, and extra-base hits (87) during a final season.
Bryant followed up his award-winning rookie season with an even better sophomore campaign for the National League champion Cubs. The 24-year-old anchored the Cubs' lineup by hitting .292/.385/.554 with an NL-best 121 runs scored, 39 homers, 35 doubles, and eight stolen bases. After striking out a league-leading 199 times in 2015, Bryant cut his strikeout total down to 154 this year.
"I grew up watching Big Papi on the Red Sox get to this point and win a World Series, and hopefully I can do that here," Bryant said, according to Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News. "I've been through some pretty cool things recently, but this is something I'm going to have to pinch myself."
It's the second time Ortiz has won the award; he also was given the honor in 2005. Bryant is the third Cub to win the award, joining Sammy Sosa in 1999 and Aramis Ramirez in 2008.