Clayton Kershaw: Named NL MVP

Kershaw was named the 2014 National League Most Valuable Player on Thursday, Ken Gurnick of MLB.com reports.

Analysis:

A day after being named the NL Cy Young winner, Kershaw was recognized as having the best year of any player at any position in the NL with his first career MVP. Signed to a record $215 million contract in January, Kershaw went on to go 21-3 with a 1.77 ERA, 0.86 WHIP and 239:31 K:BB over 198.1 innings. It ended on a low note, as the lefty struggled in the NLDS (7.82 ERA), but Kershaw's 2014 was truly a season for the ages.