Sign of things to come? Kershaw named MLB player of the year by peers

Los Angeles Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw was voted the player of the year in balloting by his fellow major leaguers.

The players' union said Monday that Kershaw also won the Marvin Miller Man of the Year award.

Kershaw was 21-3 with a major league-best 1.77 ERA. He was voted the NL's outstanding pitcher and became the first player to win three Players Choice awards in one season since voting began in 1992.

Voting was conducted Sept. 16. That was before Kershaw went 0-2 with a 7.82 ERA in a pair of postseason starts against St. Louis. Kershaw is also considered the runaway favorite for the NL Cy Young Award and a serious contender for NL MVP — voting for those awards also took place before the postseason.

The Miller award is for a player who most inspires others through his efforts on and off the field. Kershaw and his wife, Ellen, funded construction of homes for homeless children in Lusaka, Zambia.

Miami's Giancarlo Stanton was voted the NL's outstanding player and the Los Angeles Angels' Mike Trout was selected the AL's outstanding player. Seattle's Felix Hernandez was voted the AL's outstanding pitcher.

Chicago White Sox first baseman Jose Abreu won AL Outstanding Rookie and New York Mets' Jacob deGrom NL Outstanding Rookie.

Miami third baseman Casey McGehee and Seattle pitcher Chris Young were voted the top comeback players.