Kris Bryant, the 24-year old third baseman for the Chicago Cubs and former Tennessee Smokie, was named the National League's Most Valuable Player.
Major League Baseball broadcasted the announcement live Thursday. Bryant received 29 of 30 first-place votes.
Bryant had a 2016 season for the ages, hitting .292/.385/.939 with 39 home runs and 102 RBIs. He also recorded an assist on the last out in Game 7 of the World Series, fielding a ground ball and throwing to first base to seal the Cubs' first championship title in 108 years.
In addition to playing above average defense at third base, he played five other positions in the field, including all outfield positions, shortstop, and first base.
Bryant already won the NL Hank Aaron Award in 2016, given to the player considered the best hitter in either league. He showed increased discipline at the plate, cutting his strikeout rate from 30.1% in 2015 to 22.0% in 2016.
Bryant just finished his second season in the big leagues, having debuted in 2015 with the Cubs. He is a two-time All-Star, having been named to the National League squad both seasons.
He capped his debut season with the NL Rookie of the Year award, slashing .279/.369/.858 with 26 home runs and 99 RBIs. Bryant finished 11th in MVP voting in 2015.
Bryant started the 2014 season in Kodak with the Tennessee Smokies, the Cubs' AA minor league team. In 68 games, Bryant crushed 22 home runs, hit .355, and scored 61 runs. The Cubs' then-top prospect earned himself a mid-season promotion to AAA Iowa, where he stayed until early 2015.
Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout won the American League MVP award. Trout, 25, also won the award in 2014.
