Jacoby Ellsbury was one of the lone bright spots for the Boston Red Sox this season, especially during a disastrous September. The bad news has been seemingly nonstop for the Red Sox this offseason, but the center fielder continued to provide positive headlines on Thursday, winning American League Comeback Player of the Year.
After playing just 18 games in 2010 due to injury, Ellsbury returned for the best season of his career in 2011, emerging as a serious MVP contender. Let's give Tacoby Bellsbury his due after the jump.
The MLB press release runs down Ellsbury's credentials:
Ellsbury, in his fifth Major League season, posted career-highs in nearly every offensive category after being limited to just 18 games in 2010 due to injuries. Ellsbury hit .321 with 32 home runs, 105 RBI, 46 doubles, five triples and 119 runs scored. He also added 39 stolen bases to go with his .552 slugging percentage and .376 on-base percentage. The 28-year-old led the Majors with 364 total bases and 83 extra-base hits while ranking among the A.L. leaders in hits (212, 3rd), RBI (T-6th), runs (3rd), batting average (5th), slugging (T-5th), multi-hit games (T-5th), stolen bases (4th), doubles (T-3rd) and home runs (T-5th). The Madras, Oregon native became the first Red Sox player to have a 30-homer, 100-RBI season while serving as the club's primary leadoff hitter, and the first Major League leadoff hitter to accomplish that feat since Alfonso Soriano did it for the New York Yankees in 2002.
The award was voted on by 30 beat writers from MLB.com. The last winner with Red Sox ties was Nomar Garciaparra, who won the award in 2006 with the Dodgers.