J.D. Martinez Named Tiger Of The Year
DETROIT- J.D. Martinez has been selected the Tiger of the Year in voting conducted by the Detroit Chapter of the Baseball Writers Association of America. Martinez earned 19 of a possible 22 first place votes to capture the award for the first time in his career. Miguel Cabrera received two first place votes and Ian Kinsler received one vote.
Martinez, 28, won the award after establishing career highs in games played (158), at-bats (596), runs scored (93), hits (168), doubles (33), home runs (38), RBI (102) and walks (53) in 2015. Martinez ranked tied for third in the American League with 15 outfield assists, while he was fifth with 319 total bases and 73 extra base hits, seventh with 102 RBI and eighth with 38 home runs and a .535 slugging percentage.
He became the seventh player in Tigers history to hit 38-or-more home runs and drive in 100-or-more runs in a season, joining Miguel Cabrera (2010, 2012, 2013), Norm Cash (1961), Rocky Colavito (1961), Cecil Fielder (1990, 1991), Hank Greenberg (1937, 1938, 1940,1946) and Dean Palmer (1999). Additionally, he became the first Tigers outfielder to record 100-or-more RBI in a season since Magglio Ordoñez had 103 RBI in 2008. Martinez was also selected to the American League All-Star Team for the first time in his career in 2015.
Since joining the Tigers in 2014, Martinez has batted .296 (307x1037) with 150 runs scored, 63 doubles, 61 home runs and 178 RBI in 281 games.
Victor Martinez won the award in 2014 and Miguel Cabrera was the recipient in 2012-13.
