Mookie Betts is Runner-Up for MVP Award

Red Sox outfielder Mookie Betts was named the runner-up for the American League MVP Thursday night, another step forward in the young star's skyrocketing career.

The 24-year-old finished second to Mike Trout of the LA Angels, just one night after Boston teammate Rick Porcello won the AL Cy Young Award.

David Ortiz finished sixth in the MVP voting in his final season.

Betts was outstanding in 2016, notching career highs with a .318 batting average, 31 home runs, 113 RBIs, and 26 stolen bases. He lead the league in total bases (359) and at-bats (672.)

Betts would have been the first Red Sox to win MVP since Dustin Pedroia in 2008. He would have also joined Tris Speaker (1912), Jimmie Foxx (1938), Ted Williams (1946, 1949), Jackie Jensen (1958), Carl Yastrzemski (1967), Fred Lynn (1975), Jim Rice (1978), Roger Clemens (1986), and Mo Vaughn (1995) as other Boston winners.

Photo courtesy of Keith Allison via Flickr