3 Cubs Players Named Finalists for Player Choice Awards

This is the point of the season when finalists are announced for many different awards. 

Pete Crow-Armstrong has already been named a finalist for the Hank Aaron Award. Crow-Armstrong, Ian Happ, Seiya Suzuki, Dansby Swanson, and Alex Bregman were recently named Gold Glove finalists, and Crow-Armstrong will soon be a finalist for the National League MVP when that’s announced. 

Three more Chicago Cubs players were named finalists for separate awards on Wednesday. The Player Choice Awards named Crow-Armstrong, Matthew Boyd, and Nico Hoerner as finalists for four different awards. 

The Player Choice Awards are voted on by players. The players will vote on awards like Comeback Player of the Year, Outstanding Rookie of the Year, Outstanding Pitcher of the Year, Outstanding Player of the Year, Player of the Year, and community awards like Philanthropist of the Year and Marvin Miller Man of the Year. 

Crow-Armstrong was named a finalist by his peers for two different awards. He’s a finalist for Outstanding Player of the Year and Player of the Year. 

Crow-Armstrong is one of six finalists for the Outstanding Player of the Year, along with Houston Astros slugger Yordan Alvarez, Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Junior Caminero, Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr., Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani, and Philadelphia Phillies slugger Kyle Schwarber. 

The Cubs center fielder is also one of the three Player of the Year finalists. The other two finalists are Alvarez and Ohtani. 

Boyd is a finalist for the Philanthropist of the Year. This award is given annually to the player “who demonstrates community impact and an altruistic spirit beyond the diamond.” Boyd is recognized for his foundation (Kingdom Home), which fights child exploitation in Uganda.

Kingdom Home is a non-profit organization that Boyd and his wife (Ashley) founded back in 2018. His ongoing work helping kids in need in Uganda makes him a finalist for this year’s award. Boyd is a finalist along with Texas Rangers first baseman Jake Burger and Milwaukee Brewers star Christian Yelich. 

Hoerner is a finalist for the Marvin Miller Man of the Year. This award is given annually to the player “whose leadership inspires others to higher levels of achievement through on-field performance and community contributions.” The winner receives $50,000 to go toward a charity of their choosing.  

Hoerner, Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Chris Bassitt, and Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Pablo Lopez are finalists for this award. 

The winners of the Player Choice Awards will be announced during the week of October 26.