Jonathan Lucroy Finishes Fourth in MVP Balloting

Aug 17, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; [EDITORS NOTE: Caption Correction] Milwaukee Brewers catcher Jonathan Lucroy (20) celebrates his 2-run homer against the Los Angeles Dodgers with teammate center fielder Carlos Gomez (27) in the first inning at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY SportsJonathan Lucroy personifies the typical Wisconsin ‘blue-collar’ kind of guy.

He comes to work every day and keeps his mouth shut, instead preferring to let his work ethic speak for him. This season, his hard work paid off as Lucroy earned an impressive fourth place in the National League Most Valuable Player award, as announced Thursday.

Los Angeles southpaw Clayton Kershaw added the MVP trophy to his Cy Young award, becoming the first senior circuit hurler to pull off the feat since the Cardinals Bob Gibson in 1968. Marlins slugger Giancarlo Stanton (smashed face and all) grabbed the second spot and Pirates outfielder Andrew McCutchen finished third in the voting.

Lucroy played 156 games this season, including 1182 innings of squatting behind home plate. He also stepped in at first base for an additional 19 games.

Offensively, ‘Luc’ slashed 301/373/465 in 655 plate appearances, including a league-leading 53 two-baggers. His 68 long hits (53 doubles, 2 triples, 13 HR) tied for third in the league behind co-leaders Stanton and McCutchen’s sixty-nine extra-base hits.

The last time a Brewers catcher earned MVP votes was way back in 1983, when Ted Simmons garnered four points while finishing 19th in the balloting for the American League award.

Curiously, Brewers beat writer Tom Haudricourt ranked Lucroy fifth behind Adrian Gonzalez in a vote that will likely earn him some razzing come spring training.

Fangraphs’ David Cameron ranked Lucroy second.

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