Soto a finalist for 2020 Hank Aaron Award

By Byron Kerr

Nationals

October 14, 2020, 8:16am

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Major League Baseball announced today that Nationals outfielder Juan Soto is a finalist for the 2020 Hank Aaron Award.

Soto, 21, slashed .351/.490/.695 in winning the NL batting crown in just 47 games, smashing 13 homers with 37 RBIs. He had an OPS of 1.185, the highest of any qualified hitter since Barry Bonds in 2004.

Since 1999, the Hank Aaron Award has recognized the "most outstanding regular season offensive performer in each league," according to an MLB release. Each club nominated one player to be considered for the award. A panel of MLB.com writers determined the seven finalists from each league.

Fans can start voting today here. Voting continues through Oct. 18.

In addition to the fan vote, a special panel of Hall of Fame players, led by Aaron, will vote on the winners of the award. The panel includes Roberto Alomar, Johnny Bench, Craig Biggio, Ken Griffey Jr., Eddie Murray and Robin Yount.

The National League finalists are Freddie Freeman of the Braves; Corey Seager of the Dodgers; Dominic Smith of the Mets; Bryce Harper of the Phillies; Manny Machado of the Padres; Paul Goldschmidt of the Cardinals; and Soto.

Harper (2015) and Goldschmidt (2013) are previous winners of the award.