NelÂson Cruz was choÂsen the Twins most valuÂable playÂer for 2019, and also won the team's Bob Allison Award for leadÂerÂship.
TayÂlor RogÂers won the team's top pitchÂer aÂward, and Luis Arraez was named the rookÂie of the year on TuesÂday in voting by the Twin Cities chapÂter of the Baseball WritÂers Association of America.
Cruz, signed beÂfore the seaÂson to a two-year conÂtract, hit 41 home runs, drove in 108 runs and batÂted .311. He led the Twins in all three cateÂgoÂries, aÂmong playÂers who qualÂiÂfied for a batÂting title (502 plate apÂpearÂanÂces).
RogÂers had a 2.61 ERA and 30 saves in 60 apÂpearÂanÂces. Arraez, priÂmarÂiÂly an inÂfieldÂer, hit .334 in 366 plate apÂpearÂanÂces.
CatchÂer Mitch GarvÂer, who had 31 home runs, won most imÂproved playÂer; cenÂter fieldÂer Byron BuxÂton was choÂsen deÂfenÂsive playÂer of the year, and pitchÂer Kyle GibÂson won the meÂdiÂa's Good Guy Award.
"EvÂerÂyÂone is very deÂservÂing of the awards," GarvÂer said via text message. "RogÂers did evÂerÂyÂthing and more that we needÂed for a closÂer, and he's one of the best lefthanded reÂlievÂers in the league. Nelly was, as we exÂpectÂed, a huge role modÂel and leadÂer on and off the field. We couldn't have done evÂerÂyÂthing we did this year withÂout those two guys."
The Upper Midwest playÂer of the year is Nick Anderson, who was born in CrosÂby and grew up in BraiÂnerd. Anderson, 29, pitched 68 games in his rookÂie seaÂson for MiÂamÂi and TamÂpa Bay and struck out 110 in 65 inÂnings. He also made four postseason apÂpearÂanÂces for the Rays.
Award winÂners will be honored at the Twins Diamond Awards on Jan. 23 at the Depot, beÂfore Twins Fest weekÂend.
FormÂer Twin JusÂtin Morneau will get the KirÂby PuckÂett Award that day for Twins alumÂni comÂmuniÂty servÂice, and the team's miÂnor league playÂers of the year — outÂfieldÂer TrevÂor Larnach and pitchÂer Randy Dobnak — also will be recÂogÂnized.
PHIL MILLÂER