New York Mets pitcher Matt Harvey and Texas Rangers designated hitter Prince Fielder were named MLB Comeback Players of the Year on Thursday.
Major League Baseball started the Comeback Player of the Year awards in 2005. The 30 team beat reporters from MLB.com select the winners of the award. There are as many candidates for the award, one from each team. Past winners include Casey McGehee and Chris Young (2014), Francisco Liriano and Mariano Rivera(2013), Fernando Rodney and Buster Posey(2012), Jacoby Ellsbury and Lance Berkman(2011), Aaron Hill and Chris Carpenter (2009); Cliff Lee and Brad Lidge (2008); Carlos Peña and Dmitri Young (2007); Jim Thome and Nomar Garciaparra (2006); and Jason Giambi and Ken Griffey, Jr. (2005), according to MLB.com.
It's really awesome," Fielder told MLB Network after the winners were announced. "It was a lot of hard work to get back and be able to play. ... I kind of felt I'd be confident to at least be able to play. But I didn't know how I'd play."
Harvey said that he’s glad he’s healthy, happy and doesn’t believe that anyone is happier than him.
Fielder played in just 42 games last year due to a neck injury. Last May he had season-ending surgery on his neck and was able to come back in spring training this year. He hit .305 with 23 homeruns and 98 RBIs’ this season with the Rangers, according to the Associated Press. He made the All-Star team for the sixth time in his career. Harvey missed the entire 2014 season due to having Tommy John surgery. This season he was 13-8 with a 2.71 ERA and helped the Mets reach the World Series.
The Rangers made the playoffs this year and won the AL West title for the first time since 2011. The Mets made it to the World Series, but lost to the Kansas City Royals.