The Houston Astros are hours away from facing off with the New York Yankees in Game 1 of the American League Conference Series (ALCS; their sixth appearance, by the way).
Adding to a little momentum, two of Houston's heaviest hitters are up top bat for one of the most prestigious awards in Major League Baseball. Astros second baseman José Altuve and outfielder Yordan Alvarez have both been nominated for MLB's 2022 Hank Aaron Award.
As fans know, the award — named for one of the greatest icons in sports — honors the most outstanding offensive performer in each league. Altuve and Alvarez join six other finalists for the American League award. A panel of MLB.com writers chose the finalists for each league.
Meanwhile, Houston fans can root-root-root for our two hometown heroes by voting online through Monday, October 24.
In a stroke of good luck, a special panel of Hall of Fame MLB players will also vote on the winners of the award. The legends include Ken Griffey Jr., Chipper Jones, Pedro Martínez, John Smoltz, Johnny Bench, Eddie Murray, Robin Yount, and one Craig Biggio. Any guesses as to whom he'll vote for on the list?
Altuve is no stranger to the award nomination, as he scored the award — along with his World Series title — in 2017. For those keeping track, he ranks first among AL second basemen in runs, doubles, home runs, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, and OPS (on-base plus slugging). The perennial hitter and good-guy thief (read on) knocked in 28 home runs and stole 18 bases in a crazy 19 attempts.
Essentially the Astros cannon in the playoffs, Alvarez has blasted 37 home runs and 97 RBIs. By the numbers, he ranks second in the AL in OPS, slugging percentage, and on-base percentage. He ranks third in home runs and fourth in runs scored and second in the MLB for hard-hit percentage.
Oh, and Alvarez also ranks first in the world for dramatic, game-winning, walk off home runs.
Created in honor of the barrier-breaking titan who famously wore No. 42, the Hank Aaron Award was introduced in 1999 in honor the 25th anniversary of Aaron breaking Babe Ruth’s all-time home run record. It was the first major award introduced by Major League Baseball in more than 25 years.
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Altuve won the Hank in 2017.
