Toronto Blue Jays: Teoscar Hernandez garners some MVP love

Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Teoscar Hernandez and pitcher Hyun Jin Ryu each garnered some American League MVP votes for their efforts in 2020.

Blue Jays slugger Teoscar Hernandez had a breakout campaign with the stick this past season smashing 16 home runs and compiling a 1.3 WAR in just 50 games. For his efforts, the baseball writers rewarded him with eight total MVP points.

Hernandez secured one ninth-place vote along with six tenth place votes in the American League voting. The 28-year old would finish 11th in the voting some 366 votes behind the winner Jose Abreu of the Chicago White Sox.

Teammate Hyun Jin Ryu garnered one eighth-place vote and a tenth place vote giving him four total points. Ryu also finished third in the AL Cy Young voting in his first season with the Blue Jays since signing as a free agent last offseason. They were the only two Blue Jays players to grab any MVP love from the writers.

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However, you could be former Blue Jays reliever Ryan Tepera who was accidentally awarded a National League MVP vote. Columnist Rick Hummel of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch attempted to dish out a late vote to Washington Nationals shortstop Trea Turner and unsuspectingly clicked Tepera’s name. The 33-year old made 21 relief appearances for the Chicago Cubs posting a 3.92 earned run average, a respectable season to say the least but definitely not MVP vote worthy.

The future definitely looks bright for Hernandez who appeared to finally put it all together in the pandemic shortened season. The outfielder hit .289/.340/.579 with 55 hits and six stolen bases in 207 plate appearances.

Ryu followed up an impressive 2019 campaign where he finished second in the NL Cy Young race in his final season with the Los Angeles Dodgers. In 2020, Ryu was 5-2 with a 2.69 earned run average while fanning 9.7 batters per nine innings and accumulating a 3.0 WAR in 12 starts.

The Jays are on the cusp of creating something special in Toronto and both these guys will be front and centre leading the charge.