Josh Donaldson named finalist for Comeback Player of the Year

Josh Donaldson returning to form in 2019 was a big reason why the Atlanta Braves repeated as NL East champions. With awards season right around the corner, Donaldson has been chosen as a finalist for the MLBPA’s Comeback Player of the Year Award.

Donaldson is up against Reds righty Sonny Gray and Dodgers southpaw Hyun-Jun Ryu in the National League. Lucas Giolito, Hunter Pence and Jorge Soler as the three finalists in the American League.

Donaldson, of course, struggled with injury in 2018 and never quite found his footing until late in the season. He would eventually sign a one-year, $23 million prove-it deal with the Braves and did just that, appearing in 155 games while hitting a robust .259/.379/.521 with 37 homers and 94 RBI.

You can make a case for all three of the National League representatives, although Donaldson and Gray seem like the two favorites. These awards are pretty silly, but it’s fun to discuss anyway.