The Cleveland chapter of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America named left fielder Michael Brantley the 2015 Bob Feller Man of the Year and awarded the Frank Gibbons/Steve Olin Good Guy Award to utility man Mike Aviles.
The Bob Feller Man of the Year is given to the player deemed to be the team’s Most Valuable Player during the season. Brantley had another strong season in 2015 and was one of the most consistent hitters in the middle of the Indians’ order, hitting .310 with a .379 on-base percentage, 15 home runs, an MLB-leading 45 doubles, 84 RBI and a WAR (wins above replacement) of 3.8, per FanGraphs.
He did it all while playing through a nagging back injury that bothered him for the entire season. After the All-Star break, which afforded Brantley a few extra days to rest his back, he surged in the second half, hitting .335 with a .400 on-base percentage, 10 home runs and 38 RBI.
When speaking about Brantley’s ability to play through injuries this season, Indians head athletic trainer James Quinlan said, “He’s unbelievable.”
Brantley narrowly beat out second baseman Jason Kipnis, who led the team with a WAR of 5.2. Kipnis, who clicked once he was moved to the leadoff spot, had a couple of historic months early in the season but couldn’t keep up that pace. He finished with a .303 average, .372 on-base percentage, nine home runs, 43 doubles, 52 RBI and 86 runs scored.
Starting pitcher Carlos Carrasco (14-12, 3.36 ERA, 2.84 FIP (fielding independent pitching), 216 strikeouts) and rookie shortstop Francisco Lindor (.313 batting average, 12 homers, 51 RBI, 12 stolen bases, 4.6 WAR) also received nominations.
The Frank Gibbons/Steve Olin Good Guy Award seeks to recognize the player who exemplified a positive relationship with teammates and with the media. The entire Indians organization was hit hard when Aviles’ 4-year-old daughter Adriana was diagnosed with leukemia in early May. Starting with Kipnis, Nick Swisher and others and continuing to spread, players began showing up to the clubhouse with shaved heads to support Adriana. It grew to the Indians’ coaching staff, then the front office and included owner Paul Dolan, who had his head personally shaved by Aviles in the dugout.
Through it all, Aviles kept a positive demeanor in the clubhouse and continued to act as one of the team’s veteran leaders as the Indians tried to climb back into the wild-card race. He was twice placed on the Family Medical Emergency List to be with his family and Adriana, who was receiving treatment at the Cleveland Clinic.
Aviles is now a free agent. The Indians said at the July 31 trade deadline that Aviles wouldn’t be traded while under contract and while Adriana was receiving treatment.
Manager Terry Francona, pitching coach Mickey Callaway, closer Cody Allen and Kipnis also received nominations.
Ryan Lewis can be reached at rlewis@thebeaconjournal.com. Read the Indians blog at www.ohio.com/indians. Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/RyanLewisABJ