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Catcher Mike Zunino Voted Rays MVP By Tampa Bay Baseball Writers 

a baseball player holding a bat: On the strength of his 31 homers and solid getting, Mike Zunino on Friday was named champ of the Don Zimmer Most Valuable Player Award, introduced yearly by the Tampa Bay part of the Baseball Writers' Association of America. 메이저사이트

ST. PETERSBURG — Mike Zunino didn't know whether he would even be important for the Rays in 2021. 

However the association significantly esteemed his treatment of its dynamic pitching staff and safeguard behind the plate, it chose after two for the most part disillusioning seasons disagreeably to decrease his $4.5 million alternative. 

The two sides investigated different choices prior to choosing a month and a half later to reunite. Zunino accepted a decrease in salary, getting an ensured $3 million ($2 million compensation, $1 million buyout on a 2022 alternative) to remain, esteeming the opportunity to win and the solace he had with the group and taking a swing he could play better. 

You may say he hit a grand slam. 

On the strength of his 31 homers and one more solid year behind the plate, Zunino on Friday was named champ of the Don Zimmer Most Valuable Player Award, introduced yearly by the Tampa Bay section of the Baseball Writers' Association of America. 

"It's an honor when you check out the ability on this club, the seasons folks are having, just to be in thought for that," Zunino said. "We're a group that we push one another, we attempt to make each other better. So when you see folks doing that, it kind of sets the bar higher. 

"For myself's purposes, working off the last year, simply needed to have the option to help the group any way I could. Didn't anticipate that it should be something like this, yet cheerful I can." 

Outfielder Randy Arozarena, who has had a strong first full season in quite a while (.271 with 19 homers and 65 RBIs) after his amazing 2020 postseason execution, was casted a ballot Outstanding Rookie. 

Infielder Joey Wendle was picked champ of the Paul C. Smith Champion Award, given to the player who best embodies the soul of genuine demonstrable skill on and off the field. 

Zunino said it was "an easy decision" for him to get back to the Rays. 

"At the point when you talk regarding where this present club's going, the direction, they're worked to win for quite a while," he said. "When you experience what the end of the season games resemble, what the World Series resembles, that turns into the principle factor of why you need to go to a spot. 

"The other thing for me was the relationship that I had worked with (hitting mentor Chad Mottola and getting mentor Paul Hoover), and such an excess of training staff that I imagined that could assist me with making the following stride. 

"I'm amazingly appreciative for (head supervisor Erik Neander) and the association to place that confidence in me for one more year. I'm cheerful I had the option to make a stride the correct way and turn a few things around unpleasantly."