The Luis Aparicio Award is given to the best Venezuelan player in Major League Baseball every season and has been presented every year since 2004.
Last year, Anthony Santander was the winner, and the finalists for this season have been announced.
The finalists for the award this season are Jackson Chourio of the Milwaukee Brewers, who hit .270/308/.463, with 21 homers, 78 RBIs, and stole 21 bases, Jesús Luzardo of the Philadelphia Phillies, who posted a 3.92 ERA in 32 starts and 183 2/3 innings of work with 216 strikeouts, Robert Suárez of the San Diego Padres, who had a 2.97 ERA in 70 games and 69 2/3 innings with 40 saves and 75 strikeouts, Eugenio Suárez of the Seattle Mariners, who hit .228/.298/.526 with 49 homers and 118 RBIs, and Maikel Garcia of the Kansas City Royals, who hit .286/.351/.449 with 16 homers, 74 RBIs and 23 stolen bases.
All five players had strong seasons, with Garcia, Robert Suárez and Eugenio Suárez being named All-Stars.
Suárez’s 40 saves led the National League, Chourio achieved a 20-20 season for the second consecutive year, Garcia was an All-Star for the first time, Luzardo was a key member of the Phillies’ stellar season and Suárez had a resurgent season at age-33. All of them did something special this season, and are now in line to be recognized for their efforts.
The namesake of the award, Luis Aparicio, is the only Venezuelan-born player to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. In 1956, he won Rookie of the Year and is a 13-time All-Star. He won a World Series with the White Sox in 1959. He has 83 home runs and 506 career stolen bases.
Only Eugenio Suárez has won the award in the past of the five finalists. Previous winners of the award are Johan Santana, Miguel Cabrera, Magglio Ordóñez, Francisco Rodríguez, Félix Hernández, Carlos González, José Altuve, Ronald Acuña Jr., Jesús Aguilar, Suárez, Salvador Pérez and Luis Arráez.
Graphic via @PremioLuisAparicio on Instagram
