Arizona Diamondbacks standouts Ian Kennedy and Justin
Upton were both listed as finalists in this year’s MLB
Players Choice Awards that were announced on Friday.

Kennedy is one of three finalists for the National League
Outstanding Pitcher Award, along with Dodgers’ lefty
Clayton Kershaw and Philadelphia’s Roy Halladay. The 26-
year-old right hander tied for the NL lead with 21 wins
(21-4) with a 2.88 ERA and 198 strikeouts.

Upton joins Dodgers outfielder Matt Kemp and Milwaukee
left fielder Ryan Braun as finalists for the National
League’s Outstanding Player Award. Upton batted .289 with
31 homers and drove in 88 runs for the NL West champion
Diamondbacks.

The annual awards, which were first handed out in 1992,
will be presented on The 2011 Players Choice Awards
Presented by 2K Sports on November 3rd on MLB
Network, and will air at 6:00 Phoenix time.

2011 Players Choice Award Finalists

American League

Outstanding Player: Jose Bautista (Toronto), Adrian
Gonzalez (Boston), Curtis Granderson, Jr. (NY Yankees)

Outstanding Pitcher: James Shields (Tampa Bay), Justin
Verlander (Detroit), Jered Weaver (LA Angels)

Outstanding Rookie: Jeremy Hellickson (Tampa Bay), Eric
Hosmer (Kansas City), Mark Trumbo (LA Angels)

Comeback Player: Bartolo Colon (NY Yankees), Jacoby
Ellsbury (Boston), Casey Kotchman (Tampa Bay)

National League

Outstanding Player: Ryan Braun (Milwaukee), Matt Kemp (LA
Dodgers), Justin Upton (Arizona)

Outstanding Pitcher: Roy Halladay (Philadelphia), Ian
Kennedy (Arizona), Clayton Kershaw (LA Dodgers)

Outstanding Rookie: Freddie Freeman (Atlanta), Craig
Kimbrel (Atlanta), Vance Worley (Philadelphia)

Comeback Player: Lance Berkman (St. Louis), Jose Reyes (NY
Mets), Ryan Vogelsong (San Francisco)

Either League

Player of Year: Adrian Gonzalez (Boston), Curtis
Granderson, Jr. (NY Yankees), Justin Verlander (Detroit)

Man of the Year: Paul Konerko (Chicago White Sox), Adam
Wainwright (St. Louis), Michael Young (Texas)

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