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Players' vote gives top honors to Nelson Cruz, Freddie Freeman, Jose Abreu

Minnesota designated hitter Nelson Cruz was voted the Marvin Miller Man of the Year and Atlanta first baseman Freddie Freeman was picked as Player of the Year in the annual Players Choice award voting by the Major League Baseball Players Association, the group announced Thursday.

Cruz hit .303 with 16 homers and 33 RBIs in the pandemic-shortened season. The Marvin Miller Award goes to the player who his peers “most respect based on his leadership on the field and in the community.”

Cruz donated a fire engine and an ambulance and helped build a police station in his hometown of Las Matas de Santa Cruz, Dominican Republic.