Comeback kid: Buster Posey wins NL MVP

Jorge L. Ortiz, USA TODAY Sports | USATODAY

Chants of "MVP! MVP!'' regularly reverberated around AT&T Park late in the season when Buster Posey came to bat or did something positive, an experience the San Francisco Giants catcher called "surreal.''

Reality arrived in the form of the voting announcement Thursday, and Posey was indeed chosen as the National League's Most Valuable Player, capping his remarkable comeback from a gruesome injury.

Posey won handily by collecting 27 of 32 first-place votes and 422 points in balloting by the Baseball Writers Association of America, easily beating out Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Ryan Braun (three first-place votes, 285 points) and Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Andrew McCutchen (245).

Posey was the first catcher to win the NL batting crown since Ernie Lombardi in 1942, hitting .336 with 24 homers, 103 RBI and a .957 OPS to guide the Giants to their second NL West title – and eventually second World Series championship – in three years.

"Winning an MVP, regardless of whether you're coming off an injury or have never been injured, is an extremely humbling and gratifying accomplishment,'' Posey said. "I definitely have a deeper appreciation for being able to play baseball. I've seen it can be taken away quick.''

Posey became the first NL catcher since Johnny Bench in 1972 to earn MVP honors, which might create a surreal sensation as well considering it was only four years ago that he received the Johnny Bench Award as the nation's top collegiate catcher.

But it's his return from a career-threatening injury that lends his achievements more of a storybook feel.

On May 25, 2011, Posey sustained a broken leg and three torn ankle ligaments in a home-plate collision so brutal, it ended his season and sparked a national discussion over whether catchers should be better protected.

Posey, 25, briefly considered changing positions but came back to play in 148 games, 114 of them behind the plate, tied for fourth in the league.

"It's a position, to start playing it in the first place, you have to love it,'' Posey said. There's something about being back there behind the plate working with your pitchers, and for me especially, having this good staff in San Francisco.

"I wanted another opportunity to work with those guys. And I'm glad I did, because it didn't take long once I was able to get back in the crouch again to remember how much I enjoy doing it.''

Fellow receivers marveled at Posey's ability to bounce as an even more impactful player than he was the season before the injury, when he was named NL rookie of the year.

According to the Elias Sports Bureau, he's the sixth different catcher in the live-ball era (since 1920) to hit at least .330 and drive in 100 runs or more in the same season.

"To have that kind of injury and come back with a super season like that, I'm happy for him,'' Arizona Diamondbacks catcher Miguel Montero said. "He's a big presence on that team. It's hard to come back and catch after any injury, let alone one like that.''

Posey allayed concerns about the effects of the job's wear and tear on his offensive performance when he took off after making his first All-Star Game appearance, batting .385 with 14 home runs, 60 RBI and a 1.102 OPS in the second half.

"He's so valuable with the way he catches, handles the staff and hits cleanup while handling all that's thrown at him,'' manager Bruce Bochy said. "He not only has a huge impact on our lineup but a bigger impact with the way that he leads by example.''

Bochy, a former major league catcher, gave him frequent breaks from catching with 29 starts at first base, but pointed out those were not days off.

"It's definitely less taxing on your legs and not as much preparation as far as studying hitters before the game,'' Posey said. "But you still have to be present.''

Posey was also a big defensive presence for a staff that had the NL's fifth-best ERA, and became the Giants' undisputed leader both because of the position he plays and the example he set.

That became ever more clear after the Giants lost All-Star Game MVP Melky Cabrera to a 50-game suspension on Aug. 15. From there on, Posey batted .348 with a .973 OPS as San Francisco won the division crown by eight games.

"He leads by his actions a lot. You can just watch what he does on the field,'' first baseman Brandon Belt said. "He doesn't say a ton, but he says it at the right time and he knows what he's talking about.''

And now he has an MVP award to bolster his credentials.