Josh Donaldson knew that his poor 2018 showing wasn’t an accurate representation of his abilities. He was three years removed from an MVP season in Toronto and just one year removed from a 5 bWAR season in 2017. But injuries limited him to just 52 games between Toronto and Cleveland last season, and his production naturally suffered.

So when he signed a one-year, $23 million deal with the Braves last November, he was betting on himself to return to his previous All-Star form. So were the Braves.

“I’m focused on being the best that I can for this organization,” he said during his introductory news conference. “Check my numbers against the National League. I think you’ll be just fine with that.”

Nearly a year later, it's safe to say they both won the bet.

Donaldson surged back to prominence during the 2019 season with a 37-homer campaign that also included a .900 OPS and an overall value of 6.1 bWAR — and concluded with his National League peers voting him the Sporting News NL Comeback Player of the Year.

MORE: Braves' Brian Snitker voted SN NL Manager of the Year

Donaldson received 53 of the 146 votes cast for the honor in a September survey of NL players. The Reds’ Sonny Gray finished second, with 37 votes. A total of 17 players received at least one vote in the survey. Donaldson is the sixth Braves player to win the award, and the first since pitcher Tim Hudson in 2010.

Sporting News has given Comeback Player of the Year awards in each league since 1965.

In assessing Donaldson’s contributions to the Braves, manager Brian Snitker checks nearly every box: Offense, defense, leadership.

“He's meant the world to this club. I mean, he solidified our team. He lengthened our lineup. He strengthened our club. And quite frankly, he's one of the best third basemen I've ever been around,” Snitker said of Donaldson during the NLDS.

The defensive component to Donaldson’s game seemed to take some in Atlanta by surprise, including Snitker. His work at the hot corner was worth nearly 2 WAR, according to Baseball Reference’s formula.

“I had no idea what this guy was capable because I’d just seen him in limited action over the course of some interleague games the last few years,” Snitker said, “and I had no idea that the defensive play was as good as it is.”

MORE SN AWARDS: NL Rookie | AL Rookie | AL Manager

But offense has always been Donaldson’s primary calling card, earning a reputation as a player who can carry team when his bat gets hot, and as someone who can motivate both by his presence and by his example. The Braves saw that too.

“The guys feed off of him. As soon as he gets in that dugout before every game it's like an explosion when he comes up the tunnel, and how he plays,” Snitker said. “… The energy, the passion. He expects to do good. He expects us to win, and I think guys feed off of that.”

Donaldson is set to be a free agent this offseason. With his 2019 bet on himself having paid off, it’s a safe bet that he’s about to reap the rewards.