Thursday, Nov. 19, 2009

Compiled from Kyodo, AP

Yomiuri Giants outfielder Alex Ramirez and Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters right-hander Yu Darvish were named the 2009 MVPs on Wednesday for their respective leagues.

Yu Darvish

Ramirez was voted the Central League MVP for the second year in a row after hitting a league-high .322 with 31 homers and 103 RBIs in 144 games in Yomiuri's run to its third consecutive CL title.

The Venezuelan slugger became the first winner of back-to-back CL MVP awards since home run king Sadaharu Oh did it from 1976-1977.

"Playing for the Giants there is a lot of pressure," Ramirez said. "But I'm really happy with the numbers I put up and I want to thank everyone who voted for me who thought I deserved to be MVP in 2009."

Darvish won his second Pacific League MVP award in three seasons.

He had a 15-5 record with a league-best 1.73 ERA in 23 starts before shoulder and back problems caused him to miss the final three weeks of the season.

"I was surprised to hear I became the MVP because I couldn't do anything late in the season," Darvish said. "But overall, I learned a lot this year through playing in the World Baseball Classic and for Nippon Ham."

The Rookie of the Year awards went to Yomiuri outfielder Tetsuya Matsumoto and Fukuoka Softbank Hawks reliever Tadashi Settsu.

Matsumoto became the second winner of the award, following teammate Tetsuya Yamaguchi, from players who started their careers on deals that place them below the official 70-man list of players at each team under the so-called player development system.

Matsumoto hit .293 with no homers, 15 RBIs and 16 steals in 129 games.

Settsu posted a 1.47 ERA in a PL-high 70 appearances.

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