Paul Molitor named AL Manager of the Year

(KMSP) - After leading the Twins in a historic turnaround season from worst in the league to a playoff berth, Twins Manager Paul Molitor has been named American League Manager of the Year.

The Twins went 85-77, finishing second in the AL Central Division and securing a Wild Card playoff spot. The Twins lost the one-game playoff against the New York Yankees, but making the postseason was quite the victory in itself.

Just a year a prior, the Twins finished last in the league with only 59 wins, marking just the 13th time in MLB history a team went from notching 100 or more losses to a winning season in just a year. The last team to accomplish the feat was the 2009 Seattle Mariners.

The award is bestowed by the Baseball Writer's Association of America, with Molitor garnering 112 points and 18 of the 30 first-place votes cast by the newspaper writers in each city with an MLB team. Terry Francona of the Cleveland Indians came in second place with 90 points and 11 first-place votes. Also receiving votes were A.J. Hinch of the World Series Champion Houston Astros and Joe Girardi of the New York Yankees.

The St. Paul native has managed the Twins for three seasons after playing in the league for 21 years with the Milwaukee Brewers, Toronto Blue Jays and finally the Twins. He was inducted as a player into the Hall of Fame in 2004.