Josh Donaldson is Toronto's MVP, regardless of baseball writers' vote

What made Blue Jays fans fall in love with Josh Donaldson?

Was it the walk-off home runs? Spectacular defensive plays? The intensity brought to even the longest of summer games? Or maybe it was that man bun.

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Donaldson finds out tonight if his first season as a Blue Jay was good enough to make him the American League's Most Valuable Player, but for Jays fans, the power-hitting third baseman has held that title for a while.

"MVP! MVP! MVP!" thousands chanted as Donaldson strode to the Rogers Centre plate this season. A Blue Jays beat writer actually pinpoints the birth of the chant in June — months before Donaldson drove his team deep into October's playoffs. If you listened closely enough you could hear it at away games, too.

And for good reason.

Donaldson, who turns 30 this December, had the best season of his career after being traded to Toronto by the Oakland A's. In 158 games, he hit 41 home runs, drove in 123 and scored 122 runs himself.

For baseball watchers across the league — especially the numerically inclined — the race between Donaldson and Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout is incredibly close, though Trout may have performed a touch better.

Then again, Donaldson's team fared better this season, and part of the MVP voting comes down to a player's character.

Ask the players who compete alongside him, the thousands of fans sporting Donaldson's No. 20 jersey, or even the kid rocking a man bun at a playoff game — he's worthy.

Here's a look back at some of the highlights of Donaldson's remarkable season:

Diving catch

Josh Donaldson gives it his all

9 years ago

Duration 0:53

Blue Jay Josh Donaldson gives it his all to preserve a no hitter for Marco Estrada in the 8th on David DeJesus.

Donaldson's made plenty of sparkling defensive plays this season, but his diving catch into the stands in Tampa is the one that'll be making Blue Jays highlight reels for years.

All-star appearance

Donaldson was named to the American League All Star team, which was an obvious choice. What was remarkable, however, was that he became the top vote-getter in Major League Baseball history, earning 14,090,188 votes from fans. He would also appear in the home run derby, though he couldn't pull off a win in that contest.

Diving slide

Above all, Blue Jays fans have embraced Donaldson's hustle, which was on full display in a late-season game with the Cleveland Indians where he raced home and managed to dive safely into home plate.

Walk-off home runs

Josh Donaldson celebrates with teammates after walk-off HR

9 years ago

Duration 2:19

The party continued Sunday as Josh Donaldson's walkoff solo homer gave Toronto a 5-4 win over the Tampa Bay Rays in the Blue Jays' regular-season home finale.

What's better than a home run? A clutch home run. In a lineup full of power hitters, Donaldson showed a knack for hitting at crucial moments. Of his 41 home runs, 27 either tied the game or gave the Jays a lead. This walk-off shot, in the Blue Jays final home game of the regular season, pretty much encapsulates it.