Blue Jays' Josh Donaldson named American League MVP

Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Josh Donaldson and Washington Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper were named the most valuable players in the American and National leagues, respectively, on Thursday.

The awards are handed out after votes are cast by the Baseball Writers' Association of America.

The third baseman got 23 first-place votes from members of the Baseball Writers' Association of America in results announced Thursday.

Angels outfielder Mike Trout got the other first-place votes finished second for the third time — he won the award last year. Kansas City outfielder Lorenzo Cain was third.

Donaldson led the AL with 123 RBIs and topped the majors by scoring 122 runs. He hit 41 home runs and batted .297.

Traded from Oakland to Toronto last offseason, Donaldson joined a power-packed lineup that included Jose Bautista and Edwin Encarnacion. The Blue Jays battered their way to the AL East title and led the majors in runs and homers, with Donaldson leading the way.

"I feel like I was able to take advantage of the opportunities put in front of me," Donaldson said on the MLB Network telecast of the awards. Donaldson joined George Bell (1987) as the only Toronto players to win the MVP.

Washington outfielder Bryce Harper earned the NL award earlier, becoming the youngest unanimous MVP in baseball history.

The 2012 NL Rookie of the Year led the majors in slugging percentage and on-base average. The outfielder hit .330 with 42 home runs and 99 RBIs.

Harper became the first player from a Washington franchise to win an MVP — no one on the original or expansion Senators or Nats had done it.

Arizona first baseman Paul Goldschmidt was second in the voting and Cincinnati first baseman Joey Votto was third.