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NEW YORK — Ronald Acuña Jr. has been selected major league player of the year by Baseball Digest and eBay after hitting 41 home runs and stealing 73 bases for the Atlanta Braves. The outfielder beat out two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Angels, who didn't play after Sept. 3 because of injuries. New York Yankees ace Gerrit Cole was chosen pitcher of the year and Baltimore Orioles closer Félix Bautista was the top reliever in awards announced Tuesday. Acuña received 13 first-place votes in balloting by a 23-member panel of baseball writers and broadcasters that included several former players, managers and executives. Ohtani got nine first-place votes, and the other one went to Los Angeles Dodgers star Mookie Betts, who finished third.
