Braves’ Josh Donaldson voted NL Comeback Player of the Year

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Atlanta Braves' Josh Donaldson acknowledges fans prior to the start of their Interleague MLB baseball game against the Blue Jays in Toronto Tuesday August 27, 2019. (Fred Thornhill / CP)

Josh Donaldson certainly made good on his one-year, $23-million deal by impressing with the Atlanta Braves this past season.

In fact, the 2015 American League MVP did so well in his first year playing for a National League team that he was voted 2019 NL Comeback Player of the Year by the Sporting News, the publication announced Wednesday.

Injuries contributed to a down 2018 campaign during which he posted a .246/.352/.449 slash line and a career-low 46 hits, eight home runs and 23 RBIs in 52 games split between the Toronto Blue Jays and Cleveland Indians.

Donaldson finished 2019 with 142 hits, 37 HRs, 94 RBIs, 100 walks and slashed .259/.379/.521 in 155 games with the Braves.

He was his typical solid self on the defensive side of the equation as well, posting a career-high .969 fielding percentage while at third base and registered more than 300 assists for just the second time in his career.

The 33-year-old received 53 of the 146 votes collected by the Sporting News in a September survey of NL players with Cincinnati Reds pitcher Sonny Gray finishing in second place with 15 others players receiving at least one vote.

Donaldson will be among the more coveted players available in the 2020 free agent class.

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