9 ▁consecutive ▁seasons ). ▁He ▁led ▁the ▁AL ▁in ▁home ▁runs ▁( 5 4 ), ▁R B Is ▁( 1 5 6 ), ▁sl ug ging ▁percentage ▁(. 6 4 5 ), ▁OP S ▁( 1 . 0 6 7 ), ▁total ▁bases ▁( 3 7 6 ), ▁and ▁times ▁on ▁base ▁( 2 9 9 ), ▁and ▁was ▁ 2 nd ▁in ▁hit ▁by ▁pitch ▁( 2 1 ), ▁extra ▁base ▁hits ▁( 8 5 ), ▁and ▁at ▁b ats ▁per ▁home ▁run ▁( 1 0 . 8 ), ▁ 4 th ▁in ▁on - base ▁percentage ▁(. 4 2 2 ) ▁and ▁sacrifice ▁f lies ▁( 9 ), ▁ 7 th ▁in ▁wal ks ▁( 9 5 ) ▁and ▁plate ▁appearances ▁( 7 0 8 ), ▁ 8 th ▁in ▁intent ional ▁wal ks ▁( 1 1 ), ▁and ▁ 9 th ▁in ▁games ▁( 1 5 8 ). ▁He ▁led ▁ML B ▁in ▁home ▁runs ▁and ▁won ▁his ▁third ▁B abe ▁Ruth ▁Home ▁Run ▁Award . ▁ ▁After ▁the ▁season , ▁Rod rig uez ▁was ▁named ▁the ▁AL ▁M VP ▁for ▁the ▁third ▁time ▁in ▁his ▁career , ▁receiving ▁ 2 6 ▁first - place ▁votes ▁out ▁of ▁a ▁possible ▁ 2 8 . ▁He ▁also ▁won ▁the ▁Silver ▁Sl ug ger ▁Award ▁for ▁his ▁position , ▁the ▁Play ers ▁Cho ice ▁Award ▁for ▁Out standing ▁AL ▁Player , ▁and ▁the ▁Play ers ▁Cho ice ▁Award ▁for ▁Player ▁of ▁the ▁Year . ▁ ▁Opt - out ▁controvers y ▁The ▁