Vogelsong up for NL Comeback Player of the Year award

Will Vogey win the CPOY award? (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

As expected, San Francisco Giants righthander Ryan Vogelsong has been nominated for the MLB “Player’s Choice” version of the 2011 National League Comeback Player of the Year.

Vogey lost out to Cardinals outfielder Lance Berkman for both the MLB.com and The Sporting News versions of the award earlier this month, prompting SB Nation’s Rob Neyer to say Vogelsong was robbed.

Berkman could get the trifecta as he and Mets shortstop Jose Reyes are also up for the MLB Players Association’s version of the award, which will be announced on Nov. 3 during an MLB Network telecast.

Tim Hudson (NL) and Vladimir Guerrero (AL) won the MLBPA comeback player awards last year.

The 34-year old Vogelsong had a remarkable turnaround in 2011, finishing the season 13-7 with a 2.71 ERA and 1.252 WHIP with 139 strikeouts and 61 walks in 179.2 innings for an impressive 2.28 SO/BB ratio. Neyer said that Vogelsong should win the “WTF Award” since he came out of nowhere.

As chronicled in many publications and in Showtime’s “The Franchise” this past summer, Vogelsong spent the past three years playing in Japan and had to work his way back through the minors before the Giants (who originally drafted him 13 years ago) invited him to spring training in February.

He went on to win nine of his first 10 decisions, was named to the All-Star team, and won the Willie Mac Award for being the Giants’ most inspirational player.