Candelario becomes the first Detroit player to be named Tiger of the Year in consecutive seasons since Miguel Cabrera, who won the award in 2012-13. The Detroit BBWAA has selected a Tiger of the Year each season dating back to 1965.
Candelario, 27, posted one of the best seasons of his career, batting .271/.351/.443 with 42 doubles, three triples, 16 home runs and 67 RBI. He set career highs in doubles, games played (149), hits (151) extra-base hits (61) and RBI. Candelario was tied for the Major League lead with 42 two-baggers, becoming the first Tiger to lead the league in doubles since Miguel Cabrera in 2011 and the 12th Tiger to have 40-or-more doubles in a season (last, Nick Castellanos, 46 in 2018).
Candelario’s 2021 campaign wasn’t just one of the best on the Tigers roster, but also ranked as a standout among American League third basemen. His 3.2 fWAR ranked fifth among AL players at the position, while Fangraphs rated his 15.3 offensive value as the fourth highest among his positional peers.
In five seasons with Detroit, Candelario has hit .249/.336/.415 with 105 doubles, 11 triples, 52 home runs and 195 RBI in 466 games.