Kansas City Royals: Handing Out Awards for the 2011 Season

The Royals' 2011 season has come and gone, but now it's time to hand out individual awards for each player's accomplishments during the year.

On offense, Alex Gordon and Melky Cabrera both had career years for KC, while several rookie relievers combined to give Kansas City a reliable bullpen as well.

Here are my awards for the Kansas City Royals' 2011 campaign.

Offensive Player of the Year

Award Winner: LF Alex Gordon

It was really hard to pick anyone but Gordon for this award in 2011.

The former University of Nebraska star hit .303 with 23 round-trippers and 87 RBI, to go along with a team-leading .376 OBP and a team-leading 45 doubles as well.

He also stole 17 bases and led the team in walks with 67 for the year.

Gordon did promise that he was going to dominate this season, and apparently he was right in the end.

Defensive Player of the Year

Award Winner: LF Alex Gordon

Once again, Alex Gordon comes away with the hardware for the team's defensive player of the year in 2011.

Gordon led the league with 23 outfield assists from his left field position, and made just four errors in 149 starts.

His defense was a big reason why the team was able to improve upon their record from last year, and he flashed the leather nicely this season.

With another year of experience under his belt from playing the outfield in '11, Alex should only improve his defense in 2012 and beyond.

Pitcher of the Year

Award Winner: RP Greg Holland

Normally, a team's Pitcher of the Year award doesn't go to a set-up guy, but this is an exception.

Second-year reliever Greg Holland was very dominant in 2011, to the point where he had one of the best seasons for a reliever from a statistical standpoint in franchise history.

Holland finished the year with a 5-1 record and a 1.80 ERA, to go along with a 0.93 WHIP and a .175 opponents' batting average allowed.

The former Western Carolina star appears to be the real deal, and the Royals are fortunate to have this 25-year-old stud in their 'pen for years to come.

Rookie of the Year

Award Winner: 1B Eric Hosmer

Hosmer was by far the best rookie on this team in 2011, and possibly all of the American League as well.

The former first-round pick hit .298 with 19 homers and 78 RBI in just 128 games.

He also flashed the leather over at first, and really showed why he is the complete package for a big league first baseman.

The scary thing is he was just getting started in 2011, and the sky is the limit for this talented player.

Most Improved Player

Award Winner: CF Melky Cabrera

Melky had easily the best season of his MLB career in 2011.

He led the team in hitting with a .305 average, while blasting 18 homers and 87 RBI as well.

Cabrera also had 20 stolen bases, which was good for fourth best on the club.

When you consider how bad he played with Atlanta in 2010, his '11 season looks even better.

Coach of the Year

Award Winner: Hitting Coach Kevin Seitzer

Former Royals great and current hitting coach Kevin Seitzer deserves all kinds of credit for his impact on the offense in 2011.

KC finished fourth in the MLB in hitting, with a .275 team batting average, and was eighth in the majors in OBP, with a .329 clip.

He can also be credited for the resurgence of one-time bust Alex Gordon, as he had a breakout season in '11.

The team should lock up Seitzer to a long-term deal immediately, considering what he has done for this offense in the past couple seasons.