Ellsbury, Berkman Earn MLB Comeback Player Honors

Early Thursday, the Major League Baseball offices announced that outfielders Lance Berkman and Jacoby Ellsbury received the Comeback Player of the Year Awards for their bounce-back 2011 seasons.

Ellsbury posted career-bests in most offensive categories this season after playing just 18 games in 2010 because of injuries.

The 28-year-old Ellsbury batted .321 with 32 homers and 105 RBIs. He also led the majors with 364 total bases and 83 extra-base hits.

Ellsbury achieved some Red Sox firsts, hitting 30 homers and driving in 100 runs from the leadoff spot and joining the 30-30 club (30 homers, 30 steals) by stealing 39 bases.

Lance Berkman, who hit just .248 in 2010 during stops with the Houston Astros and New York Yankees, batted .301 with 31 home runs and 94 RBIs in 2011, his first season with the St. Louis Cardinals. Berkman, 35, played in 145 games, his most since appearing in 159 during the 2008 season.

The recipients of the 2011 awards were selected by the 30 team reporters from MLB.com.