Simplify the following text for a Grade 6 native English-speaking person.
Original: He was the 2009 Most Valuable Player in the American League , and had the highest batting average in the American League in 2006 , 2008 , and 2009 . Mauer is from St. Paul , Minnesota .
Simplified: On October 29 , Baseball America named Mauer its 2009 Major League Player of the Year .