When the Pittsburgh Pirates started the season, catching was the position of primary concern.

A year earlier, Jacob Stallings had been designated for assignment and cleared waivers. Now, he was being counted on as the starter.

Not only did Stallings solidify that spot, but the 30-year-old became the Pirates’ most productive player, shining during an otherwise dreary season. On Thursday, he was chosen for the Roberto Clemente Award as the Pirates’ MVP, as voted by members of the Pittsburgh chapter of the Baseball Writers Association of America.

“That’s pretty cool,” Stallings said, “something that … wasn’t even on my radar.”

Stallings received 14 of 15 first-place team MVP votes, with rookie third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes earning the other. Left-hander Steven Brault won the Steve Blass Award as the Pirates’ top pitcher, and Stallings and Brault finished one-two in voting for the Chuck Tanner Award for media cooperation, with Stallings receiving six of 12 first-place votes and Brault receiving votes on 11 of 12 ballots.

“It feels good to have a good year,” Stallings said. “I feel like I could have done better, but I also feel good about what I did, that I’ve been able to stay healthy so far and go out there almost every day and be our catcher. It’s been a tough year in a lot of regards, obviously, but it feels good to play well. It always feels good. Obviously would have liked for the team to have done better, but you know, at least for me, personally, I feel like I had a pretty good year overall.”

Stallings is slashing .252/.331/.391 with seven doubles, three home runs and 18 RBIs in 39 games this season — including a walk-off homer in Tuesday’s 3-2 victory over the Chicago Cubs at PNC Park — but he has distinguished himself defensively with his pitch calling, framing and blocking and in throwing out nine runners attempting to steal.

“I think he’s done a nice job,” Pirates manager Derek Shelton said. “Not only in helping those pitchers grow, but I think we’re seeing him grow. There’s a guy there that’s an elite receiver, an elite thrower and, again, in my mind, a guy that should win the Gold Glove. I think we’re seeing him turn into a leader. He’s having more energy. He’s having better patience. He’s doing a lot of things that we’ve challenged him on.”

Brault finished 1-3 with a 3.38 ERA in 42 2/3 innings over 11 games (10 starts), with 38 strikeouts and 22 walks. He received 10 of 14 first-place votes, with the others going to reliever Richard Rodriguez.

After being shut down in spring training with a shoulder injury, Brault started the season slowly by pitching in tandem with Chad Kuhl but finished strong. After pitching the team’s only complete game in a 5-1 win over the St. Louis Cardinals on Sept. 17, Brault allowed two hits in seven shutout innings in his final start, a 3-2 win over the Cubs on Tuesday.

“Last two starts were outstanding,” Shelton said. “He threw the ball really well, competed. … Definitely a good sign, really something to build off of the last two starts, going nine and going seven and was in control. … Really good. Outstanding. Nice step for him to end the year.”

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