We’re right down to the ultimate week and a half of the common season, and though we’re nonetheless two months away from award season, we’ve seen sufficient to a minimum of decide the front-runners for MLB’s main particular person honors, which will probably be offered in November after the World Sequence. Due to this fact, let’s have some enjoyable and take a look at the competitors for the important thing awards.
If the season ended right now, right here’s who I believe would take house the highest prizes. Within the feedback part, let me know what I acquired proper and what I acquired incorrect, and why.
(WAR figures are in accordance with Baseball Reference as of Sept. 19.)
American League MVP
1. Aaron Decide, CF, Yankees (9.8 WAR)
2. Bobby Witt Jr., SS, Royals (9.2 WAR)
3. Juan Soto, RF, Yankees (7.7 WAR)
Decide leads the AL in house runs (53), RBIs (136), walks (124), on-base proportion (.455), slugging proportion (.689) and OPS+ (218). The six-time All-Star additionally has performed stable protection in heart subject. He ought to win his second MVP Award come November. He’s having one other historic season and is the chief of the group with the very best report within the league. Witt deserves severe consideration as he ranks first within the AL in batting common (.331), first in runs scored (124), fifth in OBP (.387) and second in slugging proportion (.598). He has hit 32 homers and stolen 30 bases for his second straight 30-30 season, and he’s performed Gold Glove-caliber shortstop, nevertheless it received’t be sufficient to prime Decide within the voting. In the meantime, Soto will end behind Decide and Witt, however his sturdy season ought to set him as much as land a contract of greater than $600 million in free company.
Nationwide League MVP
Shohei Ohtani is closing in on the primary 50-50 season. (Jayne Kamin-Oncea / Imagn Photographs)
1. Shohei Ohtani, DH, Dodgers (7.3 WAR)
2. Francisco Lindor, SS, Mets (6.6 WAR)
3. Ketel Marte, 2B, Diamondbacks (5.7 WAR)
4. Bryce Harper, 1B, Phillies (4.4 WAR)
Ohtani will quickly turn out to be the primary participant in major-league historical past with 50 house runs and 50 stolen bases in a season in addition to the primary designated hitter to win the MVP Award. Ohtani leads the NL in house runs (48), RBIs (110), runs (119), slugging proportion (.607), OPS (.978) and complete bases (360). The four-time All-Star can be on the verge of successful his third MVP Award, after successful the AL honor in 2021 and 2023 with the Angels. Nevertheless, the voting is anticipated to be shut as Lindor has had an MVP-caliber season, batting .271 with 31 house runs and 27 stolen bases whereas taking part in stellar protection at shortstop. Marte and Harper ought to get some consideration as nicely.
AL Cy Younger
1. Tarik Skubal, LHP, Tigers (6.0 WAR)
2. Emmanuel Clase, RHP, Guardians (4.3 WAR)
3. Seth Lugo, RHP, Royals (4.7 WAR)
After his first spring coaching as Tigers supervisor in 2021, A.J. Hinch advised me he thought Skubal, then 24 with solely seven begins in his major-league profession, would sometime win a Cy Younger Award — and that day has nearly arrived. Skubal is 17-4 with a league-leading 2.48 ERA and a majors-leading 221 strikeouts in 185 innings. He ranks within the a hundredth percentile in Statcast’s pitching run worth. Opposing batters have hit .203 towards his four-seamer, .223 towards his changeup, .210 towards his sinker, .173 towards his slider and .167 towards his knuckle curve. Clase will get some votes after 46 saves in 49 alternatives and eye-popping stats like a 0.64 ERA and 0.649 WHIP, however he’ll win the award for greatest AL reliever as a substitute (see under).
NL Cy Younger
1. Chris Sale, LHP, Braves (6.3 WAR)
2. Zack Wheeler, RHP, Phillies (5.5 WAR)
3. Michael King, RHP, Padres (3.9 WAR)
This has been a race between Sale and Wheeler all season lengthy, however Sale pulled away within the second half when he went 4-0 with a 1.72 ERA and one house run allowed in 62 2/3 innings. General, he leads the NL in wins (17), ERA (2.35), strikeouts (219), FIP (2.02) and ERA+ (177). He has averaged a league-leading 11.4 strikeouts per 9 innings and has 1.9 walks per 9. He ranks within the a hundredth percentile in each pitching run worth and breaking run worth. The eight-time All-Star deserves to win his first Cy Younger Award. Wheeler has had one other terrific season, going 16-6 with a 2.56 ERA and league-leading 0.954WHIP over 30 begins. He’s struck out 205 strikeouts in 186 2/3 innings and been dominant down the stretch, permitting two runs or fewer in his final 9 begins.
AL Rookie of the 12 months
Austin Wells or Luis Gil might turn out to be the primary Yankee to win Rookie of the 12 months since Aaron Decide in 2017. (Brad Penner / Imagn Photographs)
1. Austin Wells, C, Yankees (2.9 WAR)
2. Luis Gil, RHP, Yankees (3.6 WAR)
3. Colton Cowser, OF, Orioles (2.4 WAR)
4. Mason Miller, RHP, A’s (2.5 WAR)
Wells has been the very best total rookie place participant within the class, batting .244 with 13 house runs and a 112 OPS+. He’s been the Yankees’ cleanup hitter a lot of the season, starring on either side of the ball. Defensively, he ranks within the 96th percentile in fielding run worth and is an elite pitch framer, rating within the 97th percentile amongst all catchers. Wells’ greatest competitors for the award is his teammate Gil, who has gone 14-6 with a 3.14 ERA and 161 strikeouts over 140 2/3 innings (27 begins). As I’ve usually stated over time, there ought to be each a rookie pitcher and rookie place participant award, and if that have been the case, the Yankees would have a clear sweep this 12 months. Cowser and Miller deserve consideration for this 12 months’s ROY award as nicely.
NL Rookie of the 12 months
1. Paul Skenes, RHP, Pirates (5.5 WAR)
2. Jackson Merrill, CF, Padres (4.0 WAR)
3. Jackson Chourio, OF, Brewers (3.9 WAR)
Skenes ought to win this race over Merrill and Chourio in my thoughts, however once more, we want two awards — one for rookie pitchers and one for rookie place gamers. Nevertheless, Skenes deserves this 12 months’s award, going 10-3 with a 2.07 ERA and 158 strikeouts in 126 innings (21 begins). He additionally began the All-Star Recreation for the Nationwide League. Merrill deserves sturdy consideration as he’s hit 24 house runs, stolen 16 bases, logged a 127 OPS+ and excelled in heart subject, a place he simply began taking part in this 12 months. Chourio additionally deserves actual consideration as he’s hit 21 house runs, swiped 20 luggage, posted a 121 OPS+ and performed above-average protection. He has slashed .312/.370/.591 with 12 homers within the second half, which actually helped him shut the hole on each Skenes and Merrill.
Mariano Rivera Award (AL Reliever of the 12 months)
Emmanuel Clase leads the majors with 46 saves. (Ken Blaze / Imagn Photographs)
1. Emmanuel Clase, RHP, Guardians (4.3 WAR)
2. Kirby Yates, RHP, Rangers (3.1 WAR)
Clase has had a historic season, posting 46 saves with a 0.65 ERA and 0.640 WHIP. He’s crammed up the strike zone and constantly pitched forward within the rely, logging 64 strikeouts to eight walks in 70 1/3 innings. He ranks within the 99th percentile in each pitching run worth and fastball run worth. Opposing batters have hit .153 towards his cutter which he delivers at 99-100 mph, and batted .136 towards his wipeout slider. Yates deserves point out for his 1.23 ERA, 0.852 WHIP and 83 strikeouts in 58 2/3 innings.
Trevor Hoffman Award (NL Reliever of the 12 months)
1. Raisel Iglesias, RHP, Braves (2.7 WAR)
2. Ryan Helsley, RHP, Cardinals (2.8 WAR)
This will probably be one of many closest awards races as Iglesias has notched 31 saves with a 1.87 ERA and ranks within the ninety fifth percentile in pitching run worth whereas Helsley has tallied 45 saves with a 2.15 ERA and ranks within the 92nd percentile in pitching run worth. I’ll go along with Iglesias by a gnat’s eyelash.
AL Comeback Participant of the 12 months
Tyler O’Neill leads the Purple Sox with 31 house runs. (David Butler II / Imagn Photographs)
Tyler O’Neill, OF, Purple Sox (2.7 WAR)
O’Neill was coming off two subpar seasons in St. Louis — hitting .228 with 14 homers in 96 video games in 2022 and .231 with 9 house runs in 72 video games in 2023 — however he made a robust comeback this 12 months in Boston regardless of struggling some accidents. He’s slashed .249/.343/.532 with 18 doubles, 31 house runs and 61 RBIs over 107 video games, his greatest season since 2021 when he completed eighth within the NL MVP voting.
NL Comeback Participant of the 12 months
Chris Sale, LHP, Braves (6.3 WAR)
Sale had not been wholesome sufficient to pitch greater than 103 innings in a season since 2019, however he’s given the Braves greater than 170 this 12 months — at a Cy Younger-winning degree in addition. It’s onerous to think about him not successful NL Comeback Participant of the 12 months as nicely. Jack Flaherty of the Dodgers deserves a point out after his spectacular season, however being dealt on the commerce deadline makes it troublesome for him to win this award in both league.
AL Supervisor of the 12 months
1. Matt Quatraro, Royals
2. Stephen Vogt, Guardians
3. A.J. Hinch, Tigers
The Supervisor of the 12 months Award isn’t given to the very best supervisor in every league; extra usually, it goes to the supervisor whose group overachieved essentially the most or improved essentially the most from the 12 months earlier than. Quatraro ought to win the AL award after taking a group that went 56-106 final 12 months to the cusp of a playoff berth this 12 months. His bullpen administration, lineup juggling and emphasis on placing the ball in play and “transferring the chains” have helped make this season an enormous success in Kansas Metropolis. He has nice management and communications expertise and is well-respected by the gamers and entrance workplace. The Royals’ lineup ranks third within the AL in runs scored and final in strikeouts, and their pitching employees is sixth in ERA. Stephen Vogt deserves severe consideration as he’s executed a fabulous job in changing future Corridor of Famer Terry Francona in Cleveland, displaying a particular management fashion together with his gamers in guiding the Guardians to a (seemingly) division title.
NL Supervisor of the 12 months
1. Pat Murphy, Brewers
2. Carlos Mendoza, Mets
3. Mike Shildt, Padres
Former Brewers president of baseball operations David Stearns bolted to the Mets, supervisor Craig Counsell departed for the rival Cubs, Corbin Burnes was traded to the Orioles and Brandon Woodruff was out for the 12 months after shoulder surgical procedure … and but the Brewers nonetheless completed in first place within the NL Central beneath Murphy, whose management had rather a lot to do with it. The Brewers rank third within the NL in runs scored regardless of having a younger lineup and second in group ERA.
(Prime picture: Chris Sale: Todd Kirkland / Getty Photographs; Aaron Decide: Luke Hales / Getty Photographs; Paul Skenes: Gene Wang / Getty Photographs)
