The contest for the Most Valuable Player
The Major League Baseball is preparing to experience an exciting definition of its most prestigious individual awards. In the spotlight are Shohei Ohtani, the superstar of the Los Angeles Dodgers, and Aaron Judge, the powerful outfielder of the New York Yankees, who are looking to add another Most Valuable Player Award (MVP) to their respective honors in a row. This competition not only highlights individual excellence, but also underscores consistency of performance at the highest level.
In the National League, Ohtani has as rivals for nomination the Philadelphia Phillies slugger, Kyle Schwarber, and the New York Mets outfielder, Juan Soto. Meanwhile, in the American League, the dispute for the coveted award focuses on Judge, Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh, and Cleveland Guardians third baseman José Ramírez. Analysts anticipate that the American League race will come down primarily to a duel between Judge’s batting power and Raleigh’s impressive record of 60 home runs during the regular season.
Other categories in play
The awards narrative extends beyond the MVP. In the category of Pitcher of the Year (Cy Young Award) of the American League, the finalists are the star starter of the Detroit Tigers, Tarik Skubal; Houston Astros right-hander Hunter Brown; and Boston Red Sox left-hander Garrett Crochet. Brown’s nomination carries additional impact for the Astros, as, under the CBA’s prospect promotion incentive, the club secured an additional pick in next year’s amateur draft.
On the National League side, the Cy Young competition is equally tight, with World Series MVP, Yoshinobu Yamamoto of the Dodgers, facing the sensational rookie starter of the Pittsburgh Pirates, Paul Skenes – who is also a finalist for Rookie of the Year – and the Phillies’ left-hander, Cristopher Sánchez.
When it comes to the best rookies, the National League will see a contest between Atlanta Braves catcher Drake Baldwin; Chicago Cubs pitcher Cade Horton; and Brewers infielder Caleb Durbin. For recognition in the American League, the finalists are Red Sox outfielder Roman Anthony and the Oakland Athletics duo of Nick Kurtz and Jacob Wilson, the latter with a .311 batting average.
The Manager of the Year Award will also have its own protagonists. In the American League, Stephen Vogt of Cleveland competes with John Schneider of Toronto and Dan Wilson of Seattle. In the National League, Pat Murphy of the Milwaukee Brewers is a finalist along with Rob Thomson of Philadelphia and Terry Francona of Cincinnati.
The merits of the candidates are undeniable. Shohei Ohtani, at 31 years old, once again demonstrated his status as a baseball phenomenon. As a designated hitter, he posted a .282 average, hitting 55 home runs and driving in 102 runs in 158 games, contributing decisively to the Dodgers’ second consecutive World Series title. In his return to the mound following a second elbow surgery, the Japanese right-hander also posted a 1-1 record with a 2.87 ERA in 14 starts. For his part, Aaron Judge, 33, led the Major Leagues in OPS (1.145) by hitting .331 with 53 home runs and 114 RBIs in 152 games, strengthening his candidacy for his third MVP.
The Baseball Writers Association of America (BBWAA) was responsible for the vote, which took place before the start of the postseason. The names of the winners will be announced next week, closing another chapter in the history of the major leagues and recognizing the most outstanding figures of the 2024 season.
Do you think Ohtani will win his fourth MVP or Judge will win his third?Share your prediction and this analysis with other fans on your social networks and explore more MLB awards coverage on our site.
