As the All-Star break approaches, let’s take a look at the current frontrunners for the MVP, Cy Young, Rookie of the Year, and Manager of the Year awards in the MLB. There have been some surprises in each category, creating an exciting race for these prestigious honors.
In the American League MVP race, Gunnar Henderson of the Orioles has emerged as a top contender, followed closely by Aaron Judge of the Yankees and Bobby Witt Jr. of the Royals. Henderson’s stellar defense at shortstop has given him the edge over Judge, who leads the league in home runs and RBIs. Witt, a first-time All-Star, is also making a strong case for himself with his standout performance for the Royals.
Over in the National League, Shohei Ohtani of the Dodgers is leading the MVP race, with Bryce Harper of the Phillies and Christian Yelich of the Brewers not far behind. Ohtani, despite not pitching this season, has put up impressive numbers at the plate, making a strong case for himself. Harper and Yelich are also having standout seasons, keeping the race tight and exciting.
When it comes to the Cy Young award, Seth Lugo of the Royals is turning heads in the AL, followed closely by Corbin Burnes of the Orioles and Tarik Skubal of the Tigers. Lugo’s remarkable performance has earned him a spot as a top contender for the award. In the NL, Chris Sale of the Braves leads the race, with Ranger Suarez and Zack Wheeler of the Phillies following closely behind. Sale’s return to dominance after a series of injury-plagued seasons has been impressive.
For the Rookie of the Year award in the AL, Wyatt Langford of the Rangers is currently leading the pack, with Luis Gil of the Yankees not far behind. Langford’s standout performance since returning from injury has made him a strong candidate for the award. In the NL, Jackson Merrill of the Padres is edging out Paul Skenes of the Pirates for the top spot. Merrill’s consistent performance throughout the first half of the season has put him in a prime position for the award.
In the Manager of the Year race, Matt Quatraro of the Royals and Oliver Marmol of the Cardinals are leading the pack in the AL and NL, respectively. Quatraro has led the surprising Royals to a strong position in the wild-card race, while Marmol has orchestrated a remarkable turnaround for the Cardinals after a slow start to the season.
Overall, the races for the MLB awards are heating up as we head into the second half of the season. With strong performances from players and managers across the league, it’s shaping up to be an exciting finish to the 2024 season.