The Major League Baseball season is coming to a thrilling conclusion, and the debates over major individual awards are heating up as votes must be cast before the playoffs begin. Award winners will be announced after the World Series, and there's no shortage of impressive performances to consider.
Aaron Judge's Historic Season
Aaron Judge is in the midst of a season for the ages. Leading the majors in home runs, RBI, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, and WAR, Judge has put up eye-popping statistics: a .324/.460/.703 slash line (224 OPS+), with 57 home runs, 142 RBI, 120 runs, and 10.6 WAR. Additionally, Judge has shown his versatility by successfully stealing 10 bases in 10 attempts and playing out of position in center field for most of the season.
Shohei Ohtani's Dual Threat
Shohei Ohtani continues to amaze as both a hitter and a pitcher. This season, Ohtani has achieved the rare feat of 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases, with a .303/.386/.642 slash line (187 OPS+), 53 home runs, 56 stolen bases, 125 RBI, 130 runs, and 8.6 WAR. His combination of power and speed is virtually unprecedented, making him a formidable candidate for the MVP award.
Skubal's Dominance on the Mound
In the race for the Cy Young Award, Tarik Skubal has made a strong case with an 18-4 record, a 2.39 ERA, a 0.92 WHIP, and 228 strikeouts in 192 innings. Skubal leads the league in wins, ERA, and strikeouts. Reflecting on his performance, one observer noted, "Kudos to Emmanuel Clase for an absolutely top-shelf relief season, and if Skubal didn't exist this season in the AL, I would have been ready to make the argument for a reliever."
Chris Sale and Zack Wheeler are also in the conversation for the Cy Young. Sale holds an 18-3 record, 2.38 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, and 225 strikeouts in 177 2/3 innings. Despite his impressive numbers, Sale has not received a Cy Young vote since 2018. His past finishes in the award voting include second, third, fourth (twice), fifth (twice), and sixth. Wheeler's season includes a 16-7 record, 2.56 ERA, 0.96 WHIP, and 213 strikeouts in 193 2/3 innings.
Cleveland Guardians: Defying Expectations
The Cleveland Guardians have been one of the most surprising teams this year. Initially projected to finish around .500 with a gambling win total set at 79, the Guardians were positioned in third place in the AL Central. Despite losing ace Shane Bieber to a season-ending injury after just two starts and underperformance from Triston McKenzie and Logan Allen, the Guardians are only half a game out of the best record in the entire American League. "And yet, the Guardians are only half a game out of the best record in the entire American League," capturing the improbable nature of their success.
Milwaukee Brewers’ Resilience
The Milwaukee Brewers have not trailed in the NL Central since April 29 and are poised to finish with the largest division lead of any first-place team. The Brewers' season has been marked by resilience, as they lost Brandon Woodruff for 2024, traded Corbin Burnes to the Orioles in spring training, and saw injuries to key players like Devin Williams and Christian Yelich, whose season ended in July. "Murphy was promoted from within to take over a team that had already lost Brandon Woodruff for the 2024 season," highlighting the internal resilience of the Milwaukee Brewers despite these setbacks.
The Awards Vote
As the season wraps up, the discussion on who will win the major awards intensifies. One professional voter remarked, "Remember, these aren't necessarily my picks. They are predictions as to who will win." Emphasizing the speculative nature of the awards season, the voter added, "I'm an actual voter and any prediction might be perceived as a hint as to which way I'm leaning. I will say, though, it's close enough that I do not yet know for sure how I'm voting."
With many stellar performances and storylines, this season's award decisions are set to be as fascinating as they are competitive. As always, the final weeks will be pivotal, and the anticipation leading up to the announcement of the winners only adds to the drama of the baseball postseason.