As a member of the Baseball Writers Association of America (BBWAA), voting for the NL Manager of the Year award doesn’t always excite me. Evaluating managers from the outside is challenging, and the impact of good managers is often overstated. Regardless, this year, I had the opportunity to vote on all six major player awards, and I’m here to share my hypothetical ballots with you.
American League MVP
1. Aaron Judge, OF, New York Yankees
2. Bobby Witt, Jr., SS, Kansas City Royals
3. Gunnar Henderson, SS, Baltimore Orioles
4. Juan Soto, OF, New York Yankees
5. José Ramírez, 3B, Cleveland Guardians
6. Tarik Skubal, LHP, Detroit Tigers
7. Vlad Guerrero, Jr., 1B, Toronto Blue Jays
8. Jarren Duran, OF, Boston Red Sox
9. Seth Lugo, RHP, Kansas City Royals
10. Brent Rooker, OF, Oakland A’s
Aaron Judge’s historic season stands out with his impressive performance, earning him a well-deserved spot at the top of this list. His outstanding on-base percentage and home run numbers put him in elite company. The rest of the list is more academic, with Judge likely to win the award unanimously.
National League MVP
1. Shohei Ohtani, DH, Los Angeles Dodgers
2. Francisco Lindor, SS, New York Mets
3. Elly de la Cruz, SS, Cincinnati Reds
4. Ketel Marte, SS, Arizona Diamondbacks
5. William Contreras, C, Milwaukee Brewers
6. Chris Sale, LHP, Atlanta
7. Jackson Merrill, OF, San Diego Padres
8. Zack Wheeler, RHP, Philadelphia Phillies
9. Matt Chapman, 3B, San Francisco Giants
10. Bryce Harper, 1B, Philadelphia Phillies
Shohei Ohtani’s exceptional offensive performance makes him a clear choice for the MVP title. His dominance at the plate sets him apart from the competition. William Contreras’s success after an unexpected trade highlights the Brewers’ smart move. Meanwhile, Chris Sale’s impressive resurgence at 35 years old stands out as a remarkable achievement.
American League Cy Young
1. Tarik Skubal, LHP, Detroit
2. Seth Lugo, RHP, Kansas City
3. Cole Ragans, LHP, Kansas City
4. Corbin Burnes, RHP, Baltimore
5. Logan Gilbert, RHP, Seattle
Tarik Skubal’s exceptional performance is likely to earn him the Cy Young award. The dominance of the Royals’ pitching staff with two players in the top five showcases their strength. Burnes and Gilbert’s ability to pitch deep into games stands out in the current era of baseball.
National Cy Young
1. Chris Sale, LHP, Atlanta
2. Zack Wheeler, RHP, Philadelphia
3. Logan Webb, RHP, San Francisco
4. Dylan Cease, RHP, San Diego
5. Cristopher Sánchez, LHP, Philadelphia
Chris Sale’s remarkable season makes him a clear favorite for the Cy Young award. Logan Webb’s underrated performance due to his high inning count deserves recognition in the era of reduced pitcher usage.
American League Rookie of the Year
1. Colton Cowser, OF, Baltimore
2. Luis Gil, RHP, NY Yankees
3. Wyatt Langford, OF, Texas
Colton Cowser’s standout performance makes him a frontrunner for the Rookie of the Year award. Despite his flaws, Cowser has been a valuable player for the Orioles. Luis Gil and Wyatt Langford also deserve recognition for their contributions this season.
National League Rookie of the Year
1. Jackson Merrill, OF, San Diego Padres
2. Paul Skenes, P, Pittsburgh Pirates
3. Jackson Chourio, OF, Milwaukee Brewers
Jackson Merrill’s impressive rookie season makes him a strong contender for the Rookie of the Year award. Paul Skenes and Jackson Chourio also had notable performances, showcasing their potential as future stars in the league.
