A fresh Major League Baseball season is on the horizon, and with opening day just a few days away, a new year exists for players to prove their abilities. Similar faces remain at the top of the conversations for several of the major awards, but with a flurry of talent across the league, some surprise candidates could take the top spot. The MLB awards will serve as a reminder of how talented a player truly is compared to the rest of the league.
The American League has several big names that could win this award, but it will take a once-in-a-lifetime season to outbid Aaron Judge. Despite blasting a franchise-record-breaking sixty home runs last season, Seattle Mariners Catcher Cal Raleigh was still unable to win the MVP from Judge. The Yankees’ captain led the American League in batting average, on-base plus slugging percentage (OPS), runs scored, and wins above replacement (WAR). Judge has a strong case to take home his third consecutive MVP, and is certainly the favorite to win the award in the American League.
Above all other names that play in the National League, one name stands firmly above the rest. Shohei Ohtani is not simply an MVP candidate, but he is the premier player in all of MLB. This season will see a full season of Ohtani pitching, something that the Los Angeles Dodgers have yet to benefit from, as well as continuing his torrid success at the plate. Even with names like Fernando Tatis Jr., Juan Soto, Ronald Acuna Jr., and Kyle Schwarber, Ohtani is the clear frontrunner to win his fourth consecutive MVP, a feat not seen since Barry Bonds.
Paul Skenes is easily the most fearsome pitcher in the National League. Phillies ace Christopher Sanchez and Dodgers superstar Yoshinobu Yamamoto will certainly put up a fight, but ultimately, Skenes will show the world why he is the MLB’s best pitcher. Skenes went through a fearsome Dominican Republic lineup in the World Baseball Classic and allowed just one run over four and a third innings pitched. Skenes is must-see television when he pitches, as he can easily stall any offense he is put against.
Tarik Skubal is coming off back-to-back Cy Young campaigns in the American League, but Red Sox pitcher Garrett Crochet has a realistic chance at taking the award home this year. With a year of Fenway Park under his belt, Crochet is certainly comfortable with pitching in his home ballpark. Ultimately, Crochet can showcase why he led the majors in strikeouts last year with 225 punchouts, as he will look to win his first Cy Young Award.
The Rookie of the Year is always a tough award to predict. Nolan McLean, the top pitching prospect in all of baseball, showcased his talents last season, posting a 2.06 ERA with the New York Mets in just eight games. He will keep his rookie status and continue his performance alongside newly acquired Freddy Peralta. McLean pitched for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic with the aforementioned Skenes and put on a display with his wicked breaking balls.
Kevin McGonigle, the second-ranked overall prospect in MLB, is a name that will not soon be forgotten. He made the Detroit Tigers’ major league roster out of spring training and will play somewhere in the infield. After skipping AAA and only playing forty-six games in AA, McGonigle will make his major league debut against the San Diego Padres on Opening Day. In spring training, the Tigers prospect held a .888 OPS and finished with more walks than strikeouts.
The new baseball season will feature the stars that everyone expects to perform. Shohei Ohtani and Aaron Judge will continue on their Hall of Fame tracks as both are the top players in their respective leagues. A battle between Skubal and Crochet for the American League Cy Young will certainly be entertaining, and Paul Skenes is only getting started with what he can accomplish on the mound. Though the world got a taste of Nolan McLean last year and in this year’s WBC, McGonigle is still new to most baseball fans’ eyes and both have the skillset to become superstars.
If you love sports, download Stadium Rant from the Apple App Store and join one of the fastest-growing social sports communities. Be sure to follow us on socials too — you can find all our profiles on our Linktree.
