Cleveland’s Stephen Vogt and Milwaukee’s Pat Murphy have both earned the prestigious Manager of the Year awards, with Vogt claiming the American League honor and Murphy taking home the National League accolade. Their achievements highlight their remarkable abilities to lead their respective teams to success in their debut seasons.
At 65, Murphy guided the Brewers to an impressive NL Central title, finishing the season with a 93-69 record. This achievement marks a significant milestone, as he becomes the first manager in Brewers history to receive this award since its inception in 1983. Despite their playoff exit against the New York Mets in a wild-card series, Murphy’s leadership was pivotal throughout the season.
Murphy’s journey to this point is noteworthy. Before stepping into the professional realm, he spent years coaching at Notre Dame and Arizona State. He entered the big leagues in 2010, working through the Padres’ minor league system before becoming the Brewers’ bench coach in 2015, under Craig Counsell, a former player of his.
Following Counsell’s departure to the Cubs, the Brewers made a swift decision to promote Murphy, leading to a seamless transition that showcased his readiness for the role.
Murphy triumphed over competitors such as San Diego’s Mike Shildt and New York’s Carlos Mendoza, securing 27 out of 30 first-place votes from the Baseball Writers’ Association of America. Shildt, Mendoza, and Philadelphia’s Rob Thomson each received one vote.
On the other hand, 40-year-old Vogt led the Guardians to a 92-69 record, clinching a division title in his first season as a manager. He is the first American League manager to win this award in his debut season since Rocco Baldelli of the Minnesota Twins in 2019, and he made history as the first to transition from player to Manager of the Year in just two years.
Vogt received 27 of the 30 first-place votes, with Kansas City’s Matt Quatraro and Detroit’s A.J. Hinch receiving the remaining votes.
Under Vogt’s leadership, the Guardians advanced to the AL Championship Series after replacing the well-respected Terry Francona, a three-time Manager of the Year. However, they faced defeat against the Yankees in a five-game series.
Vogt now joins the ranks of other Cleveland managers who have won this honor, including Francona and Eric Wedge.
Mendoza, in his first year with the Mets, also had a commendable season, guiding the team to 89 wins and a spot in the NL Championship Series, where they fell to the Dodgers.
Shildt, who previously won the award in 2019 with the Cardinals, led the Padres to 93 wins and a playoff appearance in his first season in San Diego.
Kansas City, with star catcher Salvador Perez and promising shortstop Bobby Witt Jr., faced a tough playoff matchup against the Yankees, ultimately losing in a four-game division series.
A.J. Hinch, in his fourth season with the Tigers, also guided his team to the playoffs, achieving a strong finish despite losing key players like right-hander Jack Flaherty at the trade deadline.
