MLB Year in Review: Top 10 storylines of 2024, headlined by Yankees-Dodgers World Series.
Baseball is back! Historic performances in 2024 led to record increases in viewership and MLB’s highest attendance in seven years. The season culminated in a classic and unforgettable World Series showdown between the New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers. While these two legendary franchises captured the spotlight in late October, numerous other captivating developments unfolded throughout the year across the league.
This year saw a pair of pitchers achieving triple crown seasons, another player delivering one of the best rookie campaigns ever, and the finalization of the largest contract in sports history.
Here’s a look back at the 10 biggest MLB storylines of 2024:
1. A hobbled Freddie Freeman shines in the Fall Classic
The 2024 World Series left fans with two unforgettable memories: the Yankees’ disastrous fifth inning in Game 5 and the remarkable home run by a hobbled Freddie Freeman in Game 1. Despite battling a lingering ankle injury and broken rib cartilage, Freeman’s performance was nothing short of legendary. After struggling to find his power in the earlier postseason rounds, he delivered the first walk-off grand slam in World Series history, reminiscent of Kirk Gibson’s iconic moment. Freeman continued his hot streak, hitting home runs in three consecutive games, setting a major-league record with six straight World Series games with a home run dating back to the Braves’ 2021 championship run. — Rowan Kavner
2. MVP Shohei Ohtani continues to break barriers
3. The resurgence of the Bronx Bombers
4. MLB celebrates Rickwood Field
Major League Baseball’s tribute to the historic Rickwood Field in Birmingham, Alabama, became a heartfelt celebration of the Negro Leagues and the legacy of Willie Mays, who passed away just before the event. The nation’s oldest professional ballpark served as a backdrop for veterans of the Negro Leagues to return in high spirits as the Cardinals faced off against the Giants. Mays’ son, Michael, rallied the crowd with chants of “Willie! Willie!” echoing throughout the field. Rickwood Field symbolizes a complex history of race and community in baseball, making this celebration an unforgettable chapter of the 2024 season. — Thosar
5. Rookie of the Year Paul Skenes exceeds expectations
Paul Skenes entered the league with immense expectations after being selected as the top overall pick in the 2023 MLB Draft by the Pirates. He not only met those expectations but surpassed them. Making his MLB debut on May 11, Skenes dazzled in his first 11 starts, earning a spot in the All-Star Game and becoming the first player to transition from the No. 1 overall pick to an All-Star in the following year. He concluded the season with a remarkable 1.96 ERA, the lowest for any rookie with at least 20 starts in the live-ball era. Skenes struck out 170 batters in 133 innings, earning him the Rookie of the Year title and a third-place finish in Cy Young voting. — Kavner
6. Cy Young winners achieve triple crown
For over a decade, the only pitcher to win a triple crown was Shane Bieber during the shortened 2020 season. In 2024, Chris Sale and Tarik Skubal joined this exclusive club, becoming the first pair of pitchers to achieve this feat since Clayton Kershaw and Justin Verlander in 2011. Both left-handed pitchers, Sale and Skubal, posted strikingly similar statistics — Sale finished 18-3 with a 2.38 ERA and 225 strikeouts, while Skubal went 18-4 with a 2.39 ERA and 228 strikeouts. Sale’s comeback after injuries earned him his first Cy Young award, while Skubal’s unanimous AL Cy Young win helped propel the Tigers to the playoffs for the first time in a decade. — Kavner
7. Mets’ late-inning heroics
The New York Mets showcased a season filled with late-inning magic, highlighted by Pete Alonso’s decisive ninth-inning home run against Devin Williams and Francisco Lindor’s grand slam that propelled the Mets into the NLCS. This season was a blend of humor and resilience as the Mets became known for their dramatic comebacks, setting an MLB record for four consecutive postseason games where the leading team entering the eighth inning lost. After a challenging 2023 season, the Mets defied expectations, reaching the NLCS against the Dodgers, where their comeback efforts ultimately fell short. Fans will remember this season as a testament to the team’s fighting spirit and unique culture. — Thosar
8. A golden era of young shortstops – Witt, Henderson, De La Cruz lead the way
9. AL Central surprises
The 2024 season brought unexpected playoff appearances from both the Detroit Tigers and Kansas City Royals. Despite trading away key players, the Tigers rallied behind ace Tarik Skubal, overcoming a 55-63 record in mid-August to clinch a playoff spot. Their journey from fourth to second place in the AL Central was marked by resilience, culminating in a wild-card victory over the Orioles and ending the longest postseason drought in baseball. This remarkable turnaround showcased the unpredictability of the league.
10. The $765 million man
The largest contract in professional sports history, a staggering $765 million deal for Juan Soto over 15 years, marked a monumental moment for MLB. Soto’s decision to switch from the Yankees to the Mets during the Steve Cohen era sparked widespread discussion and analysis. This pivotal moment in baseball will be a topic of conversation for years to come. Super agent Scott Boras also experienced a remarkable turnaround, securing this monumental contract after a slow start to the offseason, proving his ability to deliver significant deals despite earlier doubts. — Thosar
