Shohei Ohtani, the Los Angeles Dodgers star, has emerged as a finalist for his first National League MVP award, a significant achievement following his two previous American League honors. He is joined in the top three of NL voting by New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor and Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte, highlighting the competitive nature of this year’s awards.
In the American League, New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge is in contention for his second MVP award in three seasons. He is accompanied by Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. and his fellow Yankees outfielder Juan Soto, showcasing the talent pool in the league.
Ohtani’s remarkable journey includes being unanimously voted the AL MVP in both 2021 and 2023, demonstrating his prowess as a two-way player for the Los Angeles Angels. Despite finishing second to Judge in the 2022 voting, he is now focused on making history as the first primary designated hitter to win an MVP award. After undergoing elbow surgery, he signed a groundbreaking 10-year, $700 million contract with the Dodgers.
Pittsburgh’s Paul Skenes is also making headlines, being a finalist for both the NL Cy Young Award and NL Rookie of the Year. The 22-year-old right-hander has made a significant impact, becoming the fifth rookie to finish among the top three in Cy Young voting, joining legends like Mark Fidrych and Fernando Valenzuela.
The announcement of the top three finishers for each major individual award by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America aired on MLB Network, with winners set to be revealed next week. This voting process occurs before the postseason, maintaining the excitement of the awards season.
In the race for the NL MVP, Lindor had an impressive season, batting .273 with 33 home runs, 91 RBIs, and 29 stolen bases, while Marte excelled with a .292 average, 36 home runs, and 95 RBIs. Judge led the majors with 58 home runs, 144 RBIs, and a .322 batting average, while Witt topped the league with a .332 average, contributing 32 home runs and 109 RBIs. Soto also had a strong season, finishing with a .288 average, 41 home runs, and 109 RBIs.
The NL Cy Young Award finalists include Atlanta’s Chris Sale and Philadelphia’s Zack Wheeler, alongside Skenes, who made a remarkable debut on May 11 and achieved an 11-3 record with a 1.96 ERA over 23 starts, striking out 170 batters in 133 innings.
In the American League, the finalists for the Cy Young Award feature Detroit’s Tarik Skubal, Kansas City’s Seth Lugo, and Cleveland’s Emmanuel Clase, who stands out as the first reliever to finish among the top three in voting since Trevor Hoffman in 2006.
For the AL Manager of the Year, Cleveland’s Stephen Vogt, Kansas City’s Matt Quatraro, and Detroit’s A.J. Hinch are in contention. The NL finalists include first-year managers Carlos Mendoza of the Mets, Pat Murphy of the Brewers, and Mike Shildt of the Padres, adding a fresh dynamic to the managerial landscape.
