Pat Murphy of the Milwaukee Brewers and Stephen Vogt of the Cleveland Guardians have been named the 2024 Manager of the Year award winners for the National League and American League, respectively. Major League Baseball made the announcement on Tuesday, recognizing Murphy for his achievements over fellow finalists Carlos Mendoza of the New York Mets and Mike Shildt of the San Diego Padres in the National League. In the American League, Vogt secured the award, surpassing finalists A.J. Hinch of the Detroit Tigers and Matt Quatraro of the Kansas City Royals.
Murphy's inaugural season in his managerial role was particularly notable given the challenges faced. Taking over after Craig Counsell's surprising departure to the Chicago Cubs, Murphy led the Brewers to a 93-69 record despite facing significant hurdles, including the loss of ace pitcher Corbin Burnes prior to the season and a limited appearance from All-Star outfielder Christian Yelich, who played only 73 games due to a back injury. Under Murphy's guidance, the Brewers reached the playoffs but were eliminated in the Wild Card Series by Mendoza's Mets.
Mendoza's first season as manager also began with adversity, as the Mets found themselves 11 games under .500 by June 2. However, they rallied to a record of 65-38 in the second half of the season, successfully clinching a playoff spot and subsequently advancing to the National League Championship Series after an impressive postseason run. Shildt, in his own first season managing the Padres, also led San Diego to a noteworthy 93-69 outcome, continuing his success from his prior tenure with the St. Louis Cardinals. On the American League side, Vogt emerged as a successful rookie manager, taking over the Guardians from the renowned Terry Francona and steering the team to an AL Central title with a 92-69 finish. His leadership saw Cleveland reach the American League Championship Series, demonstrating his effectiveness in replacing a legendary figure. Both Quatraro's Royals and Hinch's Tigers, now capable playoff contenders after years of struggle, concluded the regular season at 86-76, earning them both postseason spots and marking significant progress for their franchises.
