As Major League Baseball reflects on the completed 2024 season and anticipation grows for the upcoming off-season, discussions around individual awards are taking center stage. The Baseball Writers' Association of America (BBWAA) will soon unveil its award winners, prompting analysts to weigh in on deserving candidates for accolades such as Rookie of the Year, Cy Young, and Most Valuable Player (MVP).
When considering the American League Rookie of the Year award, a strong case has been made for Mason Miller of the Oakland Athletics. Despite a competitive field, including noteworthy performances from Colton Cowser of the Baltimore Orioles and Luis Gil of the New York Yankees, Miller's impressive statistics—featuring a 2.49 ERA and 14.4 SO/9 across 55 games—highlight his significant contribution to the Athletics' season. In the National League, Paul Skenes of the Pittsburgh Pirates emerged as a standout rookie, bolstered by an impressive 1.96 ERA and a remarkable performance during the All-Star Game, capping his season with an 11-3 record and 170 strikeouts over 133 innings.
The Cy Young discussions are equally compelling, particularly with Tarik Skubal of the Detroit Tigers leading the pack in the American League. Skubal captured the pitching triple crown with his league-leading 18 wins, 2.39 ERA, and 228 strikeouts, making him a frontrunner for the award. Meanwhile, in the National League, Chris Sale of the Atlanta Braves made a resounding impact after joining the team through a trade, securing a triple crown of his own with an 18-win season, 2.38 ERA, and 225 strikeouts. As for the MVP race, Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees distinguished himself with an MLB-high 11.2 fWAR, while Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers, who had a stellar season with 54 home runs and 59 stolen bases, charted a historic course as the first 50/50 player in MLB history. These narratives set the stage for what promises to be an engaging offseason filled with debate and appreciation for the remarkable talents showcased throughout the 2024 season.
