With Opening Day coming up tomorrow, there is no short of excitement. And with all that excitement, I am going to go ahead and predict who will win each award for this upcoming season.
Here is what I got.
MVP:
American League: Juan Soto, New York Yankees
Juan Soto has consistently been seen not only as one of the top hitters in baseball but also one of the best players in general, providing an insane amount power with exceptional plate discipline. Over the past three seasons, he has consistently led the Majors in walks. Now, with Aaron Judge hitting behind him in the lineup, Soto's impact with the bat could reach new heights.
National League: Bryce Harper, Philidelphia Phillies
Last season, Bryce Haper wasn't fully healthy and in my opinion game back a bit too early. And because of that came out to a bit slow, but got on a huge hot streak in the second half of the season. He did still finish off the season with a statline of .293/.401/.499. And now that he will come out fully healthy and ready to go, I do expect him to have his best year to date and lead the Phillies to the NL East title and back to the World Series.
Cy Young:
American League: Luis Castillo, Seattle Mariners
With a good season last year, I fully expect Castillo to have an even better year this year. Castillo tallied a total of 14 wins, only one win shy of his personal record, an ERA of 3.34, and 219 strikeouts which was 6th in the league last year.
Castillo started off slow but finished off the second half of the season, winning 8 out of his last 15 appearances which included 7 wins in a row from August til September.
National League: Spencer Strider, Atlanta Braves
This one seems like a clear choice to me. Strider placed 4th in Cy Young voting last season, leading the league in strikeouts with 281. Despite a relatively high ERA of 3.81, it's evident that when he's in top form, he's virtually unstoppable. I anticipate the 25-year-old will start strong, maintain momentum throughout the season, and ultimately secure his first Cy Young award.
Rookie of the Year:
American League: Evan Carter, Texas Rangers
Carter made his debut with the Rangers last September and immediately made an impact. His impressive .300/.417/.500 stat line played a crucial role in securing the Rangers' title. With such a strong performance to build upon, expectations are high for his rookie year. His power and ability to get on base are undeniable, and if he can replicate even a fraction of his success from last season, he will undoubtedly emerge as a clear favorite for ROTY.
National League: Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Los Angeles Dodgers
Even though Yamamoto had a shaky start to his pro career giving up 5 runs in one inning in the Seoul Series, I still believe that he is the guy to beat in the NL.
Yamamoto clinched three consecutive Sawamura Awards, the Nippon Professional Baseball's equivalent of the MLB's Cy Young Award, alongside three consecutive Pacific League MVP titles, which tyed the record with legends such as Ichiro Suzuki and Hisashi Yamads. I know the NPB and MLB are different levels of competition, but if Yamamoto lives up to the expectations set for him, there's no reason he can't continue to add to his already impressive resume.
Manager of the Year:
American League: A.J. Hinch, Detroit Tigers
The Tigers are a young team on the rise, with a talented young core featuring rising stars such as Spencer Torkelson, Riley Greene, Kerry Carpenter, and the No. 22 overall prospect Colt Keith. This promising lineup indicates Detroit could bring significant progress in 2024. However, the team's success won't solely depend on its young talent. With Hinch entering his fourth year and bringing his major experience from 11 other managerial campaigns, the Tigers have the leadership and guidance necessary to win the wide-open AL Central division.
National League: Bud Black, Colorado Rockies
Okay, call me crazy but I believe the Rockies are going to have a Diamondbacks type year by coming out of nowhere and securing a Wild Card Spot in the NL. The Rockies have a good young core to lead the way on the defensive end with Nolan Jones, Ryan McMahon, and Ezequiel Tovar, plus solid veteran leadership of Kris Bryant and Charlie Blackmon. The only issue being, pitching. With the Rockies having historically subpar pitching, there's hope that lefty Kyle Freeland will lead a turnaround for the rotation. I anticipate Freeland returning to his 2018 form, putting up impressive numbers and potentially securing a top-four spot in the Cy Young race, thus bringing the Rockies back into relevance.
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