MLB Awards Week: Key Contenders and Expert Opinions

Welcome to MLB Awards Week, an increasingly significant event in the baseball calendar designed to maintain fan engagement before the onset of the hot stove season. This week marks the announcement of the four major MLB awards, known to future-proof players’ reputations and impact Hall of Fame evaluations. These awards are revealed live each night on MLB Network at 6 p.m. Eastern Time.

The awards already dished out include the Gold Glove Awards, Silver Sluggers, and the All-MLB Team. The current week kicked off with major acknowledgments to starting pitchers in both the National League and American League.

On Monday, the winners in the Rookie of the Year categories were announced. In a competitive American League race, Gil of the Yankees took home the award, garnering 106 points with 15 first-place votes. This year’s vote saw Gil emerge as a crucial player filling gaps in the Yankees‘ rotation, contributing significantly to their World Series journey. ESPN‘s experts concurred with Gil being the suitable recipient of this honor.

Meanwhile, in the National League, the standout performer was Skenes of the Pirates, amassing 136 points and 23 first-place votes. Skenes demonstrated dominating performances across his rookie season, sparking debates on the value differences between starting pitchers and position players, with ESPN’s experts largely backing his win with eight out of nine votes.

The awards schedule continues with the Manager of the Year announcement on Tuesday, Cy Young Awards on Wednesday, and concludes with the MVP Awards on Thursday. Various finalists have been announced in each category, with experts disseminating opinions on potential winners.

The Manager of the Year awards will see A.J. Hinch, Matt Quatraro, and from the Cleveland Guardians competing for the American League title. In the National League, Carlos Mendoza, Pat Murphy, and Mike Shildt are contending for the accolade.

A panel of ESPN MLB experts has already posited their predictions regarding future winners, particularly favoring Ohtani in the MVP race, presenting him as a unanimous choice for his outstanding offensive contributions. Another area of interest is the Cy Young contenders, with Sale and Skenes positioned as potential awardees following their formidable seasons.

Major League Baseball’s Executive of the Year award is another point of interest. Although Milwaukee’s Arnold was recognized for exemplary leadership, the significant transformation overseen by Kansas City’s J.J. Picollo also received notable mention, highlighting Kansas City’s remarkable turnaround from 106 losses to an unexpected playoff berth.