Who are the Dark Horse Award Winners for the 2024 Season?

With the 2024 season coming to a detailed and October postseason baseball drawing ever nearer, our collective eyes as followers slowly gander towards the award races. The principle favorites are names that you simply see in your Sportscenter highlights each morning: Decide, Ohtani, Soto, Sale, Skubal, Lindor, and so forth and so forth. Extra probably than not, you will note a few of these favorites taking house their respective awards. Nevertheless, I’m taking a second right here to focus on the unsung seasons some gamers (and managers) have put collectively this season. These are campaigns that may probably not be sufficient to overhaul the highest names in consideration, however a enjoyable darkish horse within the operating to shine some mild on their success. Whereas I wouldn’t have a Katy Perry or Juicy J to give you, listed here are the darkish horse candidates for every of the primary MLB awards in 2024.

AL MVP: Brent Rooker, Oakland Athletics Designated Hitter

Terry Brent Rooker Jr is having a season that I consider might be criminally underrated for years to come back. Presently rocking a .301/.372/.586 slash line with 35 HRs and 99 RBIs, Rooker has been the guts and soul of the Athletics lineup via one other robust season in Oakland. Rooker has himself amongst some family names by way of his manufacturing this season. Rooker is seventh within the league in HRs, sixth in RBIs, fifth in SLG%, sixth in OPS, and fifth in OPS+. The one names persistently above Rooker in manufacturing are Decide, Soto, Ohtani, Alvarez, and Witt Jr; constant contenders for MVPs on their respective groups year-in and year-out. From there, consider that this Oakland offense has solely picked up its tempo in July. From April via June, the crew collectively hit a measly .221, with solely 97 HRs and 293 RBIs. As soon as July started, the A’s posted a season excessive .267 common within the month, together with a collective 45 HRs and 143 RBIs. That’s roughly 50% value of their manufacturing of the previous three months, all packed into one. And who else was there to paved the way however Rooker, who had a monster July. Rooker hit .391 with 11 HRs and 30 RBIs, accounting for twenty-four% of Oakland’s HRs for the month alone. One can solely think about how a lot harm Rooker might be doing on a considerably aggressive crew, and if being hidden in Oakland is costing him some low poll MVP votes. Different groups had undoubtedly caught onto this, as Rooker was allegedly in commerce discussions with groups just like the Phillies. Nevertheless, the A’s have been “reluctant” to half with him, and who might blame them with this manufacturing. 

As a reminder, the Athletics are the fourth crew that Rooker has performed for in his profession. One would suppose the Twins, Padres, and Royals are kicking themselves a good bit considering of what their lineup might have appeared like if that they had a bit extra endurance with Rooker. Whereas he won’t be within the mainstream dialogue for the MVP award this season, this stage of dominance Rooker is displaying offensively is encouraging for A’s followers, who haven’t had an entire lot to cheer about these previous couple of years. 

NL MVP: Willy Adames, Milwaukee Brewers Shortstop

It appears like each season there’s a participant greatest match for the “that’s the quietest 100 RBI season I’ve ever seen” quip from one in every of your folks. Willy Adames is your newest candidate. Whereas he’s solely slashing .253/.335/.473, Adames has (as of September eighth) 30 HRs and 101 RBIs this season, with 18 stolen bases in addition. This season has him with profession highs in runs, stolen bases, and RBIs, and is on tempo to set new marks with doubles, HRs, and walks as properly. It is a exceptional coincidence from his earlier season of a .217/.310/.407 line with solely 24 HRs and 80 RBIs. Whereas that 12 months left a lot to be desired, this can be a close to excellent season to place up in a culminating 12 months earlier than reaching free company. As a neat cherry on high, Adames is presently tied with Ken Griffey Jr. with probably the most three-run house runs in a single season with 13 (as of September ninth). As a further wrinkle from Adam McCalvy of MLB.com, that’s extra three-run house runs than the Cardinals, White Sox, Pirates, Rays, and Mariners have had as a crew this season. 

Adames has persistently been an element within the Brewers lineup for a lot of years, and has satirically solely obtained MVP votes in his 2021 season, the place he was traded half manner via the season from the Rays. In these 99 video games, he accrued 3.6 WAR and completed sixteenth in NL MVP voting, regardless of not even being there to start the season. Shockingly, Adames has not had any MVP votes since that season, regardless of placing up comparable numbers to 2021. Hopefully this modifications in his 2024 marketing campaign, and is rewarded with a prolonged and profitable contract from 2025 onward. 

AL Cy Younger: Cole Ragans, Kansas Metropolis Royals

The breakout and dominant marketing campaign of Seth Lugo for the Royals is on the tip of everybody’s tongues. Nevertheless, his youthful operating mate has been simply pretty much as good this season. As of September ninth, Ragans has thrown to a 3.33 ERA, a 2.94 FIP, and a 1.153 WHIP with 204 strikeouts in 167.1 innings pitched. Ragans started his breakout in Kansas Metropolis final season, changing into totally dominant since being traded from Texas within the Aroldis Chapman deal. In 2023, Ragans went from a 5.92 ERA in 24.1 innings in Texas to a 2.64 ERA in 71.2 innings in Kansas Metropolis. Whereas the ERA in 2024 is barely larger, that is primarily the identical tempo he was at, and it’s one way or the other going considerably beneath the radar this season. In his first All-Star season, Ragans has delivered 19 High quality Begins whereas sporting an 11.0 Okay/9. He’s tied for ninth in MB with 4.2 WAR amongst all pitchers, which is larger than names like Framber Valdez, Garrett Crochet, and Logan Webb. 

Ragans has definitely performed a exceptional function in propelling a Royals crew who, reminder, misplaced 107 video games simply final season, again into rivalry. On almost another crew, Ragans is a headlining ace who can be persistently named in Cy Younger discussions. Nevertheless, with the unbelievable and shock season that Seth Lugo has put collectively, Ragans falls to the background. Lugo not solely leads the league with 193 innings pitched, however bests Ragans with a 2.94 ERA, 16 Wins, and a 4.9 WAR amongst pitchers. Pair that with this high quality season popping out of nowhere from Lugo’s norms, and it’s not arduous to see why his identify is talked about earlier than Ragans’. Nevertheless, it could be a disservice to not point out the efficiency Ragans has given Kansas Metropolis, and I, for one, sit up for seeing his dominant methods for the Royals of their first postseason in almost a decade.

NL Cy Younger: Michael King, San Diego Padres

Of all of the items concerned within the commerce sending Juan Soto to the Yankees, Michael King has been probably the most precious up to now for the Padres, for this season no less than. Previous to 2024, many baseball followers can be extra aware of King’s work as a reliever for the Yankees. Nevertheless, he did handle to get some runs as a starter close to the tail finish of the New York season in 2023. King made probably the most of his alternative, posting a 2.23 ERA, 1.141 WHIP, and 51 strikeouts in solely 40.1 innings pitched in 9 begins. In comparison with his 3.08 ERA, 1.150 WHIP, and 76 strikeouts in 64.1 innings pitched in his 40 appearances as a reliever, King appeared simply as, if no more lethal as a starter. The one query was if King might deal with the highs and lows of a beginning pitcher workload. 

In 2024, King answered that query with a powerful sure. By means of 29 begins, King has posted a 3.06 ERA, 1.212 WHIP, and 191 strikeouts in 161.2 innings pitched. That’s good for ninth in ERA and seventh in strikeouts throughout the complete league. King has gotten via 6 innings in a begin 14 occasions this season, and has struck out 8+ batters in 8 begins as properly. Solely Dylan Stop has accomplished that extra typically for the Padres in 2024. After all, the file of dominance Stop held within the American League places his identify at high of thoughts for many mainstream viewers. Stop is amongst a plethora of in style names within the Padres rotation, accompanied by fellow no-hitter thrower Joe Musgrove and seasoned veteran Yu Darvish. Nevertheless, King is considerably above all of those extremely regarded names in ERA+ with a 133, with the closest rotation member being Darvish with a 116 in solely 64 innings. King’s 133 ERA+ amongst certified starters is tied for sixth in MLB with Shota Imanaga, Framber Valdez, and Tanner Houck.

Whereas his identify just isn’t as flashy as the remainder of his teammates within the beginning rotation, Michael King is doing his half in elevating his identify into an elite echelon in Main League Baseball.

AL Rookie of the Yr: Colt Keith, Detroit Tigers Second Baseman

With the complete Detroit Tigers crew trying like an underestimated and underappreciated darkish horse themselves for the playoffs (other than Tarik Skubal), who higher to characterize them than Colt Keith.

One of many uncommon crop of gamers to signal a serious league contract previous to ever stepping on the sector for his or her debut, Keith made the Tigers straight out of Spring Coaching. It did take a while to get acclimated, as Keith was slashing .197/.259/.220 on Could nineteenth. Two video games and 6 hits later, he bumped himself as much as a .230/.286/.267. That in itself remains to be not an incredible row of numbers to personal,  nevertheless it displayed that there’s a productive participant on this person that simply wanted a while to make his presence. Since Could twenty first, Keith has proceeded to hit .272 and now owns a slash line of .261/.311/.380. This features a month of July the place Keith pumped out 7 HRs, 17 RBIs, and 12 walks with a .322/.404/.644 slash. He has not had a month since then the place he has collectively hit beneath .260. Keith has additionally been a formidable defender for a rookie, as he ranks within the 81st percentile in Vary (OAA) within the league. 

Now, to be frank, Keith is in a a lot decrease tier of rookie than the remainder of the sector in 2024. There’s a vital hole of manufacturing between Keith and contenders like Abreu, Cowser, and Wells. Nevertheless, the development of Keith all through the season and his capacity to make changes and rise to adversity is spectacular and deserves some highlight as his Tigers attempt for a postseason berth.

NL Rookie of the Yr: Tyler Fitzgerald, San Francisco Giants Shortstop

The Giants, for a few seasons now, have had a shortstop downside for the reason that decline of Brandon Crawford. The preliminary plan was to handle this with Carlos Correa, however as a consequence of damage considerations, that contract went up in smoke. Marco Luciano has been a high rated prospect, however has but to actually make his mark and earn a full time function within the place. 

Enter Tyler Fitzgerald, a thirtieth spherical decide within the 2016 draft. The 26-year-old had a cup of espresso within the main leagues in 2023, and was comparatively strong with a 99 OPS+ and a .219/.265/.469 slashline with 2 HRs and 5 RBIs in 10 video games. The start of 2024 appeared like it could be extra of the identical for Fitzgerald, as by July eighth, he hit .276/.329/.395 with just one HR and 6 RBIs. 

Nevertheless, on July ninth, one thing clicked. Fitzgerald proceeded to go on one of the vital surprising homer runs in latest reminiscence, hitting 8 in 10 video games, together with 5 straight video games with a house run. On this 10-game span, Fitzgerald hit .429 and greater than doubled his RBI whole on the time with 13. Nevertheless, this has been greater than only a flash within the pan, as since July ninth, Fitzgerald has hit .304 with 13 HRs, 25 RBIs, and quietly has had 11 stolen bases as properly. Fitzgerald has turn out to be the staple at shortstop the Giants have been after, and might even play any of the opposite positions in a pinch. 

Certain, Fitzgerald is nowhere close to the standard of a Paul Skenes or Jackson Merrill, however his breakout marketing campaign has helped the Giants within the current, and hopefully units them up for achievement sooner or later. 

AL Supervisor of the Yr: Joe Espada, Houston Astros

Some have been saying that this was the 12 months the wheels had lastly fallen off the Houston wagon. The Astros had gotten off to an abysmal begin to the season, with a 10-19 file by the tip of April. Nevertheless, Espada, who has been an affiliate coach with the crew for years now, preached endurance and spoke of perception in his crew. 

It took some time, however the Houston Astros of previous are again, and maybe by no means left. On June twenty sixth, they regained a .500 file of 40-40, and since July, have gone 35-27. They proceeded to take again the AL West crown from the Mariners regardless of being so far as 10 video games behind, and now have a 4.5 recreation lead going into the ultimate two weeks of the season.  

One factor Espada has accomplished remarkably properly going into the tip of the season is his administration of the beginning rotation. Whereas it was an Achilles heel for probably the most half this season, after the acquisition of Yusei Kikuchi from Toronto, Espada has been working with a 6-man rotation. With that has come some robust selections, and solely extra to come back in direction of the postseason. A type of specifically is the selection to maneuver Ronel Blanco to the bullpen. Regardless of having a no-hitter beneath his belt and a couple of.99 ERA via 26 begins, Espada opted to place Blanco within the pen to avoid wasting his arm for October; a troublesome alternative that different managers almost certainly would decide in opposition to. The more durable alternative could also be having to maneuver legendary pitcher Justin Verlander to the bullpen within the postseason as a consequence of his lackluster efficiency not too long ago.

No matter how the Astros rotation unfolds in October, the job that Joe Espada has accomplished to push his crew from the basement to the highest of the AL West is one thing that’s probably getting ignored as a result of repute of this Astros dynasty. Espada has at all times performed a task in Houston’s success, and it ought to be intriguing how he tries to proceed the pattern, now because the supervisor. 

NL Supervisor of the Yr: Carlos Mendoza, New York Mets

Taking the supervisor’s mantle for a crew with as a lot folklore round it because the New York Mets was by no means going to be simple for Carlos Mendoza. And but, he has accomplished an impeccable job for a crew most thought-about to be transitional to subsequent 12 months. Issues have been undoubtedly not sunshine and rainbows to start with although, because the crew bought off to a putrid 29-37 begin by June twelfth. Nevertheless, since that day, and with the looks of Grimace to throw out the primary pitch, these Mets have improbably gone 52-28, and are combating for the ultimate wild card spot. 

Probably the most spectacular facets of Mendoza’s season is the manufacturing he has managed to get out of unsuspecting function gamers. Take Jose Iglesias for instance. Iglesias didn’t even obtain a name up the earlier season regardless of being in a aggressive group with the Padres. Now, this season, you might argue that he’s one in every of, if not crucial presence to that Mets clubhouse. Iglesias is slashing a .317/.371/.441 after some wouldn’t have blinked twice if his profession had come to an finish. Whether or not it’s his infectious persona, or his Candelita aura from his hit single “OMG”, Iglesias has now cemented himself this season as a locker room chief. Nevertheless, this doesn’t come to go with out the spectacular deployment from Carlos Mendoza. Who is aware of what comes of Iglesias if he’s overexposed as a full time starter or doesn’t get a correct quantity of taking part in time. Mixing in time for Iglesias and Jeff McNeil equally, in addition to outfielders like Tyrone Taylor and Harrison Bader,  has in the end benefited the Mets in the long term. 

Who is aware of in the event that they attain the postseason, however given the scraps that Mendoza has needed to work with, he has accomplished an amazing job.