The Baseball Writers’ Association of America recently revealed the 2024 Most Valuable Player (MVP) award, and Shohei Ohtani and Aaron Judge are among the front-runners. In his first season with the Dodgers, Ohtani is leading the National League (NL) MVP race, having had a record season with 50 home runs and 50 steals.
Ohtani, the current American League (AL) MVP, moved to the National League and mainly impressed as the Dodgers’ leadoff hitter. He has an MLB-high 134 runs scored, 59 steals, and a league-best 54 home runs. His performance solidified his status as one of the league’s top players.
A reliable player in the Yankees lineup, Aaron Judge is a strong contender to win the AL MVP award. Both Judge and Juan Soto hit an MLB-high 58 home runs to help New York win the AL East. He had the third-best batting average (.322) in Major League Baseball due to his steady hitting.
In addition, Judge led the league in walks (133), slugging percentage (.701), on-base percentage (.458), and RBIs (144). Judge was honored for his accomplishments, winning the Players Choice Award Player of the Year and AL Player of the Month three times in 2024.
Another AL MVP finalist, Juan Soto, showed his abilities by leading the league in runs (128) and hitting a career-high 41 home runs. He played a major role in the Yankees’ remarkable season, which was second only to Judge’s .419 on-base percentage.
Shortstop The Kansas City Royals’ Bobby Witt Jr. completes the list of AL MVP contenders. Witt led the MLB batting average at.332 with his 32 home runs and 31 steals, and he helped the Royals reach the postseason for the first time in over a decade.
The New York Mets’ Francisco Lindor is a strong contender for NL MVP. In order to help the Mets contend for the postseason, Lindor had a brilliant run in the second half of the season, hitting .306 and increasing his on-base percentage to .368. His season-long .274 average, 33 home runs, and 91 RBIs cemented his status as a four-time All-Star and two-time Gold Glove winner.
Ketel Marte of the Arizona Diamondbacks, another NL rival, set career highs in home runs (36), RBIs (95), and slugging percentage (.560) at the end of the season, second only to Ohtani’s.646 in the NL. The Diamondbacks just missed the postseason despite finishing 89-73.
Based on a weighted points system, the Baseball Writers’ Association of America will vote to determine the MVPs. The winners will be announced on November 21 and will be determined by ballots that closed before the postseason.
Historical background reveals recent AL MVP winners like Judge in 2022, Ohtani in 2023 and 2021, and other notables like Mike Trout and Jose Abreu. This history illustrates the league’s tendency for outstanding pitching and hitting performances.
Recent NL MVP winners Paul Goldschmidt in 2022, Bryce Harper in 2021, and Ronald Acuna Jr. in 2023 demonstrate the depth of talent in the league. Other notable winners include Christian Yelich, Cody Bellinger, and Clayton Kershaw; Kershaw’s win is an uncommon MVP honor for a pitcher.
With Ohtani, Judge, and others at the top of the field, this year’s MVP race features some intriguing performances that highlight a season full of both individual and team triumphs.
