It’s that time of year again for the Hayman Half-Annual Awards, but there’s no trophy, no prize money and very little prestige.
AL Most Valuable
1. Aaron Judge, Yankees, CF: He’s also threatening a record: the best fielder in baseball.
2. Gunnar Henderson, Orioles, SS: The tools are great and the talent is abundant.
3. Juan Soto, Yankees, right fielder: He is everything they expected him to be: a hitting genius.
AL Least valuable
Bo Bichette, Blue Jays, shortstop: One of the best hitters in baseball may need a change of scenery.
NL MVP
1. Mookie Betts, Dodgers, shortstop: He’s still out for a few weeks, so he probably won’t win a championship, but a guy who can learn the shortstop craft on the fly while still hitting like an All-Star would thrive here.
2. Shohei Ohtani, Dodgers, DH: The two-time American League MVP stepped up when Betts was injured.
3. Marcell Ozuna, Braves. DH: He has been great this season while other members of the Braves’ talented batting lineup have underperformed.
NL Minimum Value
Corbin Carroll, Diamondbacks, outfielder: The 2023 Rookie of the Year has issues with his high fastball.
AL Cy Young
1. Tarik Skubal, Tigers. SP: The great left-hander has been the subject of trade rumors. Let’s hope it’s a joke.
2. Seth Lugo, Royals, SP: What at first glance seemed like a stretch, the $45 million deal turned into a bargain.
3. Logan Gilbert, Mariners, SP: The pinnacle of Seattle’s talented young rotation.
AL Worst Pitcher
Mike Soroka, White Sox, starting pitcher: Unfortunately, injuries have set him back.
National League Cy Young Award
1. Rangers-Suarez, Phillies. SP: Philadelphia’s No. 3 starter was the best pitcher in a great starting rotation.
2. Tyler Glasnow, Dodgers, starting pitcher: A strikeout maven, he is on track to record a career-high in innings pitched.
3. Chris Sale, Braves. SP: This is another impressive addition from GM Alex Anthopoulos, who has had his eye on Sale for years.
National League Worst Pitchers
Blake Snell, Giants, SP: The two-time Cy Young Award winner is a slow starter, but he seems out of form.
AL Rookie of the Year
1. Luis Gil, Yankees, starting pitcher: Before his last few starts, he was a Cy Young Award candidate.
2. Mason Miller, Athletics, RP: It will be one of the most coveted titles by deadline.
3. Wilyer Abreu, Red Sox. Outfielder: Boston has some high achieving kids.
National League Rookie of the Year
1. Paul Skenes, Pirates, SP: He’s a great starter and a crowd-pleaser every time. He should be an All-Star.
2. Shota Imanaga, Cubs, starting pitcher: Maybe he’s a little tired from carrying the Cubs on his back.
3T. Jackson Merrill, Padres. CF: A great two-way revelation.
3T. Jared Jones, Pirates. SP: It’s just hiding in the shadow of Skenes.
AL Manager of the Year
1. Steven Vogt, Guardians: Has anyone seen Cleveland do this?
2. Brandon Hyde, Orioles: The 2023 winner is outstanding.
3T Alex Cora, Red Sox: No one expects him to return to Boston.
3T Aaron Boone, Yankees: I’m taking the test now.
Best Manager 15th
Pedro Grifol, White Sox: It’s not his fault though…
National League Manager of the Year
1. Patrick Murphy, Brewers: They traded Corbin Burns and lost Devin Williams and still kept winning.
2. Rob Thomson, Phillies: There seems to be something special going on in Philadelphia.
3T. Dave Roberts, Dodgers: Do you find it easy to manage these expectations?
3T. Brian Snitker, Braves: The loss of Ronald Acuna and Spencer Strider hasn’t slowed them down either.
Best Manager 15th
David Bell, Reds: This is certainly not what they expected.
