Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani are the leading contenders for the MVP awards as Major League Baseball heads into the second half of the 2024 season. With the All-Star break concluding, the competition for top honors intensifies.
In the American League, Aaron Judge of the Yankees is the favorite, followed closely by Gunnar Henderson of the Orioles. The race was initially competitive with contenders like Juan Soto, Bobby Witt Jr., and José Ramirez, but Judge and Henderson have now set themselves apart. Despite the Yankees’ uncertain path to winning the AL East, Judge remains a strong candidate for the MVP award.
Shohei Ohtani of the Dodgers is the frontrunner for the National League MVP. His closest rival is Bryce Harper of the Phillies. Injuries to key players like Ronald Acuña Jr. and Mookie Betts have bolstered Ohtani’s position.
Ohtani’s exceptional performance as a designated hitter, combined with his impressive base-stealing skills, has kept him in the spotlight.
For the AL Cy Young award, Tarik Skubal of the Tigers leads the pack, with Corbin Burnes of the Orioles as the main challenger. In the NL, Chris Sale of the Braves is the favorite, with Zack Wheeler of the Phillies as his top competitor.
Wyatt Langford of the Rangers and Paul Skenes of the Pirates are the leading candidates for AL and NL Rookie of the Year, respectively. For Manager of the Year, Stephen Vogt of the Guardians and Pat Murphy of the Brewers are the favorites in their respective leagues.
As the season progresses, these races will continue to evolve, making for an exciting second half in Major League Baseball.
