The Baseball Writers Association of America will announce its Rookie of the Year winners tonight, and we at Diamond Digest wanted to reveal our own award ballots for who we believe should be taking home some hardware in the coming days!
Below you will find the result of our team’s voting for each award, using the same point system as the BBWAA (with the exception of MVP, which shares the same voting system as the Cy Young). Writers were also given the option to vote for the Hank Aaron and Reliever of the Year awards. You will also find some quotes from those who voted below each section in order to get an understanding from our writers as to why they voted as they did (which are important because we have some close ones this year).
Without further ado, let’s get into the awards!
American League Hank Aaron Award: Aaron Judge
Aaron Judge was the best hitter in the AL in 2024. He led the league in homers (58), OPS (1.159), wRC+ (218), and a whole bunch of other categories.
Bailey Digh
National League Hank Aaron Award: Shohei Ohtani
Shohei Ohtani was the best hitter in the NL this year, leading his league with a 1.036 OPS, 54 home runs, a 181 wRC+, and 411 total bases. He was also second in hits with 197.
Bailey Digh
AL Mariano Rivera Reliever of the Year: Emmanuel Clase
It is just indescribable how good Clase was this year. I’d like his Savant put beneath my explanation please. And then underneath it, just put “See?”
Carson Melinder
Today, I learned about Cade Smith and damn…
Jordan Lazowski, voted for Cade Smith
NL Billy Wagner Reliever of the Year: Ryan Helsley
Franchise saves leader, propelled the Cardinals to more wins than they probably were worth. Special talent due for a nice payday in the next few months.
Carson Melinder
One of the only reasons the Braves are in the playoff race right now.
Drew Klugman, voted for Iglesias
American League Rookie of the Year: Colton Cowser
Cowser and Wells were the clear cut one and two, the only question was which order to place the two. Cowser had the edge in fWAR, but he also had about 150 more PAs than Wells. Wells was one of the best at his position, while Cowser was merely a pretty good outfielder. There are arguments to be made for both, but I decided to give it to Cowser for being the more complete package as a rookie. A 120 wRC+ along with 11 OAA is tough to beat.
Elizabeth Rose
While Wells has been awesome as well, ultimately this comes down to the fact that Cowser was an everyday player and was a positive value player in multiple roles throughout the Orioles season.
Carson Melinder
Guy is disgusting. I mean, have you watched him, absolute workhorse out of the pen.
Joey Bohley, voted for Smith
If he wasn’t first, Lawrence Butler was still toward the top of the list in most offensive categories among rookies in the AL. Butler was also second among AL rookies in WPA (1.27) and first in RE24 (20.37). He was a plus-plus hitter, plus baserunner, and about an average defender. Despite playing in 125 games, he ranked third among rookies in his league in fWAR (3.3). 2024 was a season deserving of some hardware for the 24-year-old.
Bailey Digh, voted for Butler
National League Rookie of the Year: Paul Skenes
It’s always hard voting on this award when there are pitchers and position players that are deserving. But what Paul Skenes did in 2024 was better than any other rookie in the game. He wasn’t just the best rookie, though. Skenes was also one of MLB’s best pitchers. Among pitchers with at least 130 innings in the NL, the right-hander ranked first in ERA (1.96), second in FIP (2.44), and sixth in fWAR (4.3) while striking out 33.1% of the hitters he faced. He’s clearly the NL Rookie of the Year.
Bailey Digh
I’m going to use this opportunity and platform to talk about Masyn Winn, because the dialogue surrounding Skenes and Merrill will be plentiful. Winn has found sustainable success with truly electrifying talent on the diamond. Pairing that with an improving bat, he was a part of an incredible defensive anchor on the left side of the infield with Nolan Arenado in St. Louis. While he has gotten a lot less fanfare for his overall play than some of the others on this list, he was an invaluable part of the Cardinals 2024, and will be a part of their future successes for years to come.
Carson Melinder, yap session, he voted for Skenes
This is a hard one for me to decide. I usually judge players with a heavier emphasis on their rate stats, doing my best to exclusively evaluate what they can control. On a pure rate basis, there was no rookie more spectacular in baseball this year than Paul Skenes. But he did only play in 14% of his team’s games. That’s a tough pill to swallow, which is why I decided to give the nod to Jackson Merrill instead. Not only did Merrill play in 154 games, he did it while excelling in every aspect of the game. 130 wRC+, 3.7 bSR, and 11 OAA in a position he didn’t play at until he made it to the bigs.
Elizabeth Rose, voted for Merrill
Elite hitter at a premier defensive position for the full season.
Matthew Penn, voted for Merrill
Livvy Dunne.
at least one of our writers
American League Manager of the Year: AJ Hinch
This was Vogt’s award to lose until the Tigers had an incredible second half turn around to make the playoffs.
Michael Fitzpatrick
This team went into the Playoffs with fan-favorite “TBD” as its Game 2 Starter. An incredible season that has surpassed even the most optimistic projections of Tigers fans, Hinch has proven once again why he is considered one of the best day-to-day managers in the game.
Carson Melinder
Voting for this award is always tough. There are no real numbers to use here. Either one of AJ Hinch, Matt Quatraro, and Stephen Vogt are deserving. I went with Quatraro because, even with a true MVP caliber player on the roster, it’s not easy going from a 100-loss team to an 86-win Wild Card team within a year.
Bailey Digh, voted for Quatraro
National League Manager of the Year: Carlos Mendoza
The Mets were left for dead at the end of May. But Carlos Mendoza helped lead the club back to life. They were one of baseball’s best teams from June 1 through the end of the year. For a first-year manager, Mendoza did a great job in a year when the club was supposed to be resetting.
Bailey Digh
To lose Counsell, who was regarded and paid as one of the best managers in baseball, and turn this into a 90+ win team is a significant accomplishment. Not to mention the trade of Corbin Burnes.
Michael Fitzpatrick, voted for Murphy
Milwaukee train just keeps on chugging, was Craig Counsell a system manager?
Joey Bohley, voted for Murphy
The team was decimated by injuries and Roberts navigated the team through to best record in baseball.
Joseph Silva, voted for Roberts
American League Cy Young Award: Tarik Skubal
It’s pretty easy to pick a pitcher for Cy Young when the league leader in ERA, FIP, and fWAR is also fifth in innings pitched. This award was always Skubal’s to lose from the moment the season started, with an uninterrupted stretch of being arguably the best pitcher in baseball for the entire season. Skubal, or Tanner Houck, Skubal or Garret Crochet, Skubal or Cole Ragens. The challengers changed, but Skubal always stayed the same
Elizabeth Rose
Just a dominant season from start to finish. Has been one of, if not the best pitcher in baseball since his return from injury last season.
Michael Fitzpatrick
*declined to comment*
the writer who voted for Clase
National League Cy Young Award: Chris Sale
Sale earning this is awesome. After a long and winding road, to be recognized is awesome. Let’s also give some love to Hunter Greene though. Greene has been a player of incalculable hype since he was a high schooler, and to finally break through in year three and have the season that he had is remarkable. To accomplish it while making a majority of your starts in Great American Small Park, Coors Light, or whatever you want to call it, is a feat on its own.
Carson Melinder
Much like Skubal, this award has to be Chris Sale’s. Standing head and shoulders above the rest of the National League this year, with the next closest qualified pitcher nearly a full point behind his his FIP, Sale’s first season down south was reminicent of his prime with the Red Sox seven years ago. Back then it took Corey Kluber at his very best to keep the Cy Young out of Sale’s hands, but nothing will deny him this time. His only competitor in terms of rate was Paul Skenes, with a 2.44 FIP to Sale’s 2.09. But where Skenes threw 133 innings, Sale threw 177.2. By nearly all metrics Sale was the best pitcher in baseball this year, and he should be rewarded as such
Elizabeth Rose
This one is tough. But Zack Wheeler was a model of consistency and durability in 2024. He threw 200 innings and made 32 starts. The right-hander led the majors in starts of six or more innings while allowing no more than two earned runs (25) and 11 of those came consecutively to finish the regular season. Against NL playoff teams, Wheeler made seven starts and pitched to the tune of a 1.40 ERA. Chris Sale had some better numbers than Wheeler, but the Phillies’ ace had a more impressive and larger workload.
Bailey Digh, voted for Wheeler
American League Most Valuable Player: Aaron Judge
Aaron Judge led the AL in almost every major offensive category. It was a historic season for the Yankees’ captain. He hit 58 homers, slugged .701, posted a 218 wRC+, and led his league in WPA (6.17), RE24 (96.76), and fWAR (11.2). Easy pick here.
Bailey Digh
I am just 20 years old, having been born in 2004. By the time I was able to remember baseball games, Barry Bonds was retired. There was a time I wondered what it must have been like to experience Bonds as he terrorized baseball. I can wonder no more. Aaron Judge is the first player ever to venture into the same orbit Bonds launched himself to in the early 2000s. When Judge finished his 2022 campaign with a 206 wRC+, I thought I would never see something like it again. This year, Judge posted a 218 wRC+. Not only is that the best offensive season by any player since Bonds retired, he eclipsed the mark Bonds himself set in 2003. Awe is the only appropriate reaction for Judge. He is history in motion
Elizabeth Rose
Blah Blah Blah HR man hit HR Blah Blah Blah
Carson Melinder
*no comment*
the writer who voted Witt Jr.
*no comment, but from a noted Nationals fan*
the writer who voted Soto
National League Most Valuable Player: Shohei Ohtani
Shohei Ohtani was already a unicorn. Then, he authored the first 50-50 season in baseball history, furthering his dominance as the best baseball player on planet earth. He led the NL in fWAR (9.1), wRC+ (181), WPA (7.31), and RE24 (81.44). Ohtani was the best, and most valuable, player in his league this year.
Bailey Digh
The race was close for a minute back in August, as people kept debating about whether Acuna’s stolen base mark was enough to push voters away from Mookie Betts, the better offensive performer at the time. Then Betts went cold for the month of September (and October as well if I’m being frank), and Acuna went on a heater in September to seal the award. The 40/70 statistic is a cool achievement, but this result would have been the same if Acuna had just 25 stolen bases instead of 70. He was simply the best offensive performer in the league.
Mauricio Palmer
I mean 50+/50+ is remarkable. First DH to win an MVP and he is more than deserving. I don’t want to hear the lack of fielding as a knock. He could go be the worst statistical fielder of all time and his offensive season would still win him MVP.
Michael Fitzpatrick
A world in which Ohtani does not become Bonds in September and Lindor was healthy would have made for a much more fun debate. Ohtani, get ready to learn Cooperstown buddy.
Carson Melinder
Shohei being this good without pitching reaffirms my belief that he should always be MVP as long as he’s half-decent at doing both in the future.
Jordan Lazowski
Here is the schedule this week for the remainder of the BBWAA awards announcements, all telecast on MLB Network at 6 pm ET:
November 18: Rookie of the Year
November 19: Manager of the Year
November 20: Cy Young Award
November 21: Most Valuable Player
Make sure to tune in to our Twitter/X and Bluesky for more thoughts on these award winners, and let us know if you think we got our voting right!
