New York Yankees superstar outfielder Aaron Judge is considered by many to be the leading candidate for the American League’s Most Valuable Player this season. He’s putting up incredible numbers once again. And there is a valid argument that he could win the award.
But a few others are emerging as viable candidates to challenge Judge this season.
Judge is having one of the better seasons of his career. The winner of the 2022 AL MVP, when he led the league with 133 runs scored, 62 home runs and 131 runs batted in, has a higher on-base percentage and OPS so far in 2024 than he did during that historic campaign. His OPS+ (207) is closing on his MLB-leading 210 during his award-winning season. His numbers are truly remarkable.
But one of his own teammates may challenge him for the award, if not split some of the New York votes. Juan Soto, like Judge, has an OPS over 1.000 this season (Soto is at 1.020). He also leads Major League Baseball in runs scored and walks to date, and has an incredibly impressive 184 OPS+ with 25 home runs and 71 runs batted in. Soto is also dangerously close to Judge in on-base percentage thus far (just .007 behind).
Maybe the biggest issue for both Judge and Soto is the lack of offense around the Yankees hurting their place in the standings. While their production stands out even more in a lineup that lacks much more star power, the Pinstripes looking up at the Baltimore Orioles may open the door for one of their emerging superstars to garner some consideration for the award this season as well.
Gunnar Henderson, Baltimore’s young star shortstop, trails only Judge in all of Major League Baseball in WAR among position players (according to Baseball Reference). Judge has 6.8 to Henderson’s 6.6. Henderson is also second in the American League in home runs, trailing only Judge.
The reigning American League Rookie of the Year who also won a Silver Slugger Award during his freshman campaign has a 170 OPS+ and .946 OPS this season at only 23 years of age. He has already matched his 28 home runs from his rookie season and has stolen 14 bases already, more than Judge and Soto combined.
And Henderson playing a premium defensive position contributes to his tally; Judge has zero WAR from his defensive contributions while Henderson has contributed 0.5 to date. What’s more, the Orioles winning the division may be enough for his stellar season to get a bump in the eyes of voters.
The Kansas City Royals are in third place, but their best player may stand out for his exceptional season enough that he merits votes as well. Bobby Witt, Jr. came up just a couple feet shy of a dramatic Home Run Derby playoff in Arlington at his first All-Star Game appearance, a performance that elevated him on the national stage.
But Witt’s season to date is worthy of consideration. He leads all of Major League Baseball in runs scored and hits and has produced a 166 OPS+. According to Baseball Reference, Witt ranks third in WAR (6.3) behind only Judge and Henderson. And, like Henderson, Witt playing a premium position – shortstop – may help his case as well. He, too, has produced 0.5 defensive WAR to date.
Another factor that may benefit Witt is his legs. After stealing 49 bases last year, Witt has already stolen 23 this year to go with 18 home runs and 70 runs batted in. And his .340 batting average ranks second in the American League behind only Cleveland’s Steven Kwan.
Kwan’s Guardians are in first place in the American League Central, but it’s one of his teammates who may be the final player to challenge Judge for the MVP this season. Third baseman José Ramírez remains the leader on that team, and he is worthy of consideration as well.
Ramírez leads the Guardians with 24 home runs and 82 runs batted in and has also stolen 18 bases this season. He has posted a 134 OPS+ and has a 3.4 WAR (0.2 of which comes from his defense).
While Henderson and Witt will be relatively new to MVP voters, Ramírez has been a regular on ballots for a decade. He had finished in the top four in AL voting four times since 2017 and the top ten after two more seasons. He, too, plays a strong defensive position and his team may run away with a division championship.
The American League East race being up for grabs will undoubtedly influence how voters consider candidates when they make their selections for this season’s American League Most Valuable Player. However, remarkable individual seasons are taking place across the league. Obviously players need to stay healthy for the duration of the season, but the trajectories of these five players could make the ultimate decision from voters a tough one when the regular season comes to a close.
