The MVP award winners will be announced in less than a few hours, and Aaron Judge faces Bobby Witt Jr. as the primary competition in the MVP race. He dazzled for the Kansas City Royals with a .332 batting average, 32 home runs, and 31 steals, earning a Gold Glove at shortstop.
Witt’s heroics propelled Kansas City into the playoffs, where they fell to Judge’s Yankees in the ALDS. Juan Soto, meanwhile, delivered a career-best 41 home runs, led the league with 128 runs scored, and maintained a .989 OPS in what was one of the greatest walk years in recent memory. Still, even with Soto’s incredible campaign, Judge’s dominance in key metrics makes him the heavy favorite.
Aaron Judge Frontrunner To Win AL-MVP
Aaron Judge, the Yankees’ towering captain, is expected to secure his second American League MVP award in three seasons, cementing his legacy as one of the franchise’s greatest players. The announcement will come Thursday night, with Judge competing against teammate Juan Soto and Royals’ star Bobby Witt Jr. for the prestigious honor. The 32-year-old slugger put up historic numbers in 2024, leading Major League Baseball in multiple categories: home runs (58), RBIs (144), on-base percentage (.458), slugging percentage (.701), and OPS (1.159). Though a relatively quiet finish to the regular season left him short of breaking his own 62-homer franchise record from 2022, Judge’s all-around brilliance remained unmatched.
Manager Aaron Boone lauded Judge’s relentless pursuit of excellence. “We’re watching a historically great player now. He’s intent and obsessed with trying to get a little bit better year in and year out,” Boone said after Judge’s 58th homer. He emphasized Judge’s evolution as a well-rounded hitter, noting subtle improvements that make him an even greater force at the plate. However, despite the likely MVP honor, Judge’s focus remains on what he and the Yanks could not achieve: a World Series title. The Yankees’ season ended with a five-game loss to the Dodgers, where a rare defensive lapse by Judge in Game 5 proved costly. His postseason struggles were evident, hitting just .184 with three home runs and 20 strikeouts in 14 games. For Judge, the MVP recognition will be bittersweet. While it highlights his individual brilliance, the ultimate prize, a Yankees championship, remains elusive.
MLB Analyst Votes For Bobby Witt For AL-MVP
In the debate over the 2024 AL MVP, MLB analyst Kenny has presented a compelling argument in favor of Bobby Witt Jr. While Aaron Judge is the frontrunner, Kenny points to key metrics that suggest Witt’s versatility as a fielder, baserunner, and offensive contributor makes the race closer than it appears. “Aaron Judge is a below-league-average center fielder,” Kenny asserted.
While Judge’s towering home runs and staggering 218 wRC+ demonstrate his dominance at the plate, his defense and baserunning metrics leave room for critique. Kenny highlighted Aaron Judge negative three defensive run value and a slightly below-average baserunning rating, metrics that are underwhelming for an MVP candidate. In contrast, Witt’s all-around excellence stands out.
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