MLB Awards Watch: Top 5 AL MVP candidates through June
By Tim Haberin
In the latest installment of our MLB Awards Watch, we check in on the state of the AL MVP race. Here are the top 5 contenders through the month of June.
The calendar has officially turned to July, and for baseball fans that means the All-Star Game – the MLB season’s unofficial halfway point – is right around the corner. It’s also as good a time as any to take stock in the various awards races around the league.
The American League MVP battle has been an exciting showcase for some of baseball’s brightest stars, and that should continue throughout the rest of the season. The Junior Circuit is bursting with talent right now, particularly on the offensive side of the game. Case in point, four of the current top five leaders in OPS are from AL clubs. Looking at the all-around picture, six of the top 10 in fWAR are American Leaguers.
While there’s a fairly clear frontrunner for the award at the moment (and you can probably guess who he is), virtually all of the other contenders can make a convincing argument for being listed right near the top. You can’t really go wrong with any of these guys, and it should be a real treat to keep watching them perform throughout the summer.
For now, let’s take a look at where things stand after the month of June. Here are our current top five candidates for the AL Most Valuable Player Award.
Honorable Mentions: Ian Desmond (TEX), Francisco Lindor (CLE), Robinson Cano (SEA)
Next: Number 5