MLB Awards Watch: Top 5 AL MVP candidates through April
Apr 25, 2015; Anaheim, CA, USA; Los Angeles Angels center fielder Mike Trout speaks to the crowd after receiving his 2014 MVP award before the game against the Texas Rangers at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports
At this early juncture, the Most Valuable Player race in the American League looks like a list of the usual suspects for the most part. If anything, that simply reinforces how good these particular players are and that their performances in April were worthy of their lofty reputations. It was a fairly good month for offense in the AL, and the five MVP candidates reflect that. Four of them boast an OPS over 1.000, and the other is not far behind at .999.
Mike Trout won the award unanimously last year, leading both leagues in runs (115) and total bases (338). The Angels center fielder may very well end up lifting the hardware again in 2015, but he won’t lack for competition. New faces may enter the fray as the season progresses, but all five on this list look to remain factors in the MLB awards picture all year long.
Honorable mention: OAK Stephen Vogt (.348, 4 HR, 15 RBI, 1.035 OPS)
Next: Hanley Ramirez
5. Hanley Ramirez – .293 BA, 10 HR, 22 RBI
Apr 29, 2015; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Red Sox left fielder Hanley Ramirez (13) hits a two run home run off Toronto Blue Jays pitcher R.A. Dickey (not pictured) during the third inning at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports
Hanley Ramirez inked with the Sox over the winter, returning to the organization where he played minor league ball. Boston has been quite pleased with the homecoming so far, as the shortstop-turned-outfielder has provided the heart-of-the-order presence they hoped he would. Ramirez is currently tied (with the next player on this list) for the league lead in homers (10) and RBI (22).
His .999 OPS is seventh-best in the AL, and his name can be found within the top 10 of a host of other offensive categories. Flanked by David Ortiz and Pablo Sandoval, Hanley will continue to have an abundance of support in the Red Sox lineup, so it’s easy to see him producing at a high rate throughout the course of the season.
Next: Nelson Cruz
4. Nelson Cruz – .322 BA, 10 HR, 22 RBI
Apr 29, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; Seattle Mariners designated hitter Nelson Cruz (23) reacts after hitting a home run during the second inning against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Park in Arlington. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
It’s always difficult to get a read on how adversely a prior PED suspension will affect a specific player during awards season, but Nelson Cruz did garner enough ballots to place seventh in last year’s voting. His April numbers are also just too outstanding to ignore. Cruz has been an absolute force for the Mariners since signing with Seattle in the offseason. His home run (10) and RBI (22) totals are matched only by the aforementioned Ramirez in the AL. He is also complementing his power with a .322 batting average and .372 on-base rate.
Cruz’s 1.096 OPS is good for second-best among AL hitters, though a comedown shouldn’t be unexpected. Since 2010 he’s averaged a decidedly less impressive .274/.332/.512 batting line and .843 OPS. Regardless, after leading the majors with 40 homers last year the power doesn’t seem to have gone anywhere. If Cruz can help lead the M’s out of their early-season malaise and into the thick of the AL West race, he should help his case.
Next: Mike Trout
3. Mike Trout – .329 BA, 5 HR, 14 RBI
Apr 29, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Los Angeles Angels center fielder Mike Trout (27) rounds the bases on a solo home run against the Oakland Athletics during the third inning at O.co Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
It’s Mike Trout’s world, we’re all just living in it. As if anyone needed a reminder of that fact, the Millville Meteor appears more than capable of defending his AL MVP award. His 1.039 OPS is currently fourth in the league and he’s scored the most runs (20) among AL players. Crossing home plate is certainly nothing new for Trout: he’s led the league in runs scored each of the last three seasons. Barring injury, there’s little reason to think this won’t be the fourth.
You could go in countless directions describing what makes Trout so great, but what sets him apart from the usual slugging MVP archetype is his speed. In his rookie season he stole an MLB-best 49 bases and followed that up with 33 the next year. 2014 saw a significant drop-off with only 16 steals, but he’s off to a solid start on the base paths this year, swiping six bases in six attempts. His quickness also helps him rack up the extra-base hits. It won’t make or break his MVP hopes, but it’s a facet of his game worth appreciating.
Trout will be there right until the end and you shouldn’t bet against him adding his second MVP award to what will surely be a very full trophy case by the time he calls it a career.
Next: Miguel Cabrera
2. Miguel Cabrera – .373 BA, 5 HR, 17 RBI
Apr 26, 2015; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera (24) hits a two run home run in the sixth inning against the Cleveland Indians at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
To the shock of no one, Miguel Cabrera finds himself a major contender for another MVP crown. He had a somewhat disappointing season by his standards in 2014 and still finished in the top 10 in MVP voting. The sluggish start that hampered him last year has not reared its head at all in 2015. Cabrera has battled through a troublesome ankle to post a .373 average along with five homers and 17 RBI. His 1.091 OPS ranks third among his American League peers.
Cabrera’s staggering resume requires no introduction. His back-to-back MVP awards in 2012 and 2013 were beyond well-deserved. His 2012 Triple Crown season (.330, 44 HR, 139 RBI) was the first since Carl Yastrzemski‘s in 1967. And he almost pulled off an encore the following season, instead having to settle for leading the league in BA, OPB, SLG and OPS. Cabrera can fall comfortably short of those numbers and still likely end up as a frontrunner for the award.
Next: Adam Jones
1. Adam Jones – .400 BA, 5 HR, 19 RBI
Apr 22, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Baltimore Orioles center fielder Adam Jones (10) waits for a pitch during the third inning in a game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre. The Toronto Blue Jays won 4-2. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports
No hitter in the American League had a better month than the Orioles’ Adam Jones. In 20 games the center fielder is batting .400 with an eye-popping 1.147 OPS. Both numbers lead the AL. In fact, you could argue that no one in all of baseball but Adrian Gonzalez swung a hotter bat in April. It’s been mostly business as usual for Jones, a four-time All-Star who has served as the heart and soul of the O’s for several seasons now. Over the last three years he has hit .284 while averaging 31 homers and 95 RBI. He has placed as high as sixth in MVP voting, which he did in 2012.
He will be hard-pressed to sustain his present average throughout the season, of course. However, if he finishes above .300 (a feat he hasn’t achieved thus far in his career) while maintaining his usual HR and RBI production, he could certainly find himself over the MVP hump. In any case, Jones has rocketed through the month of April and sits in the pole position in the AL MVP chase.