2019 MLB Season: AL MVP Race Update
As we are about 40% into the 2019 MLB season, the American League Most Valuable Player award race is getting more and more competitive. From regular faces and previous winners to younger players that are beginning to make a name for themselves in this league.
Different from last year, in the 2019 MLB season the Texas Rangers, Minnesota Twins, and the Tampa Bay Rays could all be playing meaningful baseball at the end of September, and even into October. This adds younger, emerging stars into the conversation for the first time.
Reigning AL MVP Mookie Betts is missing from this conversation, for now. He has not been as dominant as he was last season. Still performing at an impressive caliber, Betts might become a factor for the award later in the season.
Through June 10th, here are the honorable mentions and top five frontrunners in the AL MVP race thus far.
Honorable Mentions
On the verge of his first All-Star appearance, Rosario is having the best season of his career. The Twins are on top of the AL Central Division and have been one of the most consistent teams in baseball. Currently, in the lead for RBI with 52, he exhibits much more power this year than in seasons past. Through 61 games, he has 19 home runs and is batting .272.
His power would make him a top-five candidate, but his lower average limits his chances. If he raises it as the 2019 MLB season goes on and keeps his power consistent, he could emerge as more of a frontrunner for this year’s hardware.
Just joining Houston in the offseason, Brantley has become one of their more valuable players due to injuries of All-Stars George Springer, Jose Altuve, and Carlos Correa. Possibly viewed as a less likely MVP candidate, the 32-year-old is hitting .317 through 63 games. His 78 hits are third-most in the AL.
Currently, he is a major factor on the team with the best record in the AL. He leads the team in average and hits while playing stellar defense in the outfield.
Out of all the players on the New York Yankees’ roster, nobody would have predicted DJ LeMahieu to be their most valuable player through June. The absences of Miguel Andujar, Giancarlo Stanton, and Aaron Judge have created more of an opportunity for LeMahieu to emerge as a real candidate.
He has 74 hits through 32 games. His .321 average is currently fourth in the AL. He has been playing both second and third, making him more versatile for New York. He has been one of the biggest steals of the offseason, and a huge reason why the Yankees are second in the AL East.
2019 MLB Season: AL MVP Race Update
5th- Austin Meadows
Austin Meadows is leading this young Tampa Bay team to the front of the AL East. In his first full season with the Rays since being traded from the Pittsburgh Pirates last summer, Meadows is hitting .341 and leading the American League in batting average.
He has shown a lot of versatility at the plate, displaying both power and contact hitting. His OPS., 1.032, is third in the AL. He has been one of the most consistent hitters in, not just the AL East, but the entire the league. He has 12 home runs, 38 RBI and eight stolen bases through just 48 games.
By limiting his strikeouts at the plate, the 24-year-old has developed into an all-around hitter. However, his lack of time in the outfield will hurt his chances of winning the award.
He has only played in the outfield in 27 of his 48 games so far. A designated hitter has not won the AL MVP since Don Baylor of the California Angel did it in 1979.
If both Tampa Bay and Meadows continues at this pace, he will certainly be on MVP ballots come October. He can become a staple in the Rays franchise for the 2019 MLB season. As a part of their young core, a steady team is developing in Florida.
2019 MLB Season: AL MVP Race Update
4th- Joey Gallo
Even though he is currently on the Injured List with a strained left oblique muscle, Joey Gallo has been the most improved player in baseball this season.
From 2015-2018, he batted just .203.
This season, the 25-year-old is batting .276 through 51 games with 17 home runs and 41 RBI. He is leading the AL in slugging percentage with .653 and is second in OPS with 1.074.
He is on pace to hit 40 home runs for the third straight season. He has transitioned from a pure slugger to an all-around hitter. He is not just hitting home runs like he used to.
His contact hitting has improved significantly. Becoming more versatile, he has been strong in both center and left for Texas. He has been scoring more runs and hitting more singles than ever before.
Not only has Gallo been surprising, but the Rangers have shocked the baseball community. They are 35-30, second in the AL West and in place to clinch a spot in the Wild Card game.
Gallo has been raking and has propelled the Rangers to be a real threat in the American League. The team might only get better as they consider buying at the trade deadline.
2019 MLB Season: AL MVP Race Update
3rd- Alex Bregman
The Houston Astros have suffered from injuries to their lineup this whole season. Despite having a plethora of players on the IL, they are 45-22 and have the best record in the AL.
Alex Bregman has been the sparkplug that has kept their offense producing. Through 65 games, the 2018 All-star has scored 44 runs, hit 18 home runs and has 44 RBI. Even though he is hitting .272, his OPS. is .934.
The 25-year-old has been elite at both third and short this season. Both his impressive season and Michael Brantley’s have kept the Astros in first place.
Coming in 5th last season for the MVP award, Bregman will have a stronger chance place higher, or possibly win, this season if he eclipses the 40-home run mark. He has been hitting fewer doubles and more home runs, while keeping his strikeout total down, only whiffing 37 times in 288 plate appearances.
If Bregman remains healthy and continues this pace, the Astros will win over 100 games. His bat has kept the team going. He continues to improve each season and emerge as one of the young, elite superstars in the majors.
Houston and Bregman are not going anywhere if he continues to play like an MVP candidate.
2019 MLB Season: AL MVP Race Update
2nd- Jorge Polanco
The breakout player of the year is Jorge Polanco and he is a heavy contender in the AL MVP race.
Polanco has the most hits, 82, in the American League and is hitting .333 through 61 games. He is on pace to hit over 40 doubles, score over 100 runs and record at least 200 hits. He has been the key component to a successful Twins lineup.
Minnesota is currently dominating in the AL Central. They are 43-21and 10.5 games in front of the second place Cleveland Indians. The Twins have been the most improved team this season and part of it is due to the improvements of Polanco.
Even though Eddie Rosario has been slugging, Polanco is the most valuable player in the Minnesota lineup because of his ability to get on base. His on-base percentage is .410 and he has been a spark in their lineup at the two-hole.
The Twins are relying on the 25-year-old to keep this pace and help them to the AL Central division title. In a career-season, he has a strong chance to make it to the All-Star game in Cleveland.
Despite only having 10 home runs, he has been so valuable because he gets on base so often and scores so many runs. If Polanco keeps playing like this, he will have a chance to be the American League MVP.
2019 MLB Season: AL MVP Race Update
1st- Mike Trout
Nobody is surprised here.
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Once again, the Los Angeles Angels’ Mike Trout is on pace to win the AL MVP for the third time in his career.
The 27-year-old seven-time All-Star has 18 home runs and 44 RBI through 63 games for the Angels.
He is currently leading the American League in runs scored, walks, On-base percentage, OPS>, and intentional walks. Trout has been the most dominant hitter in the AL, yet; he has done it in a very low-key fashion.
If he continues this pace, he will hit set his single-season record for home runs, while on pace to walk over 140 times. Pitchers do not even want to pitch to him. He is the biggest threat in the majors.
Even though the Angels are not competing for the division this season, Trout has been the best player in the AL. He has won the award in the past when his team has missed the playoffs and he will do that again this season.
After signing the largest contract in sports history, a 12-year, $426.5 million extension, he has not slowed down whatsoever. Trout continues to be the best player in baseball.
Next. Marlins reportedly set to promote Jordan Yamamoto. dark
This might be his best season yet.