Looking Into the Crystal Ball: Predicting the 2020 MLB Award Winners

National League Manager of the Year: Luis Rojas – New York Mets

Perhaps the boldest prediction on this list, the Mets skipper wasn’t even the Mets skipper until the Houston Astros sign-stealing cheating scandal took down the more celebrated hire, Carlos Beltran. Beltran’s attention to detail and his ability to make in-game adjustments were going to turn the Mets into long-term contenders (cheating perhaps being the reason why he was so efficient in those departments…). Instead, Beltran was removed from his position before managing his first game, and Luis Rojas, the team’s quality control coach was given the job.

Rojas may not have been the team’s first option, but he’ll end up becoming the best option. As the son of long-time Expos and Giants skipper Felipe Alou, the 38 year old has managing in his blood. He also had successful stints as manager of the Leones del Escogido of the Dominican Professional Baseball League and of the New York Mets AA affiliate, the Binghamton Rumble Ponies.

Rojas will have many weapons at his disposal, specifically a talented pitching staff, led by Cy Young winner Jacob DeGrom and the God of Thunder, Noah Syndergaard. The lineup, led by Pete Alonso will have some thunder of its own. Though not the favorites in the NL East, the Mets have the talent to sneak up on the Atlanta Braves and Philadelphia Phillies – perhaps even surpassing them, which would force voters to seriously consider Rojas, the man that not even his own team wanted, as the National League Manager of the Year.