2020 MLB awards predictions
The 2020 MLB awards finalists were announced on Monday. Call to the Pen predicts the winners.
It’s official. The 2020 MLB awards season is upon us. The league announced finalists for the major end-of-year awards on Monday, given out by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America. Most Valuable Player, Cy Young, Manager of the Year, and Rookie of the Year were included in this announcement.
On Tuesday, the league announced the official winners of the 2020 Gold Glove awards.
As a reminder, the voting for these awards only considers regular-season performances; the postseason is excluded.
We all know the 2020 regular season was unlike no other. Players and managers had only 60 games to impress the voters. The result? Much closer races than normal. In previous 162-game campaigns, many candidates fell out of contention throughout the marathon campaign.
Starting next Monday, November 9th, the league will officially announce the winners of its major awards. With that in mind, let’s check out some predictions for the 2020 winners.
Rookie of the Year
National League: Alec Bohm, 3B, Philadelphia Phillies
The NL Rookie of the Year race may be the tightest of all the league awards. As a rookie, Alec Bohm finished sixth in the NL with a .338 batting average. The Wichita State University product and third overall pick in the 2018 MLB Draft lived up to expectations during his 2020 campaign. Bohm recorded a .400 OBP and .481 slugging percentage for an OPS of .881. The Philadelphia Phillies‘ top prospect also knocked four home runs and 23 RBIs in just 44 games of action.
While the Phillies finished outside of the postseason picture, Bohm has all of the talent necessary for winning baseball in Philadelphia.
Other finalists: Jake Cronenworth, SS, San Diego Padres, and Devin Williams, RP, Milwaukee Brewers
American League: Kyle Lewis, CF, Seattle Mariners
Kyle Lewis burst onto the scene in 2020. The flashy defender put together an impressive offensive campaign in 58 games. Throughout the regular season, Lewis held a heated battle in offensive numbers with Luis Robert, another Rookie of the Year finalist and center fielder for the Chicago White Sox.
The pair both hit 11 home runs, while Lewis’ hitting line finished with better marks. Lewis hit .262/.364/.437 and notched five stolen bases. His highlight from the year? Robbing a Ramón Laureano grand slam that gave Seattle Mariners‘ fans fond memories of Ken Griffey Jr.
Kyle Lewis got UP 😱
— B/R Walk-Off (@BRWalkoff) September 15, 2020
Robbed the A’s of a grand slam
(via @MLB)pic.twitter.com/hmj59JFjGw
Other finalists: Cristian Javier, SP, Houston Astros, and Robert, 1B, Chicago White Sox
Historic MLB Rookie of the Year winners
Announcement Date: Monday, November 9th
Manager of the Year
National League: Don Mattingly, Miami Marlins
The Manager of the Year award is often reserved for managers that lead clubs to over-achieving results. This year is no different. Don Mattingly and the Miami Marlins faced almost every possible barrier to competing this year. The adversity began with a hard-hitting COVID-19 outbreak to kick off the year. Add in multiple injuries and a very young and inexperienced roster, Mattingly faced a new-look roster almost daily.
In total, the Marlins used 61 players this season with 174 different roster moves. 18 of these players made their MLB debuts. Despite the ever-changing roster, Mattingly led the Marlins to a second-place finish in the NL East and the club’s first playoff appearance since 2003.
Other finalists: David Ross, Chicago Cubs, and Jayce Tingler, San Diego Padres
American League: Kevin Cash, Tampa Bay Rays
From start to finish during this year’s 60-game sprint, the Tampa Bay Rays were the best team in the American League. Yes, the underwhelming performance from the New York Yankees helped, but Kevin Cash led Tampa Bay to an AL East title, the most wins in the AL, and eventually a World Series appearance. Of course, the postseason is not factored into voting but was illustrative of the Rays’ special season. And of course, with one of the lowest payrolls in baseball, this elite 2020 performance exceeded expectations.
Other finalists: Charlie Montoyo, Toronto Blue Jays, and Rick Renteria, Chicago White Sox
Historic MLB Manager of the Year winners
Announcement Date: Tuesday, November 10th
Cy Young
National League: Trevor Bauer, Cincinnati Reds
The NL Cy Young award race has not been a close race. Trevor Bauer will take home this award, with ease. During his 2020 campaign with the Cincinnati Reds, Bauer led the NL in ERA (1.73), hits per nine innings (5.06), WHIP (0.795), and opponent batting average (.159). Simply put, this was the best season of his career and an all-time season pitching performance. This MLB awards race was a runaway.
Other finalists: Yu Darvish, Chicago Cubs, and Jacob deGrom, New York Mets
American League: Shane Bieber, Cleveland Indians
The AL Cy Young award race looked quite similar. An absolute runaway. A race for second place. A blowout. Shane Bieber dominated AL hitters for the Cleveland Indians. Bieber ran away with the majority of the AL statistical categories including pitching WAR (3.3), ERA (1.63), wins (8), hits per nine innings (5.353), strikeouts (122), and strikeouts per nine innings (14.198). Several of these numbers, including WAR, ERA, and strikeouts led the entire big leagues.
Other finalists: Kenta Maeda, Minnesota Twins, and Hyun Jin Ryu, Toronto Blue Jays
Announcement Date: Wednesday, November 11th
Most Valuable Player
National League: Freddie Freeman, 1B, Atlanta Braves
Because of the shortened-season, the NL MVP award race offers a lot of room for debate. But, in the end, this one will go to Freddie Freeman of the Atlanta Braves. Freeman played in all 60 games and put together a phenomenal season at the plate. The first baseman hit an astounding .341/.462/.640 batting line including 13 home runs and 53 RBIs. Freeman also drew 45 walks.
Mookie Betts deserves a runner-up status in this award. While the Los Angeles Dodgers’ right fielder could not match Freeman’s batting line, he clobbered three more home runs throughout the season. Betts also recorded a higher overall WAR, much in part to his Gold Glove-winning defensive play.
Other finalists: Betts, RF, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Manny Machado, 3B, San Diego Padres
American League: José Abreu, 1B, Chicago White Sox
Much like the NL, the AL MVP award race is a tough one to call. This race reflects more as a 1A-1B race instead of a natural first- and second-place finisher. José Abreu, first baseman for the Chicago White Sox, edges out DJ LeMahieu of the New York Yankees thanks to his display of power at the plate.
While LeMahieu won the outright batting title for both leagues, Abreu recorded nine more home runs (19) and 33 more RBIs (60). The first baseman finished with a .317/.370/.617 batting line, carrying the White Sox explosive offense throughout the season Chicago edged out a 35-25 overall record and the seventh seed in the AL postseason picture.
Next. The top 25 free agents. dark
Other finalists: LeMahieu, 2B, New York Yankees, and Jose Ramirez, 3B, Cleveland Indians
Announcement Date: Thursday, November 12th