Predicting the 2022 MLB award winners

American League Manager of the Year – Brandon Hyde

The Baltimore Orioles were not supposed to be close to .500, let alone contending for a playoff berth in the final few days of the 2022 season.

And yet, that was the case. Manager Brandon Hyde was able to guide a collection of youngsters and castoffs to an 83-79 record, despite the trades of their closer and the heart and soul of the team. The Orioles had a -14 run differential and played in the most difficult division in MLB, yet were still over .500 for the first time since 2016.

That performance also had a ripple effect. The Orioles have declared their rebuilding process as over and are looking to contend next year. Hyde, and the young players, are a major reason why.

*apologies to Dusty Baker, Terry Francona

National League Manager of the Year – Brian Snitker

Sometimes, the calm, steady approach just works. That is the case with Braves manager Brian Snitker.

Once again, the Braves had a slow start to the season. Their outfield struggled due to injuries and underperformance. And once again, Snitker remained calm, trusting his players and playing the rookies immediately when they were brought to the majors.

It worked again. The Braves went on an impressive tear once the calendar flipped to June, erasing a 10.5 game deficit to win the NL East over a 101 win Mets team. While there has yet to be a repeat World Series champion in the 21st century, the Braves appear poised to change that. Snitker is a major reason why.

*apologies to Dave Roberts, Buck Showalter.