Now that the World Series is over, baseball can start handing out hardware. On Monday, shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. was named a finalist for AL Most Valuable Player for the second time in his career.
Witt led the American League with 7.0 fWAR, and hit .281/.359/.441 with 18 home runs. He finished ninth in the league in hits (157), ninth in runs scored (94), sixth in doubles (33), second in steals (45), and ninth in Runs Created (95). He led all AL defenders with +24 Outs Above Average and was a finalist for a Gold Glove Award. Witt will be up against Astros outfielder Yordan Alvarez and Rays third baseman Junior Caminero. Witt finished second to Aaron Judge in 2024. He finished fourth in MVP voting last year, and seventh in 2023.George Brett is the only Royals player to win AL MVP, taking home the award in 1980.
Carter Jensen was not named a finalist for AL Rookie of the Year, despite a strong season behind the plate. The Kansas City native hit .239/.323/.467 with 27 home runs and 65 walks, but was shutout in favor of Kevin McGonigle of the Tigers, Parker Messick of the Guardians, and Payton Tolle of the Red Sox.
The MVP Awards will be announced on November 12, at 6 p.m. CT on MLB Network.
Here is a complete list of finalists for MLB awards:
AL MVP: Yordan Alvarez, Astros; Junior Caminero, Rays; Bobby Witt Jr., Royals
NL MVP: Pete Crow-Armstrong, Cubs; Shohei Ohtani, Dodgers; Brice Turang, Brewers
AL Cy Young: Dylan Cease, Blue Jays; Parker Messick, Guadians; Cam Schlittler, Yankees
NL Cy Young: Cristopher Sanchez, Phillies; Chris Sale, Braves; Jacob Misiorowski, Brewers
AL Rookie of the Year: Kevin McGonigle, Tigers; Parker Messick, Guadians; Payton Tolle, Red Sox
NL Rookie of the Year: Carson Benge, Mets; Sal Stewart, Reds, JJ Wetherholt, Cardinals
AL Relief Pitcher of the Year: Bryan Baker, Rays; Cade Smith, Guardians; Louis Varland, Blue Jays
NL Relief Pitcher of the Year: Jhoan Duran, Phillies; Trevor Megill, Brewers; Mason Miller, Padres
AL Manager of the Year: Kevin Cash, Rays; Chad Tracy, Red Sox; Will Venable, White Sox
NL Manager of the Year: Don Mattingly, Phillies; Pat Murphy, Brewers; Walt Weiss, Braves
