Aaron Judge wins Baseball Digest Player of the Year, edging Shohei Ohtani in a close vote after leading MLB with 58 home runs
Aaron Judge Claims
Baseball Digest Player of the Year Award, Edges Out Shohei Ohtani
New York, NY — In a
closely contested vote, Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees has been awarded
the prestigious Baseball Digest/Inside Edge Major League Player of the Year
award, narrowly surpassing Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani. The
results were announced on Friday, with both players earning first-place votes
on 12 of the 24 ballots cast, showcasing their exceptional performances
throughout the season.
While Judge and Ohtani
both received equal recognition from the panel of baseball writers and
broadcasters, it was Judge's additional support in the second-place votes that
ultimately secured his victory. He received 12 second-place votes, whereas
Ohtani was ranked third on two ballots. Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt
Jr. received the remaining two second-place votes, placing him third overall in
the voting results.
Judge's outstanding
season included leading the majors with 58 home runs, 144 RBIs, and an
impressive 1.159 OPS. He played a pivotal role in propelling the Yankees to an
American League East title, finishing the season with a batting average of .322
and scoring 122 runs. This accolade marks Judge's second consecutive win of the
Baseball Digest Player of the Year award, following his achievement in 2022.
Notably, he joins the ranks of Yankees legends Ron Guidry (1978) and Derek
Jeter (2006) as the only other Yankees to earn this honor.
On the other hand,
Ohtani, who won the award in 2021, finished second for the third consecutive
year. His 2024 performance was nothing short of remarkable, as he belted 54
home runs and recorded 130 RBIs with a 1.036 OPS while batting .310.
Additionally, Ohtani made history by becoming the first player in MLB history
to achieve a 50-50 season, swiping 59 bases. His contributions helped lead the
Dodgers to an NL West title in his first year with the team after signing a
record-breaking $700 million contract in free agency. However, Ohtani did not
pitch this season, focusing solely on his role as a designated hitter while
recovering from his second major elbow surgery.
In addition to the
Player of the Year award, other significant accolades were handed out. Detroit
Tigers ace Tarik Skubal was recognized as the top pitcher of the year after
winning the pitching Triple Crown in the American League. Skubal finished the
season with an impressive record of 18-4, leading the league in wins, ERA
(2.39), and strikeouts (228) over 192 innings pitched. His exceptional
performance earned him 18 first-place votes, with fellow left-hander Chris Sale
of the Atlanta Braves receiving five first-place votes after winning the
National League's pitching Triple Crown with an 18-3 record, a 2.38 ERA, and
225 strikeouts in 177 2/3 innings.
Cleveland Guardians
closer Emmanuel Clase was a unanimous choice for the reliever of the year,
demonstrating his dominance in late-game situations and further highlighting
the exceptional talent present in Major League Baseball this season.
As the 2024 MLB season
wraps up, the recognition of Judge, Ohtani, and other standout players
underscores the competitive nature of the league and sets the stage for an
exciting offseason ahead.
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