Award season has begun for the 2024 MLB season. The finalists have been announced for every major award and within the next two weeks, the winners will be chosen. Although the MVP’s and Cy Young’s are all but shoe-ins, the fairly new All-MLB teams remain up for debate. Since 2019, fans have voted on who they think is deserving of the distinction at each position. Based on the finalists chosen by the fans, here is who I predict will fill out the All-MLB first team.
Catcher: William Contreras, Milwaukee Brewers
The Brewers’ catcher continued the momentum of his 2023 season with an even better year in 2024. Contreras had career highs in almost every major statistical category, including vast improvement in home runs, RBIs and WAR. The 2023 National League Silver Slugger at the catcher position should repeat that feat along with a place on the All-MLB first team.
(Second Team: Yainer Diaz, Houston Astros)
First Base: Vladimir Guerrero Jr, Toronto Blue Jays
Vladdy Jr. was a bright spot in a Blue Jays season that was ravaged by injuries. The 2021 All-MLB selection at first base was one hit shy of 200 hits, slugging 30 homers and 44 doubles. Guerrero’s .323 average surpassed his career high of .311 in his second place MVP finish of 2021. With free agency looming at the end of the 2025 season for Vladdy, his All-MLB first team play this season will raise his new contract.
(Second Team: Freddie Freeman, Los Angeles Dodgers)
Second Base: Ketel Marte, Arizona Diamondbacks
Marte was just named an MVP finalist in the National League after a season on par with his fourth place MVP finish in 2019. The all-star hit a career-high 36 home runs and collected 6.8 WAR. Ketel was named to his second career all-star team this season and continues to be a franchise player for Arizona.
(Second Team: Jose Altuve, Houston Astros)
Third Base: Jose Ramírez, Cleveland Guardians
A canceled game 162 robbed Ramírez of a potential 40-40 season. Finishing the season off with 39 homers and 41 stolen bases, he also contributed 39 doubles. Ramírez’s 118 RBIs powered the Guardians to the best record in the American League Central. After earning second team All-MLB selections in 2020 and 2023, Ramírez will finally be crowned the best third baseman in baseball for the 2024 season.
(Second Team: Matt Chapman, San Fransisco Giants)
Shortstop: Bobby Witt Jr, Kansas City Royals
Making the choice between Witt and Francisco Lindor was the hardest decision of the entire list. Both players took a team that nobody thought would compete this year and elevated them to the playoffs. When you look at Witt’s stats however, they just edge out Lindor’s. The gold glover had the highest batting average and the most hits in all of baseball. Although Lindor also flashes the leather, Witt’s impact on both offense and defense earned him a 9.4 WAR, the second highest in the league behind Aaron Judge.
Outfielders: Aaron Judge (NYY), Juan Soto (NYY) and Jarren Duran (BOS)
The captain of the Bronx Bombers will walk away with his second American League MVP award next week. Judge led the league in all major hitting categories besides runs, hits and batting average. Hitting 50 plus home runs for the third time in his career, Judge continues to build a hall of fame resume.
Juan Soto’s year in pinstripes was about what you would expect for a lefty enjoying the short porch at Yankee Stadium. Soto broke the 40-home run mark for the first time in his career, while also leading the league in runs scored. The right fielder reaffirmed his value to any doubters and will receive a pretty penny this offseason.
Jarren Duran’s career year is one of the best stories from the 2024 MLB season. After defensive struggles and clashes with fans, Duran cleaned up the miscues in the field and even earned a gold glove nomination. Duran was unbelievable at the plate, leading the league in doubles and triples. The all-star game MVP became the first player since 1901 with at least 20 homers, 40 doubles, 10 triples and 30 stolen bases in a major league season.
Second Team: Teoscar Hernández (LAD), Anthony Santander (BAL), Jackson Merril (SDP)
Designated Hitter: Shohei Ohtani, Los Angeles Dodgers
This one should go without saying after the megastar’s historic season. Ohtani became the first player ever to hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases in a season. In a year where he did not throw a pitch, Shohei will win his third MVP award in four years.
(Second Team: Marcell Ozuna, Atlanta Braves)
Starting Pitchers: Tarik Skubal (DET), Chris Sale (ATL), Paul Skenes (PIT), Seth Lugo (KCR) and Zack Wheeler (PHI)
Tarik Skubal’s breakout season will earn him his first ever Cy Young award. In a time where wins are so hard to come by, Skubal tallied 18 of them to help the Tigers late season surge into the playoffs. The southpaw also led the league in ERA, strikeouts and FIP.
It is incredible that it has taken Chris Sale this long to be a Cy Young frontrunner. After years of dominance as a White Sock and a World Series championship in Boston, Sale has finished anywhere from second to sixth place in Cy Young voting. The lefty’s stats are almost identical with Skubal’s, however the first year Atlanta Brave accomplished everything with 15 fewer innings. Sale’s fielding also earned him his first ever gold glove.
Paul Skenes became the first rookie to be nominated as a Cy Young finalist since the late Jose Fernandez in 2013. The all-star starter for the National League saw his ERA finish just under two in 23 total starts. If the righty can contain his averages for a 30 plus start season, he will be an All-MLB and Cy Young candidate for years to come.
Seth Lugo headlined a stellar Royals pitching staff that helped lead the team to the playoffs for the first time in nine years. Lugo logged over 200 innings of work and sported a three flat ERA. The all-star also kept the baseball in the park with a career low HR9 rate of just 0.7 compared to his 1.2 HR9 of the past three seasons.
Zack Wheeler’s tenure in Philadelphia has been nothing short of brilliant. In exactly 200 innings this season, Wheeler led the league in WHIP while keeping hitters at bay by only allowing 6.3 hits for every nine innings pitched. The righties 16 wins and 2.57 ERA were also career highs in an all-star year.
Second Team: Corbin Burnes (BAL), Michael King (SDP), Dylan Cease (SDP), Shota Imanaga (CHC) and Cole Ragans (KCR)
Relief Pitchers: Emmanuel Clase (CLE) and Ryan Helsley (STL)
Emmanuel Clase was virtually unhittable during the regular season, allowing just five earned runs in 74.1 innings of work. Clase led the American League in saves for the third year in a row, tallying 47 saves for Cleveland. The flamethrower became the first reliever since Francisco Rodriguez in 2008 to be named a Cy Young finalist.
Ryan Helsley has been quietly building a great resume as the closer in Saint Louis. In his first year as the full-time closer, Helsley led the league with 49 saves. The righthander only conceded three home runs on his way to a 2.04 ERA.
Second Team: Raisel Iglesias (ATL) and Alex Vesia (LAD)