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Top 5 AL MVP Contenders in 2024

This season, the American League has witnessed many great players who all deserve MVP consideration. From another potential 60-bomb season to a .350 average, several contenders will appear on writer’s ballots for AL MVP after the season.

Top 5 Contenders for 2024 AL MVP

5. Anthony Santander

Not many players are as underrated as Anthony Santander. He leads the Baltimore Orioles in home runs and RBI and has been a valuable arm in the outfield. He will be a free agent next season and could become very valuable to any team. Santander is on pace for his second season with at least 33 home runs and has hit at least 28 homers in three straight seasons. He is also on pace for a monster 46 home run season, which the Orioles love to see.

Santander has one downside: average. Despite launching 38 homers thus far and driving in 86 runs, he has batted a low .234. Regardless, he is possibly the most important player on the Baltimore Orioles and deserves serious consideration for AL MVP.

4. Juan Soto

This season, Juan Soto’s time with the New York Yankees has been magical. Already with 37 home runs, a career-high .294 average, and 95 runs driven in, Soto has become one of the most productive hitters in the AL. Without him, there is no telling where the Yankees would be, as the team has consistently struggled this season to keep its offense afloat. Soto has helped massively in this effort.

Soto is having the best year of his career thus far and has now put together three 30-homer seasons at age 25. Two of those have come in the last two seasons. There is no doubt that Soto deserves consideration for MVP, and he will certainly be in the conversation at season’s end.

3. Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

Since June 3rd, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has been a monster. With 22 home runs since then, Vladdy joins the MVP conversation, consistently producing well for the Toronto Blue Jays. Guerrero’s resurgence this season has included power and average. Both now rank amongst the best in the league, with a .322 average, 27 home runs, and a 7th-best OPS of .954.

On pace for 32 bombs, Guerrero Jr. deserves MVP consideration for his resurgence in the last three months and his incredible average, which will likely be a career-high.

2. Bobby Witt Jr.

This season has been one to remember for Bobby Witt Jr. and the Kansas City Royals. They have gone from a 106-loss team in 2023 to having one of the best rotations and even lineups in baseball. Witt has hit for power, has excellent speed, and has done beautifully on average. He is on pace to be the first shortstop in history to have back-to-back 30/30 seasons, along with Lindor. Also, he has hit for a sparkling .346 average, by far the best in the league.

If Witt can secure the AL batting title, he may have a legitimate chance of beating the top contender for AL MVP.

1. Aaron Judge

Aaron Judge is on pace to have the best year of his career. Yes, even better than 2022. He is on pace to potentially eclipse his own AL record of 62 homers from that campaign. Not only that, he has a legitimate chance at securing a Triple Crown. Judge is 2nd in the AL in average, 1st in homers, 1st in OPS, and 1st in RBI. He is lethal to any team that pitches to him. Now with a .333 average, a good end to Judge’s season might see him beat out Bobby Witt Jr. for the top spot in average in the AL. Even now, he remains the one to beat for the AL’s top honor.

The MVP contenders in the AL this season have been nothing short of incredible. As their teams contend for the postseason, these players will each try to help their case for the award.

 

Photo Credit: © Rafael Suanes-USA TODAY Sports

Tyler Crum

Tyler Crum

Tyler Crum is a die hard baseball fan. When not watching the New York Mets, you might find him delving into military history or watching other sports teams like the Nebraska Cornhuskers.

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