More than halfway into the MLB season, the leading AL MVP candidates have made their presence known. Of course, there is one player who is among previous MLB award winners who can be considered the favorite. But the award is far from settled at the all-star break.
Top 5 Mid-Season AL MVP Candidates
After all, voting for MVP is still a few months away. The way players perform in important games down the stretch tends to play a big role in voting. That opens the door for plenty of twists and turns between now and then. However, we still felt it would be a good time to closely examine the five leading AL MVP candidates at the unofficial midway point of the season.
Aaron Judge
At this point, the MVP award in the American League is Judge’s to lose. At the all-star break, he leads the majors in home runs, RBI, and OPS. He’s also batting over .300, which is impressive, even if the Triple Crown is probably out of his reach. If Judge’s second half of 2024 is anything like his first, the award is as good as his. However, given his injury history, it’s not far-fetched to think that something could derail him, so it’s still worth mentioning the other contenders.
Gunnar Henderson
Before the season, few people would have expected Gunnar Henderson to be in the MVP conversation. While he’s surely one of the most talented young players in the game, he only turned 23 in June, so he’s still young. However, he’s third in the majors in home runs, just six behind Judge at the break. Henderson is also top 10 in the majors in both RBI and OPS while also stealing 14 bases. He’s also been steady defensively at shortstop for the Orioles, who are one of the best teams in baseball. Henderson has surely been a catalyst for Baltimore’s success, giving him the best chance of competing with Judge for MVP honors during the second half of the season.
Juan Soto
If Judge fades or gets hurt, Juan Soto will become a more prominent part of the MVP discussion. He ranks third in the big leagues in OPS and is flirting with a .300 average. The fact that Judge has been out-of-this-world good has taken some of the attention off Soto. Nevertheless, during his first year in pinstripes, Soto is having one of his best seasons and has been one of the best hitters in baseball.
Bobby Witt Jr.
Much like Henderson, Bobby Witt Jr. has made a quick transition from up-and-coming talent to elite player. Witt is hitting .323 at the break, ranking him third in the big leagues in average. While his 16 home runs don’t blow anyone away, they’re impressive when you consider that he’s second in the league in triples and top 10 in doubles and slugging. He’s also had a strong showing at shortstop defensively, which is another way that he’s been a huge part of the Royals taking a big step forward and being in the playoff race. In terms of providing value to his team, Witt very much belongs in the MVP conversation.
Jose Ramirez
Speaking of players who are immensely valuable to their team, Jose Ramirez has been the dictionary definition of that for several years. That’s been the case again this season with Ramirez leading the first-place Guardians. At the all-star break, Ramirez is tied for second in RBI, albeit several behind Judge, while also ranking in the top 10 in runs scored. The guy just produces on a level that few players can match. Based on what he means to his team, Ramirez is undoubtedly one of the most valuable players in baseball.
