Prior to the start of the 2014 season, if someone put the name ‘Jonathan Lucroy’ and ‘MVP’ in the same sentence, they may as well have had three heads. That’s the kind of season it has been for America’s Pastime.
Rule changes and the implementation of instant replay have been the dominant headlines throughout the 2014 campaign so far, but that doesn’t mean there has been no actual baseball to make not of.
With All-Star rosters announced and the Home Run Derby participants chosen, it means that it is time to hand out some midseason hardware to those who are turning heads of baseball junkies everywhere.
AL MVP – Mike Trout, OF, Los Angeles Angels
Mike Trout has quickly established himself as the poster boy for a new era of baseball stars, and most deservedly. The five-tool 22 year-old center fielder is hitting at a rate that will help him post his best power numbers yet, with 20 home runs and 64 RBIs at the time of writing. Honorable mention for this award goes to Toronto slugger Edwin Encarnacion, who has helped the Blue Jays back into the AL East discussion after years of futility.
NL MVP – Jonathan Lucroy, C, Milwaukee Brewers
Although he did not garner enough of the fan vote to overtake Yadier Molina as the starting National League catcher in the All-Star game, the Milwaukee catcher is having a remarkable 2014 campaign and looks to be a serious part of the MVP discussion if he keeps it up. Lucroy has been hitting well over .300 all season and in addition to solid power numbers, he is one of the best defensive catchers in the game. Honorable mention for the NL MVP goes to Andrew McCutchen, who is on pace to equal or better all significant offensive categories that earned him the 2013 award, in addition to playing a Gold Glove caliber center field.
AL Cy Young – Felix Hernandez, SP, Seattle Mariners
Hard not to pick King Felix here. This guy just isn’t human. The Seattle ace is posting an absurd 2.89 ERA and 0.89 WHIP at the time of writing. Despite the hoopla surrounding the arrival of Masahiro Tanaka to the Yankees and his stellar season thus far, Hernandez is still the pick.
NL Cy Young – Johnny Cueto, SP, Cincinnati Reds
The season Adam Wainwright is having for the St. Louis Cardinals made this a tough choice, but Cueto’s opponent batting average of a miniscule .180 and the fact he has had only two starts of allowing four or more runs gives him the edge in what is otherwise a neck and neck race for the honor. Cueto has been baffling batters all season and has more than earned a trip to his first All Star Game.
AL Rookie of the Year – Jose Abreu, 1B, Chicago White Sox
The hype surrounding the latest slugger out of Cuba is definitely real. Abreu has brought tremendous power (27 HR’s, 69 RBI’s) to an otherwise lackluster Chicago White Sox lineup.
NL Rookie of the Year – Billy Hamilton, OF, Cincinnati Reds
Everyone knew Billy Hamilton had speed (37 stolen bases worth so far), but few may have predicted the asset he would be at the plate. At the time of writing, the Cincinnati speedster is hitting a solid .280 and has batted in 36 runs.
Biggest Disappointment – Texas Rangers
With the eighth highest Opening Day payroll in baseball ($136,036,172), it is safe to say that the Texas Rangers have not received much bang for their buck this season. Top offseason acquisition Prince Fielder had an anemic first couple of months as a Ranger before sustaining a season ending neck injury, while the highly paid free agent Shin-Soo Choo has also been disappointing. Add to that an MLB second-worst team ERA of 4.78 and the result is a squad that is a well under .500 ballclub going into the All-Star break.
Biggest Surprise – Miami Marlins
Very much to the contrary of Texas, the Miami Marlins are making the most of their 29th highest Opening Day payroll of $47,565,400. Combining the young talent of Giancarlo Stanton and Christian Yelich along with the underrated veteran prowess in the likes of Casey McGehee and Garrett Jones, the Marlins find themselves only five games out of first place in the National League East – all while young pitching ace Jose Fernandez landed on the season ending disabled list in early May.
Josiah Kachelmeyer can be reached at josiah.kachelmeyer.spartans.ut.edu.