2024 National League Award Predictions

It is here, it is finally here! Tomorrow afternoon the MLB is back and the 2024 season truly kicks off! That being said I am putting out my last pre-season predictions and this time it will be for the National League focusing on the EOY Awards. There is so much talent in baseball right now and it is extremely tough to make a decision on some of these awards but at the end of the day, someone has to claim the hardware. That being said let’s dive right on in and take a look at my predictions for the National League in 2024.

National League - Rookie of the Year

The Field Considered: Yoshinobu Tamamoto, Jung Hoo Lee, Jackson Merrill, Shota Imanaga, Michael Busch, Kyle Harrison, Paul Skenes, Masyn Winn, Jackson Chourio

Prediction: Jackson Chourio

Jackson Merrill was calling my name here as a sleeper pick but considering that Chourio also made the opening-day roster, I will roll the dice with the Milwaukee youngster. There are so many good options here, but my gut is telling me Chourio. He has the tools to be a future superstar in this league and I think he will tap into those right away. Chourio has virtually excelled at every stop he has made along his baseball journey. The Brewer's decision to award Chourio a contract ended in them shattering the record for the largest contract ever signed by a player before making their MLB debut. This is team DOES NOT SPEND BIG MONEY!!! The sheer fact they did it here and it happened this offseason is all the backing I need to feel confident in this pick.

National League - Manager of the Year

The Field Considered: Craig Counsell (CHC), David Bell (CIN), Rob Thomson (PHI), Oliver Marmol (STL), Pat Murphy (MIL), Brian Snitker (ATL), Dave Roberts (LAD)

Prediction: Craig Counsell

The Cubs have an upward battle to reach the playoffs even with the Bellinger and Imanaga signings. The Cardinals are not going to be as bad as last year, the Pirates have made a sneaky amount of moves this offseason, the Brew Crew added a potential superstar and the Reds are young yet resilient. Counsell has done a fine job in Milwaukee and I think that the Cubs have some really interesting pieces to fiddle around with to make a potential playoff contender. My thoughts are that this is no easy job and Counsell is going to find a way to get the Cubs back into the playoffs in 2024. They didn’t make him the highest-paid manager in the game for no reason!

National League - Reliever of the Year

The Field Considered: Edwin Diaz, Raisel Iglesias, Camilo Doval, Adbert Alzolay, David Bedner, Paul Sewald, Yuki Matsui, Tyler Rogers, Kyle Finnegan

Prediction: Edwin Diaz

Sound the trumpets, Diaz is back in Queens, NY! This guy is PISSED he missed last season the way he did. Celebrating a non-MLB game victory? I can understand Mets fans being upset about it as it wasn’t a game for them but a game for Puerto Rico where they lost their All-Star Closer. Diaz is going to go absolutely berserk this year and will get EVERY SAVE OPPORTUNITY possible for the Mets. I love watching this guy shove, tune in to the Mets this season if you want to see an artist go to work.

National League - Cy Young 

The Field Considered: Zack Wheeler, Logan Webb, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Zac Gallen, Max Fried, Tyler Glasnow, Freddy Peralta, Blake Snell, Justin Steele, Aaron Nola, Dylan Cease, Chris Sale, Jesus Luzardo

Prediction: Spencer Strider

Spencer “Strikeout” Strider. No this is not his nickname just my lame attempt at being funny. Strider has made mincemeat of almost every batter he has faced and continues to dominate in the big leagues. Over 320 ⅔ innings in the major leagues, Strider has racked up a whopping 483 strikeouts! A 13.6 SO9 is literally absurd, not to mention he has struck out 37% of batters he’s faced in his career. Runner-up for Rookie of the Year in 2022 and was 4th in Cy-Young voting last year. It’s time Strider brings home some personal hardware. Book it!

National League - Most Valuable Player

The Field Considered: Ronald Acuna Jr., Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, Shohei Ohtani, Fernando Tatis Jr., Bryce Harper, Matt Olson, Corbin Carroll, Trea Turner, Manny Machado

Prediction: Bryce Harper

Most Valuable Player…how am I not picking Ronald Acuna? For starters, it is really tough to win this award. Especially in back-to-back years which would be the case for Mr. Acuna. Don’t get me wrong I will not be shocked whatsoever if Acuna wins it again as he is one the best players in the world. But we are not here to talk about Ronald Acuna, we are here to look at Bryce Harper! To no one’s surprise, Harper picked up where he left off, once FULLY recovered from Tommy John surgery. Philadelphia looks poised to make another deep post-season run and I think they will do it on the back of their leader - Bryce Harper. Harper and Acuna have almost identical career OBP / SLG / OPS slash lines which makes sense since they are both unworldly when it comes to swinging a baseball bat. Watching Bryce crush a home run is quite possibly the most electrifying thing to watch in all of baseball and I don’t say that lightly. Maybe not the “safest” bet but Harper is that dude.