BBWAA Awards: Forecasts for 2022

If you had said that Shohei Ohtani was going to be the MVP and Robbie Ray the Cy Young of the American League, you probably would have been ignored.

Those opinions would have been judged by what we knew by then – that injuries had affected Ohtani and Ray was a pitcher prone to uncontrollable, for example.

Good luck trying to predict next year’s Baseball Writers Association of North America (BBWAA) winners with what little we have today. But there is nothing wrong with trying.

AMERICAN LEAGUE MVP: Wander Franco, SS, Rays

The favorite may be Vladimir Guerrero Jr., after his take off on offense and how difficult it will be to see a season similar to Ohtani’s. But Franco is the future. I put him second on the LA Rookie of the Year ballot even though he only played 70 games. His offensive potential and discipline are a reality.

That, plus defending a premium position for what must be a competitive Rays team, could be the perfect combination.

NATIONAL LEAGUE MVP: Juan Soto, OF, Nationals

La Nacional has three generational talents, with the Venezuelan Ronald Acuña Jr. and the Dominicans Soto and Fernando Tatis Jr. It seems that each is destined for an MVP at some point. But with Acuña coming back from a serious injury and Tatis not having surgery to repair his shoulder, I go with the safe, choosing the boy who just finished second.

CY YOUNG OF THE AMERICAN LEAGUE: Dylan Cease, RHP, White Sox

After the great second half he had, Cease will be a candidate to take off in his season at 26 years old. The last two award winners – Robbie Ray and Shane Bieber – weren’t exactly favorites before the start of the season. We are going to take a risk again.

CY YOUNG OF THE NATIONAL LEAGUE: Walker Buehler, RHP, Dodgers

With the forgiveness of Jacob deGrom, who has had problems with his elbow, and Max Scherzer, who will be 37 years old, I am leaving with a young arm.

Not much explanation is needed. Buehler finished fourth this year and ninth in 2019. In the past four seasons, he has a 2.82 ERA; third best among qualified pitchers in that period.

MANAGER OF THE YEAR OF THE AMERICAN LEAGUE: Scott Servais, Mariners

The Manager of the Year is usually awarded to the surprise team driver. If the Mariners have a good offseason, it might come as no surprise, but they remain the club with the longest unseasoned pothole in North American professional sports. To win the AL West, they would have to beat the Astros. So yeah, we’re going with Servais.

MANAGER OF THE YEAR FROM THE NATIONAL LEAGUE: Bob Melvin, Padres

The Padres are too talented not to improve things and Melvin is too good at his job not to get credit. It would be his fourth accolade, matching him to Hall of Famers Tony la Russa and Bobby Cox for the most.

ROOKIE OF YEAR OF THE AMERICAN LEAGUE: Riley Greene, OF, Tigres

It promises to be one of the deepest years for rookies in the American League, due to the possible arrival of the four best prospects according to MLB Pipeline – Orioles catcher Adley Rutschman, Mariners’ Julio Rodríguez, shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. of the Royals and first baseman Spencer Torkelson of the Tigers. But I go further down the MLB Pipeline list, to seventh place, with Greene, who could start the year on the big team of the Tigers, who are looking to surprise in the AL Center.

ROOKIE OF YEAR OF THE NATIONAL LEAGUE: Camilo Doval, RHP, Giants

The Dominican has a dominant slider, which he used to tie his opponents to an average of .192, striking out 33.9% of the opponents he faced in 27 innings of 2021. At 24, Doval already had opportunities to close games for the Giants they won 107 games. We are hopeful that he can continue his ascent.

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BBWAA Awards: Forecasts for 2022