Celebrating MLB’s Overlooked Stars: Players Who Deserved Awards
- Every year in MLB, many players have excellent seasons but do not receive any awards.
- Catcher: Yainer Diaz, Astros Yainer Diaz became the starting catcher for the Astros and excelled at the plate.
- First Base: Pete Alonso, Mets Though not his best year, Pete Alonso still performed well, ranking fourth among first basemen in wRC+ at 122.
2024 MLB Awardless Players
Every year in MLB, many players have excellent seasons but do not receive any awards. Here’s a look at some noteworthy players from 2024 who deserve recognition despite not winning honors.
Catcher: Yainer Diaz, Astros
Yainer Diaz became the starting catcher for the Astros and excelled at the plate. He had a weighted runs created plus (wRC+) of 117, which is 17% better than the league average. Diaz hit 16 home runs, 29 doubles, and drove in 84 runs.
First Base: Pete Alonso, Mets
Though not his best year, Pete Alonso still performed well, ranking fourth among first basemen in wRC+ at 122. He hit 34 home runs, set a career-high with 31 doubles, and recorded 88 RBIs.
Second Base: Luis García Jr., Nationals
Luis García had an impressive season, hitting .282/.318/.444 with 18 home runs and 25 doubles. His slugging percentage increased significantly from the previous year.
Shortstop: Gunnar Henderson, Orioles
Gunnar Henderson had a standout season with a .281/.364/.529 slash line. He recorded 37 home runs, 31 doubles, and 92 RBIs, finishing fourth in AL MVP voting.
Third Base: Rafael Devers, Red Sox
Rafael Devers had a solid year, hitting .272/.354/.516 with 28 home runs and 34 doubles. He earned his third All-Star nod and had a 139 OPS+.
Left Field: Riley Greene, Tigers
Riley Greene showed consistent performance, with a .262/.348/.479 slash line and 24 home runs. He played in 137 games and was a first-time All-Star.
Center Field: JJ Bleday, Athletics
After a challenging start to his career, JJ Bleday had a breakout year with 20 home runs and 43 doubles. He recorded 60 runs batted in despite having fewer opportunities to drive in runs.
Right Field: Seiya Suzuki, Cubs
Seiya Suzuki transitioned to a full-time DH role but still made an impact with a .283/.366/.482 slash line. He hit 21 home runs and stole 16 bases.
Designated Hitter: Marcell Ozuna, Braves
Marcell Ozuna remained a strong DH option, hitting 39 home runs and setting a career-high with 31 doubles. He hit above .300, marking his best batting average since 2017.
Starting Pitcher: Cole Ragans, Royals
Cole Ragans continued to build on his previous success. He finished with a 3.00 ERA and a 135 ERA+, ranking among the top pitchers in the league.
Relief Pitcher: Cade Smith, Guardians
Cade Smith made a strong case for AL Rookie of the Year with a 1.91 ERA in 75.1 innings. He played a vital role in the Guardians’ playoff run.
These players had impressive seasons but did not receive recognition in major award categories. They deserve acknowledgment for their contributions.