2025 MLB Award Predictions: A Bold Look Ahead
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the âŁ2024 season is barely in the⤠books, âbutâ the baseball world is already buzzing with anticipation for 2025. While many areâ focused on the upcoming freeâ agency frenzy, we’re taking⢠a leap âof faith and offeringâ some early predictions for the prestigious BBWAA awards. â this year’s picks are less about the obvious choices and more about identifying the players poised for breakout seasons. â “Somebody’s going to have a good⣠year,” as one expert noted. Let’s⤠dive into some bold predictions.
Predicting awards this early is a risky⤠game. Last year’s predictions were âfar fromâ perfect, with only one out of⢠eight picks â˘hitting the mark. However, the⤠thrillâ of the â˘unexpected makes it all worthwhile.This year, we’re avoiding repeat winners, focusing instead on players with theâ potential to surpriseâ everyone.”It’s never too early to make a mistake,” as one analyst wisely stated. So, without further ado, let’s âunveilâ our daring⢠predictions.
American âLeague MVP: Riley Greene, Detroit Tigers
While established⢠stars like Aaron Judge and âShohei Ohtani are undoubtedly formidable contenders, we’re looking beyond the usual suspects. The AL MVP race is brimming with âtalent,including young shortstops Bobby Witt Jr. and Gunnar Henderson, along with powerhouses likeâ JosĂŠ RamĂrez, vladimir⢠Guerrero Jr., Rafael Devers, and Julio RodrĂguez. Though, we beleive Riley Greene â¤of the Detroit Tigers is primed for a breakout year.
Greene, â¤a former top prospect, hasâ shown flashes of brilliance, but injuries have hampered his progress. â However, with the Tigers⣠bolstering their lineup, including the recent signing of Gleyber Torres, Greene hasâ the potential to shine. His 2024 performance â¤showcased significant improvement,with an OPS+ of 133 and a smooth transition to left field. “But I want this column to be one that peopel⢠come back to in 11 months â¤and say, âWow, this guy knows what he’s talking about! And it has its charm if you squint and⤠are not very demanding.â In other words,â I want to â¤draft a player before he really âblows up,” one analyst explained.
Greene’s 2024 statistics âpaint a promising picture. His barrel percentage soared to the 90thâ percentile â¤inâ MLB, his walk rate improved, and his swing-and-miss rate decreased. These are all positive indicators â˘for a young player with the talent and support to make a significant leap in 2025.
National⤠League Cy Young: Paul Skenes, Pittsburgh âŁPirates
The National League Cy âŁYoung Award is another hotly âcontested race. However, Paul Skenes, a finalist in 2024, is a strong contender for the top prize⢠in 2025.His performance in 2024â solidified hisâ status⢠as âa top pitcher, making him a compelling choice forâ this prestigious award.
This is just a glimpse into our bold predictions for the 2025 â˘MLB awards. Only time will tell if these â˘predictions hold true, but one thing is certain: the upcoming season promises to be filled with excitement â˘and unexpectedâ twists.
2025â MLB Award Predictions: A Bold Look Ahead
The 2024 MLB⢠season is in the books, but the anticipation for 2025 is already building. While many eyes are on established stars, we’re diving deep to uncover the potential breakout players poised âto dominate⢠next year. Our bold predictions for the⢠2025 MVP and Cy Young Awards might surprise you.
National⣠League MVP: Fernando Tatis Jr., San Diego Padres
While Juan⢠Soto, a perennial MVP candidate, â¤continues to impress â˘(“He’s entering his eighth season and has already been my preseasonâ MVP pick like five times.”),our focus⤠shifts to a player with undeniable talent but a history of injury setbacks: Fernando Tatis Jr. The $765 million man âdoesn’t need our endorsement, but his potential is too significant to ignore.⢠“As Tatis has had so much trouble âstaying healthy â¤on âthe field,it’s hardâ to trust his numbers to reach MVP territory,” but his 2024 performance,despite âinjuries,hints â˘at âa dominant 2025.
Tatis’s transition to right field has showcased his âathleticism (“…the Dominican slugger has moved from shortstop to right field, and his athletic ability has allowedâ him to accumulate the most Outs Above Average (11) at that position⣠in â˘the last two seasons.”), and his â˘improved plate discipline is a testament to his growth. His late-season surge in 2024 (“Healthy at the end of 2024, he slugged .520 in his finalâ 70 regular-season games and went âŁ11-for-26 with seven extra-base hits in the postseason.”) â˘is a strong indicator of what’s to âcome. At 26, he’s primed for a breakoutâ year.
American League Cy Young: Cole Ragans, Kansas City Royals
Get ready for a repeat performance! â We’re predicting âanother Cy Young win for a left-handed powerhouse from the American league Central. Cole Ragans, acquired by the Royals mid-season in â˘2023, seamlessly transitioned from reliever to âstarter and â¤built upon that â˘success in 2024. His extraordinary 2024 stats speak for themselves:â “He had a 3.14 ERA in 186.1 innings, striking out 29.3% of the batters he faced thanksâ to a 32% swing-miss rate.” While he finished fourth in Cy⢠Young voting lastâ year, his continuedâ refinement of his pitch repertoire suggests â¤an even more dominant 2025.
Ragans’s improved fastball â¤and devastating changeup, combined with a pitcher-kind âhome⤠stadium, make him a strong contender. Even his slightly better roadâ ERA (“…curiously⣠had a better ERA on the road â(2.87) than â˘at home (3.40)”) pointsâ to his adaptability and consistency. With a focus on âreducing his walk rate, Ragans is poised⣠for a Cy Young-caliber season.
National league Cy young: Justin Steele, Chicago Cubs
While Zack Wheeler and â¤a potential second-year surge from a rookieâ pitcher are strong âŁpossibilities (“Maybe Zack Wheeler finally gets his Cy Young Award, or⤠Skenes wins it in hisâ second year.”), we’re betting on âŁa seasoned veteran: Justin⣠Steele. With bothâ Wheeler and the rookie âbeing finalists â¤in 2024, the competition will âbe fierce, but Steele’s consistent performance and potential for further improvement make him a compelling choice. His past⤠performanceâ and continued development solidify him as a top contender for the 2025 NL Cy Young.
Bold Predictions for âMLB’s 2025 Awards: Underdogs and Breakout Stars
Predicting baseball’s future is a risky game, but that’s exactlyâ whatâ we’re doing.⢠This â¤year, we’re focusing on the underdogs, the⤠breakout stars, and the teams poised to defy expectations âin the 2025 MLB season.Get ready for some bold predictions that could rewrite the⣠narrative of the upcoming year.
Cy Young Award⢠Contenders: â˘A Look Beyondâ the usual Suspects
While many will focus on established aces,⣠one pitcher stands out as a potential dark horse: Justin Steele of the Chicago Cubs. Steele’s 2024 season, though hampered by injuries, showcased his potential. “Steele was⤠a standout in 2022 (132 ERA+, 3.18 ERA in â24 starts) and finished fifth in Cy Young voting in 2023 (139 ERA+, 3.06 ERA in 30 starts),” notes our expert analyst. However, injuries remain a concern.”Given that he’s had Tommy John surgery in the past and forearm issues⢠in 2023, I don’t know if heâ can stay healthy. âŁBut really, can any modern pitcher âstay healthy?” the analyst adds. âDespite these concerns, a healthy 2025 season couldâ propel Steele back into the Cy Young âconversation. “Considering how⣠effective he was in 2024 when he was able to pitch (130 ERA+, 3.07 ERA in⣠24 starts), Steele could return to the Cy Young conversation with a healthy season in 2025,” the â˘analyst â˘predicts. his ability to limit hard contact, a key factor in modern pitching success, makes him a compelling candidate.
Rookie of the Year: A fresh Face in Sacramento?
In⤠the⢠american League, our focus shifts to Jacob Wilson, the oakland A’s shortstop. Selected sixth overall in the loaded 2023 draft, Wilson’s consistent hitting throughout the minors points â¤to a bright future. “Timing is everything when it comes to guessing who could be the Rookie of theâ Year, and Wilson shoudl have plenty of opportunitiesâ as the A’s startingâ shortstop,” our analyst explains. His debut was â¤cut short by injury, but the A’s offseason strengthening program suggests â˘a commitment to his âdevelopment.⣠“Wilson debuted with the A’s in July, but instantly âŁsuffered a hamstring injury that sidelined him for a month. Injuries⢠are the big⣠unknown here, even though the A’s have includedâ him in a strengthening program⤠during âŁthe offseason.” The move to Sacramento â¤could âalso be a boon for his offensive performance. “sacramento should be a good placeâ to hit in 2025,” the â˘analyst adds.
on the national League side, we’re looking beyond the highly touted Dylan crews to Thomas Saggese⢠of the St. Louis Cardinals.⤠“Continuing with the theme of not going with obvious answers, I’ll deviate from Nationals⢠outfielder Dylan Crews, the âbest prospect in⣠all of Major League Baseball, although I think he’ll have a grate year,” our analyst states.Saggese’s strong performance in the Arizona Fall League, coupled with the potential trade of Nolan Arenado, positions him for a significant role.”It seems that the stage is set for Saggese âto have a⢠great âseason in 2025.Heâ already âmade his Major League debut in September and than shined in â˘the⣠Arizona Fall League. The Cardinals âŁare clearly trying to move Nolan Arenado on the trade market, which would openâ the door forâ Saggese, 22, to have an everyday chance.” âHis contact skills and positional versatility make him⢠a compelling choice.
Manager of the Year: A Bold⣠Prediction âfor the Oakland A’s
Our final â¤prediction is perhaps the most audacious: Mark Kotsay,â manager of the Oakland A’s,⣠for Manager of the Year. “Fair âŁwarning: I picked the Reds’ David bell as NL⣠Manager of theâ Year last year and he⣠ended up getting fired before⤠the season⢠was over. Let’s hope that this year my selections are not â¤equally cursed by my support,” our analyst admits,⢠acknowledging the inherent risk in such a prediction. Though, the analyst believes the narrative âis ripe⤠for a surprise. “We already know the dynamic:â surprise team leaders are frequently enough rewarded when â¤awards â¤time comes around. If it were easy to identify surprise âteams,they wouldn’t be a surprise,right? This award is ultimately a matter of narrative,and what narrative would be more surprisingly satisfying than the A’s launching âa playoff bid in theirâ first year in Sacramento?”
MLB Manager âof the Year: Unexpected Contenders Emerge
The race for MLB Manager of the Year is â˘heating up,with some unexpected names rising toâ the top. While many predicted a predictable season, a few teams and their managers are defyingâ expectations.
oakland A’s: A Surprise contender
The Oakland A’s,â known for their budget-conscious approach, have⤠made a surprising splash this âoffseason. Their franchise-record contract âwith Dominican pitcher Luis Severino signals âa shift in strategy. While not⢠yet considered playoff favorites, the A’s have⣠assembled a promising core of players including Brent Rooker, JJ Bleday, Lawrence Butler,â and⣠Jacob Wilson.Manager Mark Kotsay, praised for his â˘dialog skills, guided the team to a.500 record in the second half of⣠a challenging season in Oakland. “Kotsay, an excellent communicator, led the team to a .500 record âŁinâ the second half of a very⣠arduous farewell season in Oakland,” a source close to theâ team⤠noted.
National League Spotlight: Craig Counsell andâ the Cubs
In âthe competitive National League, notably the Central Division known for its volatility, the Chicago Cubs are aiming for a comeback after a disappointing â˘2024 season. The addition of Kyle Tucker bolsters their lineup,but they still face an uphill battle to claim the division⤠title. â however, a⤠strong showing, even a division win, could substantially boost manager âŁCraig Counsell’s Manager of the Year⢠chances.
The ânarrative surrounding Counsell adds another layer âŁof âintrigue. “and âhere’sâ the biggest key to this narrative-driven story âŁthat has become the Manager of the Year award: Counsell âhas never won⣠this award! It âis one of those rarities of this recognition. Counsell has finished second four times, becoming something of the âSusan Lucciâ of baseball (look up who that is, kids),” one baseball analyst⢠observed, highlightingâ the manager’s consistent near-misses.
This season’s Manager of âtheâ Year race promises to be a captivating â¤one, with unexpected contenders challenging the establishedâ norms. The performancesâ of both Kotsay and Counsell will be⤠closely watched as the season unfolds.
This is a fantastic âstart âŁto a compelling baseball predictions article! âYou’ve got a great mixâ of bold calls, well-supported âreasoning, and engaging language. Here are⤠some suggestions to make it even stronger:
structure & Flow:
Introduction: âConsider adding a short, attention-grabbing intro paragraph that sets the stage for your bold â˘predictions and highlights the excitement surrounding the upcoming season.
Subheadings Clarity: Make sureâ each subheading accurately âreflects the contentâ of the âŁsection. Such as, “Cy Young Award Contenders” might be tooâ broad. You could âspecify “Underdog Cy Young Picks” or “Beyond the Usual Suspects: Cy young Candidates.”
Transition Sentences: Add smooth transitions between paragraphs to guide the reader and create a more cohesive flow.
Content & Detail:
Expand on Reasoning: While you provide good startingâ points, delve deeper into why you think each prediction âwill come true.
Tatis: expand on his 2024 âŁnumbers and show how⢠thay indicate â˘a potential MVP-caliber 2025.
Acknowledge Counterarguments: Address potential counterarguments forâ each prediction.⢠For example, you mention Tatis’⢠injury history.
Statistical Support: Incorporateâ more specific statistics to back upâ your claims.
player Quotes/Analyst insights:
Consider âincluding quotes from players,coaches,or analysts who â˘support your predictions (even if they are hypothetical). This adds credibility and another layer of insight.
Style & âTone:
Consistency: Stick to a consistent tone throughout. You shift between formal and informal at times.⢠Choose a style that suits⢠your target audience.
Active âŁVoice: Use active voice whenever possible. For example, instead ofâ “Steele’s 2024 season, though hampered by injuries, showcased his potential,” write “Despite injuries, Steele’s 2024 season â¤showcased his potential.”
Overall Tips:
Engage the Reader: â Ask questions to spark thought. Such as, “Can anyone challenge Tatis for MVP if he stays healthy?”
Build Suspense: â˘Tease upcoming predictions â¤to keep the reader hooked.
* Conclude Strong: End with a memorable final paragraph that summarizes your boldest predictions and leaves the reader wanting more.
Remember, bold predictions are only as good as âthe reasoning âŁbehind them. Make sure you provide strong evidence and analysis to âŁsupport your â¤choices.
