Padres have MVP, ROY and MOY finalists
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SAN DIEGO -- It's been a decade since any Padre has taken home a major award from the Baseball Writers' Association of America. That could change as soon as next week.
The finalists for the BBWAA awards were unveiled Monday night, and the Padres have three – more than any other National League team and tied with the White Sox for the most in the Majors.
Manny Machado (National League MVP), Jake Cronenworth (NL Rookie of the Year) and Jayce Tingler (NL Manager of the Year) all finished among the top three in their respective categories.
Dinelson Lamet (Cy Young) and Fernando Tatis Jr. (MVP) also made strong cases and likely garnered votes. But they didn't make the short list of finalists.
Here's a look at the Padres' three awards finalists:
Manny Machado: NL MVP finalist
Other finalists: Mookie Betts (LAD), Freddie Freeman (ATL)
Announcement: Thursday, Nov. 12
San Diego will be looking to snap its 24-year MVP Award drought. In fact, no Padres player has even received a vote for NL MVP since Ken Caminiti won the award unanimously in 1996.
The Padres had two players in the mix for MVP votes this season. Tatis, once considered the front-runner, ultimately finished outside the top three after struggling down the stretch. Freeman is considered by many to be the favorite, but Machado has a strong case, too.
The star third baseman batted .304/.370/.580 with 16 home runs while playing outstanding defense. He was the steady anchor of the Padres' 2020 offensive turnaround.
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Jake Cronenworth: NL Rookie of the Year finalist
Other finalists: Alec Bohm (PHI), Devin Williams (MIL)
Announcement: Monday, Nov. 9
Among the Padres' three finalists, Cronenworth is probably the likeliest to win an award next week. He's the slight favorite, though Bohm and Williams are strong candidates as well.
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Cronenworth led all NL rookies with 1.4 WAR, while batting .285/.354/.477. His offensive numbers stack up nicely with just about any rookie in baseball -- and on top of that he was an elite defender at multiple positions. Those factors could combine to make Cronenworth the Padres' first Rookie of the Year Award winner since Benito Santiago in 1987.
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Jayce Tingler: NL Manager of the Year Award finalist
Other finalists: Don Mattingly (MIA), David Ross (CHC)
Announcement: Tuesday, Nov. 10
It's hard to find fault in the job Tingler did this season. He inherited a team that finished in last place, 22 games below .500, then helmed the Padres' first postseason appearance in 14 years.
Tingler drew rave reviews from players for his hard-working yet laid-back style. He also gets credit strategically for orchestrating an excellent bullpen performance, despite a handful of injuries and a slow start.
Faced with unprecedented obstacles from the COVID-19 pandemic, Tingler's first season in San Diego was an unquestioned success. He would be the first Padres skipper to take home this award since Bud Black in 2010.
• All-time Manager of the Year winners