Judge, Ohtani highlight 2024 Players Choice Awards

MLB players are adored by millions of fans all around the globe. But nothing quite measures up to earning that same level of adoration and respect from your peers.

Since 1992, the Players Choice Awards have recognized outstanding on- and off-field performances, with the winners chosen by the players themselves.

• Players Choice Awards history

The voting among all players was conducted in September, and the results were revealed Saturday. Here are the winners of the 2024 Players Choice Awards.

Player of the Year and American League Outstanding Player

Aaron Judge, Yankees
Two years after hitting an AL-record 62 home runs, Judge launched 58 homers in 2024, joining Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa and Babe Ruth as the fourth player in MLB history to hit at least 58 home runs in multiple seasons. But Judge’s year included so much more than prodigious power. His .322 batting average was third best in baseball, and he paced MLB in on-base percentage (.458), walks (133) and RBIs (144). His 218 wRC+ was the highest by a qualified hitter in 20 years.

National League Outstanding Player

Shohei Ohtani, Dodgers
Ohtani has made a career out of doing things we’ve never seen achieved at the MLB level, and he did it again in his first year with the Dodgers. Ohtani became the first 50-50 player in MLB history, ultimately ending up with 54 homers and 59 stolen bases. He also led the Majors with 134 runs and was atop the NL with a 1.036 OPS. The reigning AL MVP set himself up to take home that award in the NL, all while rehabbing from right elbow surgery that kept him off the mound this year.

AL Outstanding Pitcher

Tarik Skubal, Tigers
Skubal piled up 18 wins, a 2.39 ERA and 228 strikeouts en route to becoming the AL’s first Triple Crown pitcher over a full season since another Tiger wore the crown in 2011: Justin Verlander. The 27-year-old Skubal was spectacular all year long, but especially down the stretch as the Tigers clinched their first playoff berth in a decade. Skubal recorded a 1.85 ERA and held batters to a .517 OPS across his final eight starts of the regular season.

NL Outstanding Pitcher and NL Comeback Player

Chris Sale, Braves
The Braves took a chance on Sale last December, acquiring him for infielder Vaughn Grissom, a former top prospect in their system. The veteran lefty had thrown only 151 regular-season innings since the end of 2019 due to a string of injuries. However, he rewarded Atlanta’s faith in him with a Cy Young-worthy campaign. Like Skubal, Sale captured the Triple Crown in his league with 18 wins, a 2.38 ERA and 225 K’s. He allowed two earned runs or fewer in 26 of his 29 starts.

AL Comeback Player

Tyler O'Neill, Red Sox
O’Neill had only nine home runs through 72 games during his injury-marred 2023 season with the Cardinals. It took him just a few weeks to match that homer total with Boston. O’Neill bashed nine dingers through his first 19 games with the Red Sox and ended the year with 31 home runs, tied for 10th in the AL. He also improved his OPS by 132 points from last year (.715 to .847).

NL Outstanding Rookie

Jackson Merrill, Padres
Merrill was just 20 years old when the Padres tabbed him as their Opening Day starter in center field, a position he never played in the Minors. Not only did he step up to the challenge with phenomenal defense all season long, Merrill turned in the best season by a rookie in franchise history. He led all MLB rookies in 2024 in hits (162), batting average (.292) and slugging (.500), to name just a few categories.

AL Outstanding Rookie

Colton Cowser, Orioles
No AL rookie hit more home runs (24) or racked up more total bases (223) than Cowser. He registered a solid 120 wRC+ while playing in 153 games, third most on the team. Cowser is the third Oriole in the past four seasons to win this honor, joining Gunnar Henderson (2023) and Ryan Mountcastle (2021).

Marvin Miller Man of the Year and Philanthropist of the Year

Rhys Hoskins, Brewers
The impact of Hoskins’ 26 homers during his first season in Milwaukee pales in comparison to how he embraced his new home community. Hoskins and his wife, Jayme, raised more than $1 million for the Muscular Dystrophy Association during his time playing with the Phillies. This year, they continued their involvement with MDA by hosting 100 families at a Brewers game. They also remained active in MDA summer camps and promoted awareness of the disease through public service announcements, social media campaigns and other events.

Hoskins immediately assumed the role as the Brewers’ player representative, which helped him claim the Marvin Miller Man of the Year Award. It is presented each year to the player “whose leadership most inspires others to higher levels of achievement.” It is named in honor of the MLBPA’s first full-time executive director, who from 1966-82 was instrumental in the process of establishing and implementing free agency and making the MLBPA one of the most cohesive labor unions in the country.

Curt Flood Award

Dave Winfield
The Curt Flood Award commemorates Flood’s historic judicial fight against baseball’s reserve system, which paved the way for free agency in the 1970s. Winfield was a clubhouse leader and an advocate for player rights throughout his 22-year Hall of Fame career. As a player, Winfield unfailingly supported the MLB Players Association through several collective bargaining negotiations and six work stoppages. Since 2013, Winfield has served as a senior advisor to MLBPA executive director Tony Clark.