Castro, Jax among Twins' 2024 Diamond Award winners
MINNEAPOLIS -- Even amid a challenging finish to the year, standout seasons from the players who put in the work throughout the long months of the 162-game grind are always worthy of recognition -- and on Wednesday, the Twins announced the results of the voting for end-of-year awards by the local chapter of the Baseball Writers' Association of America.
Here’s a rundown of the 2024 Diamond Awards, set to be recognized at a banquet on Jan. 23, 2025, with proceeds -- as always -- going toward patient care and research in brain, nerve and muscle disorders through the University of Minnesota Medical School and M Health Fairview.
Most Valuable Twin: Willi Castro
Though Castro’s All-Star performance in the first half slowed following the All-Star break, he most significantly played in a team-high 158 games.
He did so while becoming the first player in MLB history to make at least 25 appearances at five positions (second base, shortstop, third base, left field, center field), and his ability to play pretty much everywhere -- including at the two premium spots on the diamond -- helped make all of manager Rocco Baldelli’s lineup and in-game strategy possible.
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Twins Pitcher of the Year: Griffin Jax
It takes a really special season for a relief pitcher to earn this honor -- and Jax was a really special pitcher throughout the campaign. With a 2.03 ERA, 1.94 FIP, 0.87 WHIP and 95 strikeouts in 71 innings (nearly all of which came in the most important late-game innings), Jax was the unquestioned rock of the pitching staff all year.
By FanGraphs’ measure of WAR, Jax was the second-most valuable reliever in all of baseball.
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Twins Outstanding Rookie: Simeon Woods Richardson
It’s not a stretch to say there were minimal expectations set for Woods Richardson entering the season, considering his tough performance and noticeably diminished stuff in Triple-A at the end of his ‘23 season -- but when his team needed him, he stepped up bigtime.
A slightly lower arm slot unlocked a big velocity boost that helped Woods Richardson to a 4.17 ERA in 133 2/3 innings, and though he ran out of steam at the end of the season due to a career-high workload, he has firmly affixed himself in the Twins’ rotation plans.
Most Improved Twin: Cole Sands
After spending two seasons as a long-relief swingman to save bullpen arms in low-leverage situations, Sands emerged in a huge way as one of Baldelli’s most effective relievers with a 3.28 ERA and 85 strikeouts in 71 1/3 innings, setting him up for a leverage role moving forward.
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Defensive Player of the Year: Carlos Santana
Even at age 38, Santana is one of the finalists (and seemingly the front-runner) for his first career Gold Glove Award at first base, thanks to his 14 Outs Above Average, which ranked 16th among all MLB defenders, per Statcast, and led AL first basemen by an enormous margin. The eye test and metrics agree on the incredible season he had at the position.
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Bob Allison Twins Leadership Award: Carlos Correa
Correa remains the unquestioned vocal leader of the Minnesota clubhouse, and his presence lends a different vibe to any room and to the dugout.
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“Media Good Guy” Award: Ryan Jeffers
Always friendly and approachable -- even in the difficult moments toward the end of the season -- Jeffers became the easy go-to for big-picture conversations and insights about his teammates and the direction of the team (just as he has always been).
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Upper Midwest Player of the Year: Matt Strahm, Phillies
The chapter votes every season on the most outstanding player (league-wide) born in the Upper Midwest, and this honor goes to Strahm, a North Dakota native, who had a 1.87 ERA and 0.75 WHIP in 62 2/3 innings out of the Philadelphia bullpen.
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Carl R. Pohlad Outstanding Community Service: Royce Lewis
Twins Alumni Community Service: Torii Hunter
Lewis has been among the most enthusiastic ambassadors and participants through his words and actions for the Twins Community Fund throughout his career with the club -- and it’s fitting that he’ll be recognized alongside Hunter, one of his closest longtime mentors, who supports youth financial literacy programs and baseball camps through his status as a board member of the Still Got Game Foundation.