2024 Players Choice Awards

2024

FINALISTS

PRESS RELEASE:

2024 PCA FINALISTS

SINCE 1992, THE PLAYERS CHOICE AWARDS HAVE RECOGNIZED THE OUTSTANDING ON- AND OFF-FIELD PERFORMANCES OF PLAYERS.

THE AWARDS HAVE SPECIAL SIGNIFICANCE TO PLAYERS BECAUSE THE WINNERS ARE SELECTED IN BALLOTING AMONG THEIR PEERS.

FINALISTS APPEAR IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER

MARVIN MILLER MAN OF THE YEAR FINALISTS

MAX FRIED

RHYS HOSKINS

STEVEN KWAN

PABLO LÓPEZ

Max Fried has been an active and engaged voice in MLBPA player leadership for several years. He began educating himself on issues of importance to players as a young pitcher in the Atlanta organization and continues to be a strong advocate for player rights in his capacity as Braves team representative. Off the field, Fried joined teammate Tyler Matzek this year and became involved in the Strikeout the Stigma Campaign, a partnership with the Athletes Against Anxiety and Depression Foundation that is designed to raise awareness and funds for mental health and normalize conversation around the topic.

After six seasons as a lineup and clubhouse pillar, a community ambassador and a fan favorite in Philadelphia, Rhys Hoskins made an immediate impact on and off the field in his new home in Milwaukee. He assumed the role of Brewers’ player representative and immersed himself in the community with his wife, Jayme, through their involvement with the Muscular Dystrophy Association. Rhys and Jayme hosted 100 families at a Brewers game and remain active in MDA summer camps and promoting awareness of the disease through public service announcements, social media campaigns and other events throughout the year.

In his third season with the Guardians, Steven Kwan has embraced a leadership role on and off the field. In addition to serving as Cleveland’s team player representative, Kwan has emerged as a prominent face in the community. He has shared his love for chess with students in the Cleveland Municipal School District and spends hours mentoring eighth graders as they navigate peer pressure, potential career pathways and other life challenges. In September, Steven was recognized as Cleveland’s Roberto Clemente Award nominee for 2024. After winning back-to- back Gold Gloves in 2022-23, he made his first All-Star appearance this year.

Pablo López serves as the Minnesota Twins’ player representative and one of eight ambassadors to the Players Trust, the charity arm of the MLBPA. In his role as an ambassador, López plays a key role in keeping teammates informed about the resources and tools available to them as they pursue their own charitable initiatives. This year, López and his wife, Kaylee, started the “Pablo Day” initiative to raise money for three nonprofit organizations: Children’s Minnesota, Ruff Start Rescue and Project Success, a program dedicated to supporting students. López was named the Twins’ Roberto Clemente Award nominee for his efforts.

PLAYER OF THE YEAR FINALISTS

AARON JUDGE

Aaron Judge found his groove in May and didn’t look back. He won half of the AL Player of the Month awards over the season in May, June and August. Multiple times this season, Judge was on pace to match or break the AL record of 62 home runs he had set just two years ago. He finished with 58 homers, becoming just the fifth player to top 50 in three different seasons. His 34 homers before the All-Star break set a new Yankees record for most home runs in the first half of a season, surpassing the previous mark of 33 he shared with Roger Maris. On August 14, Judge became the fastest player to 300 home runs, in just his 955th game and 3,431st at-bat. Along with his 58 homers, Judge led the league in RBIs with 144 and finished with an outstanding .701 slugging percentage and 1.159 OPS.

SHOHEI OHTANI

Dodgers DH Shohei Ohtani broke new ground as an all-around offensive threat in 2024. With an epic 6-for-6, 10-RBI game against the Marlins in September, he became the first player in MLB history to record a 50-homer, 50-steal season. In August, Ohtani had become one of only six players ever to log a 40-40 season. He surpassed Hideki Matsui for the most home runs ever by a Japanese player in the majors with his 176th career longball in April and topped the 200 mark against Detroit in June. Ohtani led the National League in runs (134), homers (54), RBIs (130), slugging (.646), OPS (1.036) and total bases (411).

BOBBY WITT JR.

Bobby Witt Jr. made history this season, showing off both his elite power and speed, becoming the first shortstop ever to post multiple 30-30 seasons. He also became the first player ever with three straight 20-20 seasons to start a career. In a franchise filled with iconic names, he is the first in Royals history with consecutive seasons of 30 or more home runs. Witt’s best month came in July when he hit .489 with a 1.353 OPS along with seven home runs and 22 RBIs. He was the driving force behind a Royals team that defied expectations and made the playoffs for the first time since winning the World Series in 2015. Witt ended the season leading the majors with a .332 batting average.

PHILANTHROPIST OF THE YEAR FINALISTS

RHYS HOSKINS

Rhys Hoskins and his wife, Jayme, have a long history of involvement with the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA), beginning as camp counselors during their teenage years. In Philadelphia, they participated in various MDA activities, including Zoom parties, Halloween events, educational sessions, and summer camps, helping to raise over $1 million for the organization. Their efforts supported sending children to camp and other MDA initiatives.

After Rhys joined the Milwaukee Brewers, the Hoskins continued their work with MDA, hosting 100 families at a Brewers game and organizing a meet-and-greet for 60 of those guests. They have also remained active in attending MDA summer camps and promoting awareness through public service announcements and social media. Their involvement includes both in-season and off-season activities, such as promoting Giving Tuesday for MDA and participating in year-round campaigns. Rhys also makes a point to connect with MDA families at games and through other events.

BRENT SUTER

Brent Suter has harnessed his platform and resources to drive meaningful change in the community, focusing on combating food insecurity and supporting youth. His contributions to the Baseball Island Foundation have been pivotal, particularly in restoring its meal program, which serves 43 low-income children in the Dominican Republic. Brent’s partnerships with organizations like La Soupe in Cincinnati, the Sam Hubbard Foundation, and the Reds Community Fund have amplified his impact. He also played a key role in establishing a community garden in Bond Hill, alongside Players for the Planet and the Cincinnati Zoo, providing fresh produce to underserved areas.

Over the past year, Brent has deepened his community involvement by connecting with fellow MLB players to advance the Baseball Island Foundation's mission and amplify its impact. His regular visits to the Urban Youth Academy, his partnership with the Joe Nuxhall Miracle League, and several visits to Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, where he reads from The Binky Bandit, a children's book he authored, underscore his commitment to empowering the next generation. Looking ahead, Brent plans to visit the Baseball Island kids in the Dominican Republic after the 2024 season, continue his fundraising efforts, and maintain his active role in supporting his partner organizations. His dedication to addressing food insecurity and supporting youth, through both financial contributions and personal time, reflects his unwavering commitment to making a positive difference.

JOSE TREVINO

Jose Trevino has channeled his passion for baseball into a powerful tool for community service, particularly in his home state of Texas. Over the past three years, he has organized an annual baseball event featuring tournaments, home run derbies, and celebrity games. These events draw participants from across the state, aiming to foster youth baseball and softball development. The 2023 event in Corpus Christi was especially noteworthy, featuring a home run derby off a battleship and involvement from the Savannah Bananas, showcasing Trevino's innovative approach to philanthropy.

Trevino's community efforts extend beyond these events. He has organized toy drives for military families and regularly engages with youth baseball organizations, demonstrating his deep commitment to using his platform for widespread community benefit. Through these initiatives, Trevino continues to make a significant impact, using baseball as a means to bring people together and support those in need.

AMERICAN LEAGUE OUTSTANDING PLAYER FINALISTS

AARON JUDGE

JOSÉ RAMÍREZ

José Ramírez had yet another stellar season in 2024. He cemented himself in Cleveland history by producing the second 30-30 season of his career, becoming the only player in franchise history to achieve the feat twice and the first to record a 35-35 season. Ramírez ended with 39 home runs and 41 stolen bases and logged his sixth season of at least 20-20, the most by any active player. After missing out on the playoffs last year, Cleveland returned to the postseason by winning the AL Central for the fifth time in his career, once again with Ramírez leading the way. With his 39 home runs, he moved into second place on Cleveland’s all-time list with a career 255.

BOBBY WITT JR.

NATIONAL LEAGUE OUTSTANDING PLAYER FINALISTS

FRANCISCO LINDOR

Shortstop Francisco Lindor was a driving force out of the leadoff spot for the Mets in 2024. His 26 homers out of the No. 1 spot in the order tied for the most in franchise history behind Curtis Granderson’s 26 longballs in 2015. Lindor reached base in a career best 35 straight games from late July through early September, while joining Shohei Ohtani, Bobby Witt Jr. and former Cleveland teammate Jose Ramirez as one of four MLB players to top 30 homers and 25 steals this season. Lindor, Darryl Strawberry and Howard Johnson are the only Mets to record multiple seasons of 25 homers and 25 steals.

SHOHEI OHTANI

MARCELL OZUNA

Marcell Ozuna, in his 12th MLB season, helped carry the Atlanta offense. In a season when the Braves’ lineup was devastated by injuries, Ozuna was a model of consistency, appearing in all 162 games. Batting in the heart of the lineup, he led the team in almost every major category, including homers (39), RBIs (104), average (.302) and OPS (.925). Since the start of 2023, Ozuna is one of only seven players in baseball with at least 75 total homers and 200 RBIs. He appeared in his third career All-Star Game and first as a member of the Braves in July.

AMERICAN LEAGUE OUTSTANDING PITCHER FINALISTS

EMMANUEL CLASE

Emmanuel Clase continued his stretch as the game's best reliever in 2024. This year he recorded a career-high 47 saves, leading the AL for the third straight season, while setting a new single- season record for most saves in Cleveland history. He also became the first player in team history with three straight seasons of at least 40 saves. From May 20 to the end of the regular season, Clase recorded 34 consecutive saves, allowing only four runs in 50 innings for a 0.72 ERA. Clase won reliever of the month three times -- in May, July and September. His 0.61 season ERA is the lowest reliever ERA since 2016. He became Cleveland’s all-time saves leader this year, ending with 157 total saves.

LOGAN GILBERT

After two strong seasons in 2022 and 2023 without an All-Star selection, Logan Gilbert earned his long-deserved first nod in 2024. At the All-Star break, he led all AL starters with 132.1 IP, was fifth in strikeouts (124) and sixth in ERA (2.79).Throughout the season, Gilbert spearheaded a stellar rotation that led the AL in ERA (3.49) and the entire league with 92 quality starts. Despite his 9-12 record, Gilbert tied for first in the AL in quality starts (22), while leading in innings pitched (208.2) and finishing third in strikeouts (220), along with a 3.23 ERA. He also became the first Mariner to lead the majors in WHIP (0.89) in a season. Gilbert’s ability to get ahead in the count early, with a 67.7 first-pitch strike percentage, contributed to his dominant season.

TARIK SKUBAL

Tarik Skubal built on his strong end to the 2023 season by breaking out as one of baseball’s elite starters in 2024. He led the AL in wins (18), ERA (2.39) and strikeouts (228) to take home the AL Triple Crown. By the end of the season, Skubal had more than doubled his career bWAR from 5.1 to 11.4. He was a model of consistency, completing six innings or more in 25 of his 31 starts. His ability to limit hard contact and get ahead in counts contributed to his dominance. He logged a first pitch strike percentage of 68.7, and opponents had an expected batting average of just .210 and a hard-hit rate of 34.0. Skubal’s excellent year, along with a 39-26 second half, led the Tigers back to the postseason for the first time since 2014.

NATIONAL LEAGUE OUTSTANDING PITCHER FINALISTS

CHRIS SALE

Injuries limited Chris Sale to a total of 31 starts with Boston from 2021-2023, but he regained his dominant form with a return to full health in Atlanta. Sale notched the eighth 200-strikeout season of his 14-year career, tying Steve Carlton for the second most in history by a left-hander behind Randy Johnson. Sale established a career-high with 18 victories while also leading the league in ERA (2.38) and strikeouts (225) to become the first pitcher to capture an NL “Triple Crown’’ since Clayton Kershaw in 2011. He set a single-season major league record by logging 18 consecutive starts with two or fewer earned runs allowed.

PAUL SKENES

Paul Skenes, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 MLB draft out of Louisiana State University, made his debut in the Pirates rotation in May after a brief 34-inning tuneup in the minors. He immediately established himself as a frontline starter with his poise on the mound and overpowering stuff. Skenes became one of only five pitchers in history (along with Kerry Wood, Hideo Nomo, Dwight Gooden and Mark Prior) to record 150 career strikeouts in 20 games or fewer. In July, he became the first Pirate to earn starting pitcher honors in the All-Star Game since Jerry Reuss in 1975.

ZACK WHEELER

Zack Wheeler continued his run of excellence and reliability with another outstanding season in Philadelphia. He surpassed 200 strikeouts for the third time and set a single-season high with 16 victories, while surpassing 1,500 career strikeouts and 100 career wins along the way. Since signing with the Phillies as a free agent in 2020, Wheeler ranks second to teammate Aaron Nola among MLB starters with 829.1 innings pitched. Wheeler was particularly dominant at home, logging a 10-3 record with a 2.31 ERA and a .186 batting average against at Citizens Bank Park. He was selected to his second All-Star Game in July.

AMERICAN LEAGUE OUTSTANDING ROOKIE FINALISTS

WILYER ABREU

In just 28 games in 2023, Wilyer Abreu showed extreme promise hitting .316 with a .862 OPS, two home runs and 14 RBIs. He carried over his production into the 2024 campaign with a .316 batting average and .917 OPS in the first month of the season. On August 4, Abreu had one of the more special moments of the season when he dedicated his first multi-home run, and arguably the best game of his young career, to his late grandmother. Abreu ended the year leading all rookies in doubles with 33. He also provided Gold Glove-caliber defense, ranking first among right fielders in defensive runs saved with 18, tied for first in outs above average with seven and tied for first with nine outfield assists.

COLTON COWSER

Colton Cowser began the year winning Rookie of the Month in April after he hit six home runs with 18 RBIs and a 1.004 OPS. From July 19 to August 4, Cowser had a 17-game hitting streak, which was the longest by an Oriole since 2021 and tied for the longest by an Orioles rookie. During his streak Cowser hit .391, with a 1.077 OPS along with four home runs and 15 RBIs. He led all American League rookies in home runs with 24. Cowser also hit 24 doubles, becoming the ninth Orioles rookie to record a 20+ home run and 20+ double season.

AUSTIN WELLS

After appearing in 19 games at the end of 2023, Austin Wells, the Yankees’ 2020 first-round pick, entered the year as a platoon backstop in New York. In his final 77 games, Wells was one of the best catchers in Major League Baseball, with a .779 OPS, 12 home runs, 48 RBIs and second at the catcher position in fWAR (2.9). His production cemented him as the cleanup hitter against right-handed pitchers in the Yankees order. Wells also emerged as one of the game’s best defensive catchers with a 13 fielding run value and 11 defensive runs saved.

NATIONAL LEAGUE OUTSTANDING ROOKIE FINALISTS

JACKSON CHOURIO

Outfielder Jackson Chourio, a Venezuela native, entered this season as Baseball America’s second-ranked major league prospect and the top prospect in the Milwaukee organization. He made his MLB debut with the Brewers less than three weeks after celebrating his 20th birthday on March 11, and proceeded to go 5-for-12 out of the gate in Milwaukee’s season-opening series against the Mets. In September, Jackson went deep against San Francisco to become the youngest player in MLB history to record a 20-homer, 20-steal season. He is also the first rookie in Brewers’ franchise history to post a 20-20 season.

JACKSON MERRILL

Jackson Merrill, a first-round pick by San Diego in the 2021 MLB draft, made an instant impact at the plate, in the field and on the basepaths in his first year with the Padres. Merrill led all MLB rookies in RBIs (90), batting average (.292), home runs (24), OPS (.826) and fWAR (5.3). He also displayed a penchant for producing in the clutch with six game-tying or go-ahead home runs in the eighth inning or later – tying him with Hall of Famer Frank Robinson (1956) for the most in a season by a player 21 or younger. In July, Merrill became the first Padres rookie and the youngest San Diego player ever to be named to an All-Star team.

PAUL SKENES

Paul Skenes, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 MLB draft out of Louisiana State University, made his debut in the Pirates’ rotation in May after a brief 34-inning tune-up in the minors. He immediately established himself as a frontline starter with his poise on the mound and overpowering stuff. Skenes became one of only five pitchers in history (along with Kerry Wood, Hideo Nomo, Dwight Gooden and Mark Prior) to record 150 career strikeouts in 20 games or fewer. In July, he became the first Pirate to earn starting pitcher honors in the All-Star Game since Jerry Reuss in 1975.

AMERICAN LEAGUE COMEBACK PLAYER FINALISTS

GARRETT CROCHET

After missing the entire 2022 season due to Tommy John surgery, Garrett Crochet returned in May of 2023 to finish out the campaign by making 13 appearances out of the bullpen. This past year, Crochet made his first career Major League start as the White Sox’ Opening Day starting pitcher. He quickly established himself as one of the best pitchers in baseball with a fastball averaging 97.2 MPH, the fastest for a left-handed starter and fourth fastest by any left-handed pitcher. He was named an All-Star after a stellar first half in which he led all of baseball in strikeouts (150), K/9 (12.6) and fWAR (3.9). His best month came in June, when he went 1-1 with a 1.91 ERA, a 0.93 WHIP, and 56 strikeouts over 37.2 innings.

CHAD GREEN

Tommy John surgery kept Chad Green out for most of the last two years, but he looked like his old self in his first full season since 2021. After Jordan Romano and Yimi García both went down with injuries, Green stepped up and became the Blue Jays’ full-time closer at the end of June. He successfully converted his first 16 save opportunities, marking the second-highest consecutive successful save streak to start a tenure with the Blue Jays. In that stretch from early April through late August, he pitched 42.1 innings and allowed only seven runs for a 1.49 ERA, with seven holds to accompany his 16 saves. He finished the year with 17 saves, more than doubling his career total to 28.

TYLER O'NEILL

Two injury-plagued seasons in 2022 and 2023 limited Tyler O’Neill to just 168 games total. After a trade from the Cardinals to the Red Sox this past offseason, he looked to prove he was still the player who finished eighth in NL MVP voting in 2021. O’Neill did just that, beginning the season setting a new MLB record by hitting a home run in his fifth straight Opening Day. For the rest of the season, he was a constant presence in the heart of Boston’s lineup. O’Neill ended the season with 31 home runs, reaching 30+ home runs for the second time in his career (34 in 2021). Throughout the season, O’Neill terrorized left-handed pitchers, leading the league with a .750 slugging percentage against them and finishing tied for second with 16 home runs versus southpaws.

NATIONAL LEAGUE COMEBACK PLAYER FINALISTS

RHYS HOSKINS

After missing the entire 2023 season in Philadelphia with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee, Rhys Hoskins rebounded to give the Brewers a steady power bat in the middle of the order and a valuable veteran mentoring presence in the clubhouse. Hoskins signed as a free agent with Milwaukee in January after six seasons in Philadelphia and quickly made his presence felt in his new home, with six home runs, 18 RBIs and a .464 slugging percentage to help a young Milwaukee team seize the initiative in the NL Central with an 18-11 record in March and April.

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JURICKSON PROFAR

Jurickson Profar has been a versatile contributor over parts of 11 seasons with the Rangers, Athletics, Rockies and Padres, appearing at every position but pitcher and catcher. He returned to San Diego for a second go-round with the Padres in February after being released by Colorado in late August of 2023. Batting primarily out of the leadoff spot, Profar established single-season highs for games (158), hits (158), runs (94), home runs (24), RBIs (85) and total bases (259), among other categories. He was rewarded in July with his first career All-Star appearance at age 31.

CHRIS SALE

CURT FLOOD AWARD NOMINEES

SCOTT SANDERSON

Scott Sanderson will always be remembered by his contemporaries for his leadership during the players’ historic, 232-day strike in 1994-95. In those negotiations, Scott was at the forefront of the effort to keep players informed not only about the issues, but the importance of seeing them through to an appropriate resolution. It was Scott who set up the phone bank used in those negotiations and attended virtually every union meeting. And at the most widely attended meeting held in those negotiations, it was Scott who stood up first and crystallized the players’ mission: “I’d like a show of hands. Who among us wants to leave to the players who come after us less than what we received from the players who went before us?” Coming from a universally respected veteran of four work stoppages, that brief remark at once cut to the heart of the debate and invoked one of your union’s founding principles, that the protection of players’ rights transcends generations. Union leaders of the era consider it a seminal moment that injected new energy and clarity to players’ successful efforts to stop MLB’s attempt to break their union and implement a salary cap.

DAVE WINFIELD

Dave Winfield, a player representative for the Padres and Yankees and clubhouse influence throughout his 22-year Hall of Fame career, received his baseball indoctrination when players were first asserting their collective bargaining rights. In 1973, after being drafted by four teams in three professional sports, he signed with San Diego at age 20 and joined the Padres without spending a day in the minors. Free agency was in its infancy, with salary arbitration soon to follow, and Winfield immersed himself in the issues as a young player before earning the confidence of executive directors Marvin Miller and Don Fehr as a trusted and steady, thoughtful leader. After signing a 10-year, $23 million contract with the Yankees to become the game’s highest-salaried player in the 1980 offseason, Dave played a pivotal role in maintaining player unity during a 50-day strike to protect free agency the following year. He remained a forceful advocate for player rights in the 1980s and throughout the longest strike in baseball history in 1994-95 before his retirement. A longtime board member of the union’s philanthropic arm, The Players Trust, Dave joined the MLBPA staff in 2013 as senior advisor to Executive Director Tony Clark.