2018 MLB Season Awards Predictions

The 2018 MLB season is about to get underway as Spring Training games begin on Friday February 23rd. So before the season begins I want to give my year end awards and then see just how close (or lack thereof I was). I challenge you to put together a list this week before Spring games begin to see how close you can come.

The awards that I will be making my judgments on will be the standard awards from both leagues. Most Valuable Player, Cy Young, Manager of the Year, Rookie of the Year, Reliever of the Year, Comeback Player of the Year. Also I will make predictions about the Gold Glove Winners and the Sliver Slugger Winners.

As this is really just an exercise of personal preference, I won’t include any kind of projection stats. It will simply be a list of who I think can win these awards or who I’m personally pulling for. This list won’t have a lot of surprises but some players that may not be household names just yet. Some choices may also not be popular or trendy. Again make a list for yourself, it is a fun and provocative activity

So let’s begin with the Silver Slugger Award Winners.

NATIONAL LEAGUE SILVER SLUGGERS

Catcher: Willson Contreras
First Base: Cody Bellinger
Second Base: Daniel Murphy
Third Base: Nolan Arenado
Shortstop: Corey Seager
Left Field: Rhys Hoskins
Center Field: Tommy Pham
Right Field: Bryce Harper
Pitcher: Madison Bumgarner

AMERICAN LEAGUE SILVER SLUGGERS

Catcher: Gary Sanchez
First Base: Greg Bird
Second Base: Jose Altuve
Third Base: Jose Ramirez
Shortstop: Carlos Correa
Left Field: Eddie Rosario
Center Field: Mike Trout
Right Field: Aaron Judge
Designated Hitter: Giancarlo Stanton

NATIONAL LEAGUE GOLD GLOVES 

Catcher: Yadier Molina
First Base: Joey Votto
Second Base: Javier Baez
Third Base: Nolan Arenado
Shortstop: Brandon Crawford
Left Field: Marcell Ozuna
Center Field: Ender Inciarte
Right Field: Jason Heyward
Pitcher: Zack Greinke

AMERICAN LEAGUE GOLD GLOVES

Catcher: Martin Maldonado
First Base: Joe Mauer
Second Base: Ian Kinsler
Third Base: Manny Machado
Shortstop: Andrelton Simmons
Left Field: Brett Gardner
Center Field: Byron Buxton
Right Field: Aaron Judge
Pitcher: Carlos Carrasco

NATIONAL LEAGUE MANAGER OF THE YEAR

Gabe Kapler

AMERICAN LEAGUE MANAGER OF THE YEAR

Alex Cora

NATIONAL LEAGUE COMEBACK PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Adam Eaton

AMERICAN LEAGUE COMEBACK PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Albert Pujols

NATIONAL LEAGUE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR

Ronald Acuna

AMERICAN LEAGUE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR

Shohei Ohtani

NATIONAL LEAGUE CY YOUNG 

Clayton Kershaw

AMERICAN LEAGUE CY YOUNG 

Luis Severino

NATIONAL LEAGUE MOST VALUABLE PLAYER

Bryce Harper

AMERICAN LEAGUE MOST VALUABLE PLAYER

Mike Trout