Chris Sale, Shohei Ohtani among big winners at All-MLB Awards Show

Major League Baseball conducted its 2024 All-MLB Awards Show on Thursday, revealing a host of honors, most notably Comeback Player of the Year and the Hank Aaron Award winners, among others. 

The top honors from the Baseball Writers Association of America — the MVP, Cy Young, Rookie of the Year and Manager of the Year awards — will wait until next week.

Braves lefty Chris Sale and White Sox southpaw Garrett Crochet were named Comeback Players of the Year. Sale rebounded from a middling final season in Boston in which he was limited to a 4.30 ERA in 20 starts. He starred for Atlanta, turning in an MLB-best 2.38 ERA across 177 2/3 innings. He’s favored to win his first Cy Young next week.

Crochet, who was limited to 12 2/3 innings of relief by elbow and shoulder problems in 2023, was one of the game’s biggest breakout performers. The former first-rounder moved into Chicago’s rotation and turned in a 3.58 ERA over 32 starts. While the Sox eased his workload late in the season, he managed 209 strikeouts across 146 innings. Crochet is the top pitcher known to be available on the offseason trade market.

Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani were named the respective winners of the AL and NL Hank Aaron award, given to each league’s best offensive player. Ohtani also picked up the Edgar Martinez award as MLB’s best designated hitter. 

Guardians star Emmanuel Clase and Cardinals fireballer Ryan Helsley won the respective Reliever of the Year honors in each league. Much like Crochet, Helsley is one of the winter’s top trade candidates.

MLB also announced its First and Second Teams. Those are not league specific and are designed to honor the best player at each position. Those are as follows:

First Team

• Catcher: William Contreras, Brewers
• First Base: Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Blue Jays
• Second Base: Ketel Marte, Diamondbacks
• Third Base: José Ramírez, Guardians
• Shortstop: Bobby Witt Jr., Royals
• Outfield: Mookie Betts, Dodgers
• Outfield: Aaron Judge, Yankees
• Outfield: Juan Soto, Yankees
• Designated Hitter: Shohei Ohtani, Dodgers
• Starting Pitcher: Corbin Burnes, Orioles
• Starting Pitcher: Chris Sale, Braves
• Starting Pitcher: Paul Skenes, Pirates
• Starting Pitcher: Tarik Skubal, Tigers
• Starting Pitcher: Zack Wheeler, Phillies
• Relief Pitcher: Emmanuel Clase, Guardians
• Relief Pitcher: Ryan Helsley, Cardinals

Second Team

• Catcher: Salvador Perez, Royals
• First Base: Bryce Harper, Phillies
• Second Base: Jose Altuve, Astros
• Third Base: Manny Machado, Padres
• Shortstop: Francisco Lindor, Mets
• Outfield: Jarren Duran, Red Sox
• Outfield: Teoscar Hernández, Dodgers
• Outfield: Jackson Merrill, Padres
• Designated Hitter: Yordan Alvarez, Astros
• Starting Pitcher: Dylan Cease, Padres
• Starting Pitcher: Shota Imanaga, Cubs
• Starting Pitcher: Michael King, Padres
• Starting Pitcher: Seth Lugo, Royals
• Starting Pitcher: Framber Valdez, Astros
• Relief Pitcher: Mason Miller, Athletics
• Relief Pitcher: Kirby Yates, Rangers