The American League MVP race intensifies closer to June, with numerous standout players making strong arguments for the prestigious honor. From experienced veterans to up-and-coming talents, these athletes have consistently impressed on the field, displaying a mix of power, accuracy, and clutch performances that have greatly impacted their teams’ success. As the season reaches its midpoint, it’s worth examining the top 10 MVP hopefuls creating buzz and winning over fans.
10. Corey Seager, Texas Rangers
Corey Seager, the shortstop for the Texas Rangers, started hot this season and struggled but is returning to his normal form. He’s currently batting .247 with six home runs and 17 RBI. His impressive .709 OPS and leadership qualities on the field have played a vital role in the success of the Rangers, positioning him as a strong contender for the American League MVP title.
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9. Yordan Alvarez, Houston Astros
Yordan Alvarez has been a standout performer in the Astros lineup. He started the season with an impressive .759 on-base percentage, eight home runs, and 20 RBIs. His ability to deliver powerful hits and clutch performances when needed has kept Houston competitive, although illness/injury and a recent slump have made his numbers more pedestrian. Still, his ability to change a game with one swing makes him an outside candidate for American League MVP honors.
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8. José Ramírez, Cleveland Guardians
José Ramírez has been a key player for the Guardians and their hot start. He combines power and speed in a way uncommon in third basemen. He’s hitting .253 with 11 home runs, driving in 41 runs. His consistency at bat and strong defensive skills position him as a dark horse contender for the American League MVP award.
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7. Adley Rutschman, Baltimore Orioles
Adley Rutschman, a catcher for the Baltimore Orioles, has been making defensive and offensive waves. With a batting average of. 304, 9 home runs, and 28 RBIs, his solid .834 OPS and exceptional defensive abilities have significantly contributed to Baltimore’s achievements. He should remain in the thick of the American League MVP race the rest of the season.
6. José Altuve, Houston Astros
José Altuve, who plays second base for the Houston Astros, has shown a remarkable resurgence this year, boasting a batting average of .304 along with 8 home runs and 19 RBIs. His consistent .858 OPS and seasoned leadership skills have established him as a crucial member of the Astros team and a top contender for the American League MVP award.
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5. Bobby Witt, Jr., Kansas City Royals
Bobby Witt Jr. has shone for the Kansas City Royals this season and they have been performing surprisingly well. He’s currently ranked third in the AL with a 3.0 WAR, as reported by Baseball Reference. Witt has an impressive batting line of .295/.357/.511, along with outstanding defensive abilities and remarkable speed. While he’s been in a power drought lately, hitting only one home run in his last 36 games, his hitting statistics indicate that a power surge may be on the way soon and will only help his American League MVP chances.
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4. Aaron Judge, New York Yankees
Aaron Judge’s slow start seems like a distant memory for the New York Yankees. Judge has picked up the pace over the past few weeks. He’s gone from struggling with a.197/.331/.393 slash line until May 2, to turning things around in his last 16 games and batting an impressive .436 (24 for 55) with seven homers, 10 doubles and 14 RBIs. He’s on fire with a 1.563 OPS and currently sits in second place among AL qualifiers for the year with a .988 OPS. He is surging quickly in the American League MVP standings.
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3. Gunnar Henderson, Baltimore Orioles
Among the talented players on the Orioles team, Gunnar Henderson truly shines. Following his impressive win of the AL Rookie of the Year Award in 2023, he has shown remarkable progress this season, playing a key role in Baltimore’s competitiveness against the strong Yankees in the AL East. As a shortstop, he currently leads the league with 16 home runs and boasts an impressive .962 OPS, a significant improvement of 148 points from last year — American League MVP numbers if he can sustain it.
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2. Kyle Tucker, Houston Astros
Kyle Tucker has been performing impressively in MLB for the past three years, but in 2024, he has taken his skills to a new level. As the Astros left-handed slugger, he’s currently second in all of baseball with 15 home runs and leads the AL in both on-base percentage (.421) and slugging percentage (.618) across 47 games. Recently, his performance has been outstanding, with a batting average of .326, an on-base percentage of .500, and a slugging percentage of .870. During his last 14 games, he has hit seven home runs, driven in 13 runs and worked 16 walks. His exceptional play has significantly contributed to Houston’s resurgence in the early postseason race and catapulted him near the top in the American League MVP race.
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1. Juan Soto, New York Yankees
Juan Soto should get a lot of praise for transforming the lineup of the New York Yankees after joining from the San Diego Padres during the offseason. In just one month, the Yankees went from being ranked as the sixth worst in runs scored to having one of the strongest offenses, ranking fifth with an average of 4.84 runs per game. Soto has played in all 48 games for New York and has impressive stats, batting.316/.415/.551 with 11 home runs, 37 RBIs and more walks (33) than strikeouts (32). He’s the clear American League MVP front-runner as June approaches.