1 week Ago By Sam Chapman
Award season pressed forward on Thursday night with the announcement of the All-MLB Teams. This began following the 2019 season to give recognition to the best players at each position throughout the regular season — rather than just first-half All-Star honorees (and has evolved into a rather odd dinner event in Vegas). A list of nominees for each position was released at the end of the regular season, and they were boiled down to the top two at each on Thursday night.
Unsurprisingly, Aaron Judge and Juan Soto were featured prominently on the 2024 All-MLB First Team. Plenty has been said and written here at Pinstripe Alley about Aaron Judge’s 2024 season, but I also don’t think enough could be said. Despite an already historic season on his record in 2022, he set career-highs with a jaw-dropping 218 wRC+ while accruing 11.
2 fWAR. Judge topped 50 homers for the third time in his career with 58, and slugged over .700 while manning center field for the Yankees .
It was one of the best single season performances in baseball history, with marks that only the Barry Bonds and Babe Ruths of the world could really relate to. Judge is continuing to supplant himself as a legitimate all-time great, as far as peaks go, and can now add what is very possibly the best season ever by a right-handed hitter to his jam-packed resume. And of course, he can add another All-MLB Team selection to his growing trophy shelf, his fourth such honor.
One of the more exciting parts headed into the 2024 season was Judge joining forces with Juan Soto, for at least one season. We all gawked about the possibility of these two forming one of the best teammate duos of all time, and it was just absolutely true. Soto was also elected to the All-MLB First Team, a well-deserved honor for the now free agent.
Soto was a top three offensive player in baseball this season, slashing .288/.419/.
569 with a 180 wRC+, sitting behind only a couple of historic campaigns from his teammate out in center, and Shohei Ohtani. He swatted 41 homers with his new squad, a new high-water mark, and was some much-needed help in the Yankees lineup throughout the season, and particularly in the postseason. It was also Soto’s fourth All-MLB selection.
Judge and Soto were the only Yankees to take home any All-MLB honors Thursday night, though Austin Wells, Jazz Chisholm Jr., and Luis Gil were all nominated at their respective positions. Elsewhere around the league, Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
took home First Team honors at first base, Jose Altuve earned Second Team honors, a couple of Royals were selected in Bobby Witt Jr. and Salvador Perez, and Mookie Betts joined Soto and Judge on the First Team, despite only playing 43 games in the outfield. An old friend was honored as well, with Michael King being selected as a starter for the Second Team.
Here is a look at those joining Soto and Judge on the All-MLB First and Second teams for the 2024 campaign: Presenting your 2024 All-MLB First Team! pic.twitter.com/Yqtr5mwiJO Here is your 2024 All-MLB Second Team! pic.
twitter.com/EifV64fnBw.
