The MLB season is three-quarters of the way through and that means it’s time to start rounding up our annual MLBbro Player of the Year candidates. The MLBbro Player of the Year is an annual award given to the best Black and brown player in the major leagues who excelled on the diamond, while also making a positive impact off the field.
Past winners include Mookie Betts (2023), Aaron Judge (2022 & ’24), and the inaugural winner, Marcus Semien, in 2021.
This year’s list of candidates is stacked with bros eager to take the title of the best Black and brown American player in the league. Whether it’s Aaron Judge, the silver slugger for the New York Yankees, launching a home run at Yankee Stadium, or breakout players like sophomore savant James Wood, who is having a historic season for the Washington Nationals.
Let’s dive into our top MLBbro Player of the Year candidates.
Aaron Judge (OF), Yankees
Aaron Judge is the only player in baseball with 50 hits, 75 times reaching base and 85 total bases prior to May this season. (Photo by Joy Washington for MLBbro.com)
Judge requires little introduction. After making their first appearance in the World Series since 2009, Judge has been a shining bright spot for the Yankees despite the fact that they have not had the season they had hoped for. The reigning AL MVP and Silver Slugger leads the league in batting average at .333 and OBP (.444) and is fourth in home runs (38).
‘The Judge’ is the only player in the major leagues with 35+ homers, 85+ RBIs and a batting average of .300 or better. This is noteworthy given that players such as Shohei Ohtani and Cal Raleigh, among others, have been performing exceptionally well in the batter’s box. After spending a month on the injured list due to a right flexor strain, Judge is eager to regain his form.
Despite missing some time, Judge’s dominance has been too sublime for anyone to overtake him as the top player.
James Wood (OF), Washington Nationals
The excitement surrounding James Wood has been palpable in Washington all season! Following his All-Star debut, Wood provides the struggling Nationals with a promising future as a franchise cornerstone. Wood is ranked 17th in RBIs as of August 14 and 18th in home runs with 25. While the Nationals rank last in the National League East Division at 49-72 with one of the worst records in the league, Wood still gives fans a reason to show up.
He’s one of seven players this season with 25+ homers, 75+ RBIs, and a batting average of .250 or better. The others are Pete Alonso, Ohtani, Judge, Riley Greene, Pete Crow-Armstrong and Junior Caminero. Juan Soto is the only other Nationals plater to ever achieve those numbers dating back to the Montreal Expos.
Not even Bryce Harper did that in his first two years!
If anyone is going to usurp Judge for the prestigious honor of MLBbro Player of the Year, Wood would be a serious contender.
Byron Buxton (CF, DH), Minnesota Twins
David Grubb MLBbro
‘Big Bux’, out in Minnesota, is another player who has a strong case to overtake Judge and Wood. The Twins’ All-Star designated hitter is having one of his best batting seasons with a chance to set a career single-season high in home runs with 24. His career high was 28 in 2022.
Despite the Twins’ 57-64 record as of August 14, they rank 13th in home runs per game, with Buxton having a substantial impact in doing so. He’s the only centerfielder this season with 20+ homers, 60+ RBIs, and 70+ runs with a batting average of .280 or better. The others to achieve that this season regardless of position are Judge, Ohtani, Manny Machado, and Jose Ramirez.
Elite company.
Josh Naylor (1B, OF), Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners have been one of the most explosive offenses in the MLB, ranking top 10 in runs per game and top five in homers per game. They have a deep batting lineup and part of that reason is due to Josh Naylor. Naylor has been a steady hitter for the Mariners all season as they look to return to the postseason for the first time since 2022.
The Mariners acquired Naylor from the Arizona Diamondbacks around the trade deadline, helping deepen their batting lineup and strengthen their first base. He’s helped the Mariners become nearly unbeatable since the deadline. He’s one of five first basemen or outfielders this season with 15+ homers, 65+ RBIs, and a batting average of .280 or better.
Naylor has been performing exceptionally well on the diamond.
Michael Harris II (CF), Atlanta Braves
David Grubb
Atlanta is home to where the Braves play, and MLBbro Michael Harris II might have something to say. While the Braves have struggled for consistency, this season has been solid, and he has been an ironman, missing only three games so far.
Since the All-Star break, the Braves shortstop has a 1.6 fWAR, second among all National League hitters, trailing only Ohtani’s 1.7. He leads all NL outfielders in bro bombs since the All-Star break. Seven of his 13 home runs this season have come after the break. His .366 batting average ranks second among all qualified hitters since the break.
It should be a tight race for this year’s MLBbro Player of the Year with a stacked deck of players. Judge may be the favorite for now, but with the All-Star seasons Wood and Buxton are having for their respective clubs, don’t be shocked to see them end up stealing the award from the reigning AL MVP.
