We're barely a month into the MLB season and there are already 2024 AL MVP candidates. The early contenders for AL MVP aren't necessarily players we expected before the season.
There aren't many former MLB award winners among them. But that's exactly what made the start of the season interesting.
Top 5 AL MVP candidates heading into the season
Obviously, voting for MVP will take several months. There will definitely be a lot of twists and turns every now and then. However, we still feel it would be interesting to take a look at the top 2024 AL MVP candidates during the early part of the season.
Tyler O'Neill
No one expected Tyler O'Neal to get off to this kind of start. He's always been known more for his defense than his bat, but his presence in Boston woke up his bat in a big way.
O'Neill is among the league leaders in home runs while also producing a batting average that hovers around .300. Even a brief stint on the IL with a concussion didn't slow down O'Neal. The obvious caveat is that no one expected this from him, so he has to prove he can keep going. His RBI total is also criminally low for a player with that many home runs. But he at least put himself on the MVP radar.
Bobby Witt Jr
Most people expected Bobby Witt Jr. to perform at an MVP level, but perhaps we didn't expect it to happen so soon. He hit over .300 and became an extra-base machine. Witt won't lead the American League in home runs, but he has a chance to lead the league in both doubles and triples.
If that eventually happens, Witt will have a compelling case for MVP, especially if he ends up competing for a batting title as well. While these are early days for the youngster, no one will be surprised if Witt can perform at his current level all year.
Gunnar Henderson
With 10 home runs early in the season for the first-place Orioles, Gunnar Henderson is putting himself in the MVP conversation.
At just 22 years old, Henderson is building on last year's success and taking another big step forward in his development. It also does so as a daily stop in Baltimore. If Henderson is able to add value for the Orioles defensively, it will give their MVP hopes a big boost.
Juan Soto
After his fast start with the Yankees this year, Juan Soto is back on track to become one of the greatest outfielders in Major League Baseball history. He is collecting extra base hits at a high rate, batting over .300, and is among the league leaders in both home runs and RBI.
We've known for years that Soto is one of the best hitters in baseball. After an up-and-down stint with the Padres, Soto once again looks like an elite hitter. Keep in mind that the guy is still only 25 years old. It should be at its peak activity now. That's why no one should be surprised by his performance and why no one should be surprised if he wins the MVP award this season.
Salvador Perez
Who would have expected Salvador Pérez to have one of his best seasons at the age of 33? Who would have expected the Royals to have two MVP candidates?
But that's exactly what will happen in 2024.
Perez leads the American League in RBI while also boasting one of the best batting averages in the league. He's also as steady as ever behind the plate while managing a young and emerging rotation in Kansas City. Perez is more valuable than his impressive offensive numbers indicate, which is why he looks like a serious MVP candidate right now.
The post 2024 AL MVP Ladder: The feature Soto, Witt & Henderson appeared first on Franchise Sports.
