CLEVELAND, Ohio — A little more than two years removed from hitting a home run with his final swing as a player in a major league uniform, Steven Vogt has knocked yet another one out of the park. Vogt on Thursday was named American League Manager of the Year for 2024 by The Sporting News.
Guardians third baseman José Ramírez and closer Emmanuel Clase were also selected — according to balloting by MLB executives — as All-Stars for the 138-year-old publication, which has named the top position players and pitchers in each league since 1936.
Vogt becomes the fourth Cleveland skipper to take home the top managerial honor, joining Terry Francona (2017, 2016), Eric Wedge (2007) and Mike Hargrove (1995). He also remains a leading candidate for the top AL managerial award presented by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America. Finalists for the BBWAA awards will be revealed Nov. 11 on MLB Network.
In his first year as Guardians manager, vote guided Cleveland to a 92-63 record and an AL Central Division championship. The Guardians bested rival Detroit in the AL Division Series in five games before falling to the Yankees in the AL Championship Series last week.
Along the way, Vogt navigated the early loss of Cy Young winner Shane Bieber from the starting rotation and managed Cleveland’s bullpen into the top relief unit in the game. He became the fifth Cleveland manager to win at least 90 games in his first full season, and the fifth in MLB history to lead his team to the playoffs within two seasons of his playing career.
Cleveland got out to a 51-26 record and remained in first place for all but six days during the regular season. Vogt said he would not go back and change a single thing from his first year at the helm.
“I loved watching our guys play,” Vogt said. “I loved putting them into positions to succeed and seeing what they were made of, and we had a blast while doing it.”
Stephen Vogt prior to Game 5 of the American League Championship Series.AP
Vogt and his staff prepared meticulously for each series and game, emphasizing versatility and readiness among starters, bench players and relievers as they contributed to Cleveland’s success. It was not uncommon for Vogt to have used every available player on the roster by the time a series ended during the regular season and into the postseason.
Perhaps the two finest examples of Vogt’s ability to read situations was the way he managed Game 4 of the ALDS against Detroit and Game 3 of the ALCS against New York, sending pinch hitters such as David Fry and Jhonkensy Noel to the plate in key moments and identifying winning matchups with relievers.
Ultimately the playoff run came up short against the Yankees, but Vogt admitted Tuesday in a postseason meeting with reporters that getting a taste of the postseason from the manager’s chair will drive him moving foward.
“We came short, we’re not done,” Vogt said.
He went on to acknowledge that the help and support provided by Cleveland’s front office allowed him to learn quickley and get his feet underneath him.
“I couldn’t be more thankful,” Vogt said. “I had an absolute blast this year, and we know it left me even more hungry watching that (Yankees) celebration the other night. I wanted to take it in for a few minutes. I want it next year and it’s never going to stop driving me.”
The Sporting News Awards
Dodgers 50/50 man Shohei Ohtani edged Yankees slugger Aaron Judge in a vote of more than 200 players to win The Sporting News 2024 MLB Player of the Year. Ohtani hit hit 54 homers and stole 59 bases in an historic season, while Judge led baseball with 58 home runs and 144 RBI.
Other honorees in the American and National leagues as selected by their peers included:
- AL Rookie of the Year: Mason Miller, Athletics
- AL Comeback Player of the Year: Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Blue Jays
- AL Manager of the Year: Stephen Vogt, Guardians
- NL Rookie of the Year: Jackson Merrill, Padres
- NL Comeback Player of the Year: Chris Sale, Braves
- NL Manager of the Year: Pat Murphy, Brewers
- MLB Executive of the Year: Matt Arnold, Brewers
The Sporting News All-Stars
The Sporting News All-Stars, as voted by MLB executives since 1936, included:
C — AL: Cal Raleigh, Mariners; NL: William Contreras, Brewers.
1B — AL: Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Blue Jays; NL: Bryce Harper, Phillies.
2B — AL: Jose Altuve, Astros; NL: Ketel Marte, Diamondbacks.
3B — AL: José Ramírez, Guardians; NL: Matt Chapman, Giants.
SS — AL: Bobby Witt Jr., Royals; NL: Francisco Lindor, Mets.
OF — AL: Aaron Judge, Yankees; NL: Jackson Merrill, Padres.
OF — AL: Juan Soto, Yankees; NL: Jurickson Profar, Padres.
OF — AL: Jarren Duran, Red Sox; NL: (Tie) Mookie Betts, Dodgers and Corbin Carroll, Diamondbacks.
DH — AL: Yordan Alvarez, Astros; NL: Shohei Ohtani, Dodgers.
SP — AL: Tarik Skubal, Tigers; NL: Chris Sale, Braves.
RP — AL: Emmanuel Clase, Guardians; NL: (Tie) Ryan Helsley, Cardinals and Raisel Iglesias, Braves.