DeGrom, Acuna Voted Top Returning Players at MLB Awards

LAS VEGAS – Texas Rangers pitcher Jacob deGrom was voted the American League Comeback Player of the Year and Atlanta Braves outfielder Ronald Acquana Jr. earned the National League honor Thursday night.

Edwin Diaz of the New York Mets was named the Trevor Hoffman AL Reliever of the Year and Aroldis Chapman of the Boston Red Sox was named the Mariano Rivera AL Reliever of the Year.

Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers won the Edgar Martinez Outstanding Designated Hitter Award for the fifth consecutive year, matching the record Ortiz set from 2003–07, and Ohtani and Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees won their third Hank Aaron Awards as the most outstanding performers.

Milwaukee general manager Matt Arnold became the first repeat winner of MLB’s Executive of the Year award.

DeGrom, a 37-year-old right-hander, had Tommy John surgery in June 2023, made three starts at the end of the 2024 season and went 12-8 with a 2.97 ERA and 185 strikeouts in 172 2/3 innings this year, earning his fifth All-Star selection.

Acuña, 27, tore his left ACL on May 26, 2024, and he returned to the Braves last May 23 and made his fifth All-Star team. He hit .290 with 21 home runs, 42 RBI and nine stolen bases.

Also receiving AL votes were Baltimore pitcher Trevor Rogers, Toronto outfielder George Springer and shortstop Bo Bechette, Boston shortstop Trevor Story and right-hander Lucas Giolito and New York Yankees outfielder Trent Grisham. Others receiving NL votes included San Francisco left-hander Robbie Ray, Philadelphia left-hander Jesus Luzerdo, Los Angeles Dodgers left-hander Clayton Kershaw, Milwaukee right-hander Brandon Woodruff and Chicago Cubs catcher Carson Kelly.

Diaz also won the relief award in 2018 and 2022, making him the second three-time winner along with Josh Hader. The 31-year-old right-hander was 6-3 with a 1.63 ERA, 28 saves in 31 chances and 98 strikeouts in 66 1/3 innings.

The 37-year-old Chapman, an eight-time All-Star, was 5-3 with a 1.17 ERA, 32 saves in 34 chances and 85 strikeouts in 61 1/3 innings. The left-hander didn’t allow 50 consecutive hits from July 23 to September 7. Chapman also won the award in 2019.

Chapman’s win increased the value of his 2027 mutual option by $1 million to $14 million. The option will be guaranteed if he pitches 40 or more innings next year and is healthy enough for the 2027 Opening Day roster. Andres Munoz of Seattle took home $100,000 in second place and Carlos Estevez of Kansas City took home $50,000 in third place.

Ohtani, 31, hit .282 with 55 homers, 102 RBI, 20 steals, 109 walks and 146 runs. He joined Alex Rodriguez from 2001-03 as winners of three straight Hank Aaron Awards. He was named the NL MVP earlier Thursday.

Judge, 33, also won Hank Aaron Awards in 2022 and 2024. He led the major leagues with a .331 average and 53 homers and 114 RBIs to earn AL MVP honors.

The Arnold Brewers won their third straight NL Central title in the league’s smallest market. The 46-year-old joined the Brewers in 2015 as vice president and assistant general manager. He was promoted as General Manager in November 2020. When David Stearns stepped down as president of baseball operations after the 2022 season, Arnold took over.

Past winners and honorees vote on the Hank Aaron Awards, while the DH honor is chosen by the club’s beat writers, broadcasters and public relations department. The executive award is voted on by the executives of all 30 MLB teams before the postseason.