Judge, Soto named AL MVP finalists after stellar season with Yanks

Gil, Wells up for AL Rookie of the Year Award

NEW YORK — The path toward the Yankees’ first World Series appearance in 15 years was powered by a selection of notable individual performances. Accordingly, several Bombers are in the running to bring home hardware through this year’s Baseball Writers’ Association of America Awards voting.

The official list of BBWAA finalists was announced on Monday on MLB Network, highlighted by Aaron Judge and Juan Soto being named as finalists for the American League’s Most Valuable Player Award, along with the Royals’ Bobby Witt Jr.

Judge is seeking his second career MVP Award, having won in 2022. The 32-year-old slashed .322/458/.701 (180-for-559) with 36 doubles, 58 homers, 144 RBIs, 133 walks and 122 runs scored in 158 games this past season.

The Major League leader in homers, RBIs, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, OPS (1.159), walks, times on base (322), game-winning RBIs (24), go-ahead RBIs (32) and position-player fWAR (11.2), Judge also paced the AL in total bases (392) and extra-base hits (95).

Soto made a dynamic impact after being acquired from the Padres last December, slashing .288/.419/.569 (166-for-576) with 128 runs scored, 31 doubles, four triples, 41 homers, 109 RBIs and 129 walks in 157 games.

Now 26, Soto set career highs in runs, hits, homers, hits, total bases (328) and extra-base hits (76) during the regular season. He ranked second in the Majors in walks, times on base (299) and runs scored, while placing fourth in homers, slugging percentage and position-player fWAR (8.1).

The Yankees also have two finalists for the AL Rookie of the Year Award, with right-hander Luis Gil and catcher Austin Wells joined by Orioles outfielder Colton Cowser.

Gil made his first Opening Day roster and helped the Yankees cover for an early-season injury to ace Gerrit Cole, posting a 15-7 record with a 3.50 ERA in 29 starts. In 151 2/3 innings, the 26-year-old Gil permitted 104 hits and 77 walks while striking out 171 batters, holding opponents to a .189/.297/.345 (104-for-550) slash line.

Among all pitchers, Gil led the AL in opponent batting average and was second in hits per nine innings (6.17). He was fourth in the AL in strikeouts per nine innings (10.15), sixth in opponent slugging and 10th in opponent OPS (.643). He also paced all AL rookies in wins and tied for the rookie lead in strikeouts.

Wells slashed .229/.322/.395 (81-for-354) with 18 doubles, one triple, 13 homers, 55 RBIs, 47 walks and 42 runs scored in 115 games. Among AL rookies, Wells ranked fourth in game-winning RBIs (eight) and fifth in on-base percentage, slugging and OPS (.718). He also tied for fifth in homers and extra-base hits (32) and placed sixth in RBIs and go-ahead RBIs (10).