There were certain expectations for the Detroit Tigers this past season, and key to those expectations were some players performing well individually. And while some did and some didn’t and some fell in the middle, the team itself, as teams do, chugged right along.
But as fans, we’re concerned with certain players, and their performance compared to other players around the league. The MLB awards, but only for the Tigers, are what we care about, because good or bad, the Tigers win those.
So here are the 2024 Tigers team awards in my opinion:
Starting with the obvious, the Cy Young Award. Breaking the award into one for starters and one for relievers; Tarik Skubal, widely regarded as the best starting pitcher in the MLB, the lefty started strong on opening day and finished strong, helping to lead the Tigers back to the playoffs. Again an obvious choice and again a young lefty, Tyler Holton was the best relief pitcher on the team. He started games, closed games, had multi-inning outings and also outings that lasted just one batter, he was arguably one of the better relief pitchers in the league, and for sure the best on the Tigers.
Next up is the Tigers Rookie of the Year. Before the season, second baseman Colt Keith was a popular pick to win the American League award, but a scuffling start to the season probably cost him that. And though Keith didn’t win my version of the award either, he turned in a strong campaign. My Tigers Rookie of the Year is Wenceel Perez. The switch hitter was an infielder during his time in the minor leagues, but he quickly transitioned to the outfield in spring training, and when injuries quickened his path to the majors, he seized the opportunity and wouldn’t let go.
The Gold Glove, given to the top defender, is a little more of a head-scratcher, given that the entire team is graded out at or near the top of the league. Jake Rogers is actually a Gold Glove finalist and was a stellar defender behind the dish, though he is not my pick for the award. My pick is center fielder Parker Meadows. On top of covering one of the most expansive center fields in baseball, Meadows also made some outstanding catches, often game-changing and run-saving plays.
And last but definitely not least is the Most Valuable Player award. Though a strong argument could be made for s m, as a pitcher, he faces the natural disadvantage of not hitting, and for a “valuable” player, I believe one should play offense and defense, or hit and field consistently. For this, two players come to mind. First is Matt Vierling, who played in virtually every position and played well everywhere, while simultaneously mashing on offense. However, my pick for the Tigers MVP is Riley Greene. He ranked near the top of the league in defense among left fielders, and his offense was as promised when he was drafted fifth overall.
On the whole, the 2024 Tigers saw contributions from a lot of different faces. Many used the season to establish themselves in the league, and with the chaos that is sure to come this winter, these awards are sure to look different after next season.
