Los Angeles Dodgers teammates Shohei Ohtani and Freddie Freeman were named finalists for the 2024 Hank Aaron Award, an honor that recognizes the most outstanding regular season offensive performer in each League.
Ohtani figures to be the runaway favorite for the award in the National League after batting .310/.390/.646 with 38 doubles, seven triples, 54 home runs, 134 runs scored, 130 RBI, 59 stolen bases and a 181 wRC+ while accumulating 9.1 WAR as the Dodgers’ designated hitter.
Freeman had a bit of a down season by his standards, but still hit a strong .282/.378/.476 with 35 doubles, two triples, 22 home runs, 81 runs scored, 89 RBI and nine stolen bases with a 137 wRC+ and 4.1 WAR.
Matt Kemp was the last Dodgers player to win a Hank Aaron Award, which came during the 2011 season. Mookie Betts and Freeman were both nominated as finalists in 2023, but lost out to Ronald Acuña Jr. of the Atlanta Braves.
Aaron Judge figures to be the favorite to win in the Hank Aaron Award in the American League this year.
A committee of MLB.com journalists reviewed the top offensive statistics, accomplishments and performances of the regular season to determine the 10 finalists for each league.
MLB legends and past recipients of the prestigious award comprise the renowned panel that each cast votes for their choices for the honor. The distinguished group includes Derek Jeter, David Ortiz, Albert Pujols, Ken Griffey Jr., Chipper Jones, Pedro Martínez, John Smoltz, Johnny Bench, Craig Biggio, Eddie Murray and Robin Yount.
Fans also have the opportunity to cast their vote on who should receive the Hank Aaron Award by voting from the list of finalists in each the AL and NL through MLB.com/aaron. The voting window opened Monday and runs through Sunday, Oct. 13.
The NL and AL Hank Aaron Award winners will be announced live from The Chelsea at The Cosmopolitan hotel in Las Vegas on Thursday, Nov. 14, during a special presentation at the “All-MLB Team Show.”
The Hank Aaron Award was introduced in 1999 to honor the 25th Anniversary of Aaron breaking Babe Ruth’s all-time home run record. At that time it was the first major award introduced by Major League Baseball in more than 25 years.
Earlier this season, MLB celebrated the 50th anniversary of Aaron’s historic 715th record-breaking home run and this year marks the 25th anniversary of the Hank Aaron Award’s introduction.
2024 Hank Aaron Award finalists
National League
Milwaukee Brewers – William Contreras
Cincinnati Reds – Elly De La Cruz
Los Angeles Dodgers – Freddie Freeman
Philadelphia Phillies – Bryce Harper
New York Mets – Francisco Lindor
Arizona Diamondbacks – Ketel Marte
San Diego Padres – Jackson Merrill
Los Angeles Dodgers – Shohei Ohtani
Atlanta Braves – Marcell Ozuna
Philadelphia Phillies – Kyle Schwarber
American League
Houston Astros – Yordan Alvarez
Boston Red Sox – Jarren Duran
Toronto Blue Jays – Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
Baltimore Orioles – Gunnar Henderson
New York Yankees – Aaron Judge
Cleveland Guardians – José Ramírez
Oakland Athletics – Brent Rooker
Baltimore Orioles – Anthony Santander
New York Yankees – Juan Soto
Kansas City Royals – Bobby Witt Jr.
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