MLB 2019 Award Predictions: MVP, Cy Young, Rookie Of The Year Picks For AL And NL

With so many good young players in baseball, it seems to be getting harder each year to make predictions for each individual award. There’s only been one repeat MVP winner over the last 15 years in each league. Nine different pitchers have won the last 12 Cy Young awards.

Below are picks for the AL and NL MVP, Cy Young and Rookie of the Year for the 2019 MLB season.

AL MVP: Aaron Judge, New York Yankees

Judge had one of the great rookie seasons ever in 2017 when he finished second in the AL MVP voting and led the league with 52 home runs. His 2018 campaign was derailed when a pitch fractured his wrist, but he'll be back putting up monster stats in 2019. He's got a .963 career OPS, hitting a home run every 12.5 at-bats. If the Yankees can finish ahead of the Boston Red Sox and Mike Trout could miss a few games, that would also help Judge’s case.

AL Cy Young: Trevor Bauer, Cleveland Indians

Bauer ranked second in ERA and fifth in WHIP among AL starters last season. He was first in FIP and fewest home runs allowed per nine innings. His strikeout rate has improved from eight to 10 to 11.3 batters per nine innings over the last three seasons. The right-hander is seemingly obsessed with becoming a better pitcher, and this might be the year in which he surpasses Corey Kluber as the ace of Cleveland’s staff.

AL Rookie of the Year: Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Toronto Blue Jays

Guerrero is the only logical choice. He should’ve been in the majors last year when he hit.381/.437/636 in 95 minor-league games. About two-thirds of those games came in Double-A, where he hit an incredible .402. Guerrero still managed to post a .978 OPS with six home runs in 30 Triple-A games.

NL MVP: Nolan Arenado, Colorado Rockies

You won’t find a safer pick here than Arenado. He's a model of consistency that seems to get better every year. After finishing eighth in the 2015 NL MVP voting, the third baseman came in fifth, fourth and third place over the next three seasons. Arenado has led the NL in home runs three times during that stretch in addition to posting at least 130 RBI three times. A sixth straight gold glove award and the Rockies potentially challenging the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL West might be what finally helps Arenado finish in first place.

NL Cy Young: Walker Buehler, Los Angeles Dodgers

Max Scherzer is the safest pick and Jacob deGrom is a sensible choice too, but Walker Buehler might have just as high of a ceiling as those former Cy Young winners. Finishing last season with a 2.62 ERA in 24 appearances, Buehler was utterly dominant in the second half of the season. The 24-year-old had a 2.03 ERA with a .165 opponents’ batting average after the All-Star break. He could easily surpass Clayton Kershaw as the Dodgers’ ace if he pitches as well in 2019.

NL Rookie of the Year: Fernando Tatis Jr., San Diego Padres

We could have two sons of former players win Rookie of the Year in 2019. There is a ton of hype around Tatis, who at just 19 years old in 2018 hit 16 home runs in 88 Double-A games with 16 stolen bases and a .507 slugging percentage. With the news that he's made San Diego's Opening Day roster, he should get plenty of playing time this season.