Stephen Vogt of the Cleveland Guardians won the American League Manager of the Year award, while Pat Murphy of the Milwaukee Brewers was the National League winner, Major League Baseball announced Tuesday night.
The AL Central champion Guardians had a very successful season under Vogt in his first year at the helm, winning 92 games and defeating the Detroit Tigers to reach their first ALCS. of the American League since 2016. They lost in five games to the New York Yankees.
Vogt, 40, is a one-time winner of the award, having just completed his playing career in 2022.
He becomes the fastest player to win the award after a playing career, the fifth-youngest winner overall and one of 10 to win the award in their first year as a coach.
The former two-time All-Star improved a young roster from 76 wins to 92 wins in a single year, showing immediate impact by taking the reins from three-time Manager of the Year Terry Francona (2013, 2016, 2022).
The Guardians have tied the Chicago White Sox for the most Player of the Year awards of all time (five). In addition to Vogt and Francona, Eric Wedge took the honors in 2007.
By earning 27 first-place votes out of a possible 30, Vogt won the award over fellow AL Central managers Matt Quatraro of the Kansas City Royals and AJ Hinch of the Tigers, who also led comebacks and postseason appearances.
Like Vogt, Murphy, 65, was also in his first full year as coach and earned 27 first-place votes. However, the wealth of experience Murphy brought to the table in Milwaukee was in stark contrast to Vogt’s.
From 2016 to 2023, Murphy served as a top assistant to Craig Counsell, whom he once coached at Notre Dame (1988-94), in Milwaukee until Counsell left for the Chicago Cubs last offseason.
Additionally, he was the longtime coach of Arizona State (1995-2009) and served as interim manager of the San Diego Padres in 2015, coaching that team to a 42-54 record during his tenure.
In 2024, Murphy led a 93-69 team that won the NL Central (ahead of the Cubs) and reached the postseason despite significant challenges along the way, including the departure of Corbin Burnes. and injuries to fellow right-handed pitchers Brandon Woodruff and Devin Williams.
Murphy won the National League award over Mike Shildt of the Padres and Carlos Mendoza of the New York Mets.
–Field level media
