Sporting News announced their 2022 Major League Baseball Awards on Thursday afternoon including Player of the Year, Comeback Players of the Year, Rookies of the Year, and Managers of the Year. New York Mets manager Buck Showalter was named the National League Manager of the Year by his peers. The winners are chosen by a survey of MLB players, managers, and executives.
This is the fourth time that Showalter has won the award and with the fourth different team in a fourth different decade. Buck originally won the award in 1994 with the Yankees, then in 2004 with the Rangers, next in 2012 with the Orioles, and then finally this year with the Mets.
The Mets hired the veteran Showalter coming off a 77-win season that ended in disappointment after spending significant time in first place. The Mets won the second most games in franchise history this year with 101 victories, but they again let their first-place lead slip away and then lost in the first round of the playoffs to the Padres.
Here are the rest of the awards:
- AL Manager of the Year: Brandon Hyde, Orioles
- AL Comeback Player of the Year: Justin Verlander, Astros
- AL Rookie of the Year: Julio Rodriguez, Mariners
- NL Comeback Player of the Year: Brandon Drury, Reds/Padres
- NL Rookie of the Year: Spencer Strider, Braves
- MLB Exec of the Year: Chris Antonetti, Guardians
- MLB Player of the Year: Aaron Judge, Yankees
Sporting News also announced their All-Star teams for the AL and NL as well.
National League
- Catcher – J.T. Realmuto, Phillies
- First Base – Paul Goldschmidt, Cardinals
- Second Base – Jeff McNeil, Mets
- Third Base – Nolan Arenado, Cardinals
- Shortstop – Trea Turner, Dodgers (Francisco Lindor received votes)
- Outfield – Michael Harris II, Braves (Brandon Nimmo, Starling Marte, and McNeil received votes)
- Outfield – Mookie Betts, Dodgers
- Outfield – Juan Soto, Nats/Padres
- Designated Hitter – Bryce Harper, Phillies (Pete Alonso received votes)
- Starting Pitcher – Sandy Alcantara, Marlins
- Relief Pitcher – Edwin Diaz, Mets
Certainly deserved recognition for both McNeil and Díaz coming off a batting title and one of the best reliever seasons in Mets history respectively.