The 2024 Hank Aaron Award nominees have been officially announced. The award recognizes the most outstanding offensive performers in Major League Baseball this season. Established in 1999 to honor Aaron’s legacy, the prestigious award celebrates the game’s top hitters who have demonstrated exceptional skill, power and consistency at the plate. A panel of Hall of Famers, along with fan votes, will determine the winners, one from the American League and one from the National League. This year’s impressive slate of nominees showcases the talent, dedication and dominance that define the best of baseball.
Voting is open now and runs through Sunday, October 13 at 11:59 p.m. ET.
Hank Aaron Award Nominees Announced
American League
Gunnar Henderson, Anthony Santander (Baltimore Orioles)
Jarren Duran (Boston Red Sox)
Jarren Duran enjoyed a breakout season, leading the AL in doubles (48) and triples (14). His impressive power and speed also earned him an exclusive spot in franchise history, as he became the third player to achieve a 20-30 season, joining Jacoby Ellsbury and Mookie Betts. Duran’s 34 stolen bases capped off an incredible campaign.
Jose Ramirez (Cleveland Guardians)
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Doubles (39)
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Runs scored (114)
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RBI (118)
Yordan Alvarez (Houston Astros)
For the fourth year in a row, Yordan Alvarez reached the 30-home run plateau, hitting 35. His impressive season was marked by elite rankings in average (.308), on-base percentage (.392), and OPS (.959), all top-10 finishes in the majors. Alvarez also showed significant improvement in plate discipline, lowering his strikeout rate to a career-low 15 percent.
Bobby Witt Jr. (Kansas City Royals)
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125 runs scored
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109 RBI
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MLB-leading 211 hits
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.322 batting average (Kansas City’s first batting title since George Brett’s .329 in 1990)
Aaron Judge, Juan Soto (New York Yankees)
Brent Rooker (Oakland Athletics)
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (Toronto Blue Jays)
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. overcame a sluggish start to deliver a phenomenal season, catching fire from May onwards with a stellar .345/.412/.500 slash line. Building on his 2021 AL Hank Aaron Award-winning campaign, Guerrero finished the season with impressive numbers: 30 home runs, 104 RBI, and a .323 batting average.
National League
Ketel Marte (Arizona Diamondbacks)
Ketel Marte overcame injury setbacks to deliver a dominant campaign, pacing all NL second basemen in key offensive categories. Marte’s impressive stats included a .292 batting average, 36 home runs, 95 RBIs, 93 runs scored, and a .932 OPS – all career highs or league-leading totals. He also earned his second All-Star nod and amassed 61 extra-base hits.
Marcell Ozuna (Atlanta Braves)
Marcell Ozuna reestablished himself as a dominant force in baseball, enjoying a resurgent season. For much of the year, Ozuna was in pursuit of the Triple Crown, ultimately falling just shy of his second consecutive 40-home run, 100-RBI campaign with 39 homers and 100 RBIs. His impressive .924 OPS ranked third in the National League, trailing only Shohei Ohtani and Ketel Marte.
Elly De La Cruz (Cincinnati Reds)
Freddie Freeman, Shohei Ohtani (Los Angeles Dodgers)
As a model of consistency and productivity, Freddie Freeman remained an elite force in baseball. Freeman’s 2024 campaign featured 20 home runs, marking his eighth consecutive full season with at least 20 homers. He also showcased his exceptional on-base abilities with a .378 OBP and ranked among the NL’s top 10 in OPS with a .854 mark.
Ohtani made history this season, becoming the first player to join the 50-50 club, achieving an incredible milestone of 54 home runs and 59 stolen bases. His impressive performance didn’t stop there, as he accumulated 99 extra-base hits, the most by any player since Derek Lee in 2005. Ohtani’s remarkable stats also include a .310 batting average, 130 RBI, and a 1.036 OPS.
Francisco Lindor (New York Mets)
Francisco Lindor carried the Mets in 2024. Lindor hit 30 home runs for the second straight season and finished among the top three NL shortstops in home runs (33), RBI (91), doubles (39), slugging (.500), OPS (.844).
William Contreras (Milwaukee Brewers)
Milwaukee has one of the top-hitting catchers in baseball with William Contreras. The backstop improved on his strong 2023 season to earn his second All-Star nod in 2024. He paced all NL catchers in home runs (23), RBI (92) and OPS (.831) as the Brewers won the NL Central division title.
Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwarber (Philadelphia Phillies)
Bryce Harper had an incredible 2024 season with the Phillies, cementing his status as a powerhouse hitter. He smashed 30 home runs, marking his fifth season with 30+ homers. What’s more, Harper led all qualified first basemen in doubles with 42 and boasted an impressive .898 OPS.
Kyle Schwarber cemented his reputation as baseball’s top leadoff hitter, setting a new standard with 15 leadoff home runs in a single season. His impressive on-base skills fueled the Phillies’ offense, resulting in 104 RBI for the second straight year and a personal-best 110 runs scored.
Jackson Merrill (San Diego Padres)
Jackson Merrill was one of the season’s biggest surprises, putting together a strong case for NL Rookie of the Year. Merrill led all qualified rookies in hits (162), batting average (.292), RBI (90), and total bases (277). His 24 home runs were the most among NL rookies, demonstrating his impressive power-hitting ability.
Main Photo: © Jason Getz-Imagn Images