The 2015 season was full of surprises. From the preseason pick for least valuable player, Cameron Carmichael, shocking everyone and winning surprise player of the year to Aaron Keeney winning the NL Cy Young award, 2015 gives hope that 2016 will be full of even more surprises. I'm here to predict which surprises we should expect to see this year, and who has a shot at winning awards/titles that few give them a shot at winning.
AL MVP: Sam McPhillips
First up is the AL MVP award. Last year's winner Sam Plohasz looks like the favorite this year to win the award again. He'll most likely have to beat out last year's NL MVP Alex Keeney whose now in the AL with the Oakland Athletics. While the AL MVP race looks to be the most competitive, it's definitely open for anyone to take. My dark horse pick Sam McPhillips definitely has what it takes to win it, and really shouldn’t be too much of a surprise. The only reason why he’s a dark horse is solely because having two previous MVPs in the same league will be tough to overcome.
NL MVP: Alex Wilkey
Last year was one interesting season for Wilkey. After being traded 5 times and playing for every team except the San Francisco Giants, Wilkey settled in with the Tampa Bay Rays and really was the only reason the Rays put up even a bit of a fight against the Mariners in the first round of the playoffs. Wilkey has lethal power, but is in the same league as last year’s AL CY Young award winner Parker Janske. So it would be quite the longshot, but you never know.
AL Cy Young: Alex Keeney
After an atrocious 2015 regular season, Alex picked it up in the playoffs to help give the Giants a solid 1-2 punch with Sam McPhillips in the rotation. Alex needs to be able to locate pitches better and give up fewer homeruns in 2016 to have a chance at winning. It’ll also be tough beating out Sam Plohasz and Sam McPhillips, 2 of the top pitchers in the league.
NL Cy Young: Seth Plohasz
Seth really picked up his game from the regular season in 2015 when the playoffs came around. After a brutal regular season, Seth was a crucial part of the Seattle Mariners World Series winning team. If Parker falters on the hill this year, look for Seth to become the favorite for this award.
AL Silver Slugger: Sam McPhillips
Again, while this isn’t a total surprise, he’d have to beat out some very tough competition to win. But Sam has shown in spring training that he has good power and is hitting the ball better than he did in 2015. If that can continue all season long he just may shock the nation.
NL Silver Slugger: Seth Plohasz
A sub .300 average last year leads few to believe that he can win this award in 2016. But with now being in a league with easier pitching there’s a real shot for Seth to win. He’ll have to almost double his average from last year to win though, so it will definitely be a long shot.
Rookie of the Year: Kyle Schwarz
This a complete shot in the dark, but I do have some confidence in Kyle being a solid wiffle ball player. He has power to get the ball out and as a righty hitter he will be able to hit for average fairly easily. If he can separate himself from other rookies in pitching I think Kyle has a real shot at winning rookie of the year.
World Series Winners: Washington Nationals
Definitely the team everyone believes will be first out of the playoffs this year, the Washington Nationals have a long way to go. But if this team’s pitching and hitting can match that of their competitors, anything is possible. There’s a chance Alex and Aaron Keeney may play each other in the first round of the 2016 playoffs, and with Alex being notable to choke in big moments, the window would be open for the Nationals to make it to the World Series.
2016 is open to many surprising moments, let’s hope we see some soon!