Toronto Blue Jays star first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. was named the winner of the Tip O'Neill Award for the 2024 MLB season. The Tip O'Neill award is given by the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame to the Canadian baseball player who they judge to excel on the field while "adhering to baseball’s highest ideals."
Guerrero led all Canadian baseball players this year in batting average, hits and runs. He also added 44 doubles, 30 home runs, 103 RBI and a .940 OPS. Guerrero was an All-Star this past season, as well as winning a Silver Slugger and finishing the season sixth in MVP voting in the American League.
Free agent outfielder Tyler O'Neill, as well as current Cleveland Guardians Josh Naylor and Cade Smith were also in the running for the award. This trio felt like the biggest threat to Guerrero, especially seeing as how Naylor won the award in 2023 and was attempting to win his second award as well. Jordan Romano and current Blue Jays pitcher Zach Pop were also up for the award, but neither of them had a memorable season in a positive light like the rest of the bunch did.
Guerrero was born in Montreal in 1999 while his dad, Vladimir Guerrero Sr., was playing for the Expos. This is Guerrero's second time winning the award, also winning it back in 2021 in what was his best season as a pro where he finished with a slash line of .311/.401/.601 with 48 home runs and 111 RBI. He finished that season second in AL MVP voting.
This victory makes Guerrero the fifth player to win the award multiple times along with Larry Walker (nine times), Joey Votto (seven times), Jason Bay (three times) and Justin Morneau (three times). Vlad will likely finish in no worse than third all-time for the most Tip O'Neill Awards when his career is over.
"There were several outstanding candidates for this year's Tip O'Neill Award, but we are proud to recognize Vladimir Guerrero Jr. for his All-Star and Silver Slugger Award-winning season with the Toronto Blue Jays," Jeremy Diamond, chair of the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame board of directors, said in a news release. Congrats to Vladdy for