October 9, 2024 at 7:00 AM
2024 SoxProspects.com Awards: Graduate, Homegrown and Ex-Prospect
We continue our SoxProspects.com Awards coverage with the 2024 Graduate, Homegrown Player, and Ex-Prospect of the year. The winners include two young left-handed hitting outfielders as well as a star who is on a path to the Hall of Fame.
It was a very successful first full season in Boston for Abreu (pictured, left), who had a 28-game cup of coffee at the end of 2023. In 132 games, Abreu slashed .253/.322/.459 with 33 doubles, two triples, 15 home runs, and 58 RBI. He had a minor setback in June when he missed a few weeks with a right ankle sprain. He came back strong from the injury with an .842 OPS in July and an .896 OPS in August. Even though he likely won't win, Abreu figures to have a healthy finish in the American League Rookie of the Year voting. Among 26 rookie position players in the AL, Abreu finished fourth in fWAR with 3.1.
Abreu had a stellar season with his glove in right field, finishing fourth in all of baseball, and first among outfielders, with 18 defensive runs saved. Per Baseball Savant, he finished with seven outs above average and was in the 90th percentile for fielding run value.
Combining 2023 and 2024, Abreu has played in a full season's worth of games with 160. The 25-year old has hit .263/.333/.459 in his young career with 39 doubles and 17 home runs to go along with 3.7 fWAR. He has been fantastic against right-handed pitching in his career with a .495 slugging percentage and an .842 OPS.
Duran (pictured, right) had a breakout season that will likely see him finish in the top five in the AL MVP race. After a very good 102 games in 2023, Duran took his game to a new level in 2024 with a lethal combination of power and speed. In 160 games, he hit .285/.342/.492 with a league-leading 48 doubles, a league-leading 14 triples, 21 home runs, 75 RBI, 111 runs, and 34 stolen bases. According to Stathead, Duran's 2024 is the only season in MLB history to have that many doubles, triples, home runs, and stolen bases in the same season. He finished with 6.7 fWAR, which was seventh in all of baseball.
Duran stepped up his game as an outfielder in 2023, as he finished with 11 outs above average. From 2021-2023, he had -2 outs above average. He played 105 games in center field and 83 in left field.
Duran was also named an All-Star for the first time in his career. He made the most of the opportunity, belting a go-ahead two-run homer in the fifth inning that proved to be the game-winner. He was named All-Star Game MVP for his efforts.
For the fourth consecutive season, Betts (pictured, left) takes home the Ex-Prospect of the Year award. Despite missing almost two months due to a fractured hand that was sustained in mid-June, Betts was still a phenomenal player for the NL West champion Dodgers. Over 116 games and 516 plate appearances, Betts slashed .289/.372/.491 with 24 doubles, five triples, 19 home runs, 75 RBI, 75 runs, and 16 stolen bases. His OPS+ of 145 was the fourth-highest mark of his career. He was still able to produce 4.4 fWAR despite missing almost 50 games.
Before his injury, Betts was the Dodgers' full-time starting shortstop, where he was solid with three defensive runs saved. After returning from injury, Los Angeles put him back in right field. He also saw some action at second base. Betts earned his eighth career All-Star selection as well.
Photo Credit: Wilyer Abreu, Jarren Duran, Mookie Betts by Kelly O'Connor