On Tuesday evening, the American League and National League Manager of the Year awards were handed out to their respective winners.
We had two fresh faces who ended up walking away with the hardware, with both managers taking home the award for the first time.
National League Manager of the Year: Skip Schumaker, Miami Marlins
In his first season as a manager, Skip Schumaker took a 93-loss Miami Marlins team and led them to just their fourth postseason appearance in franchise history finishing the year at 84-78.
Beating out Atlanta Braves manager Brian Snitker and former Milwaukee Brewers manager Craig Counsell for the award, he became the eighth skipper in MLB history to win the Award in his first season as a manager.
The NL Manager of the Year Award winner is Skip Schumaker of the Miami @Marlins! pic.twitter.com/pwdEJREA2I
— MLB (@MLB) November 14, 2023
Schumaker played a key role in the turnaround of a team that lost an MLB-leading 41 one-run games in 2022, leading the league with a .717 win percentage in one-run games in 2023. He was able to maneuver his club to victories despite having the lowest-scoring lineup in the NL.
He spent the 2018-2022 seasons as a coach in both the San Diego Padres and St. Louis Cardinals organizations and was given his shot by the Marlins this offseason.
Agreeing on a two-year deal with an option for a third season, it's safe to say that he might stick around longer than three years in Miami.
American League Manager of the Year: Brandon Hyde, Baltimore Orioles
In his fifth season as the manager of the Orioles, Brandon Hyde led a team few projected to make the playoffs to an AL-best 101-61 record and their first AL East title since 2014.
This was enough for him to beat out Texas Rangers manager Bruce Bochy and Tampa Bay Rays skipper Kevin Cash for AL Manager of the Year in 2023.
The AL Manager of the Year Award winner is Brandon Hyde of the Baltimore @Orioles! pic.twitter.com/o3H334kfX3
— MLB (@MLB) November 14, 2023
In one of the toughest divisions in Baseball, the Orioles had a 32-20 record versus other AL East teams and had an AL-best 51-39 record against teams with a winning record in 2023.
He managed an Orioles club that led the MLB with 48 comeback victories and never got swept during the regular season with a team that is considered to be in a rebuilding phase.
In his second straight winning season, Hyde has had a major hand in the Orioles' journey from the bottom of the league.
After starting his managerial career in Baltimore with three straight losing seasons, Hyde and the Orioles have something special brewing and look to be a force in the MLB for years to come.
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