This year’s Major League Baseball season is set to serve a platter of battles. Particularly, a new chapter is unfolding in the MVP race of the American League.

Enter the New York Yankees‘ dynamic duo of Aaron Judge and their newly acquired Juan Soto. While both are frontrunners for the prestigious award, is Soto a notch higher in his chances?

Sure, it’s hard to dethrone Judge from being the betting favorite. But whispers of Soto potentially taking his teammate’s place are growing louder. Jim Bowden of The Athletic shared his opinion on this race for MVP. Some say it’s too early to conclude, while some bet on Soto’s dominance. Either way, deep diving into this subject is nothing less than intriguing.

Juan Soto’s Dominance Might Bring Him an MVP Tag This Year

In choosing the 25-year-old Dominican as his early pick for the award, Bowden stated, “I considered picking his teammate Aaron Judge, the Mariners’ Julio Rodríguez or the Rangers’ Corey Seager, but went with Soto, who I think will have the best year of his career.” This bold prediction has sparked a brand new perspective giving rise to a question – Can the young prodigy truly outshine the reigning ‘Captain Judge’? There are various reasons and let’s break them down.

Firstly, batting alongside or behind Judge would provide Soto with extra protection and an improved pitch selection. Judge’s dominant presence at the plate forces opposing pitchers to work steadily, often leaving favorable pitches for the hitter that’s after him in the lineup. Another trailing factor is that this could lead to increased walk rates and higher on-base percentages for the left fielder.

Secondly, there will be the ‘Judge factor’ at play in the Yankee Stadium. The short porch in right field is known for working in favor of power hitters. Soto’s already impressive launch angle would likely translate into more home runs on this hitter-friendly ballpark. All this in conjunction with Soto’s ‘contract year’ with him entering free agency at his peak age, his motivation to reach great heights might be on a whole new level.

On the flip side, dismissing Judge’s MVP chances would be too premature.

Aaron Judge Has a Strong Case Too

It’s no secret that the reigning MVP is a force to be reckoned with. The 2022 MVP boasts a combination of power, speed, and on-base skills sparking fear in opposing pitchers.

Moreover, the team’s overall performance will have a huge effect on individual MVP voting. Now, if the Yankees falter, not only would it dim Judge’s chances but also Soto’s regardless of their individual stats.

Eventually, the 2024 AL MVP race is projected to be a duel between two unmatched talents. On one hand Juan Soto’s entry into the Bronx has added great interest. On the other,  Aaron Judge remains a tough opponent. This MVP run is going to be a treat for the Yankees fans.