As the 2024 MLB season comes to a close, it is time to distribute well-deserved awards and honors. USA Baseball alumni flooded stadiums nationwide and made headlines on the daily, so be sure to see which former Team USA players earn recognitions for outstanding play throughout the season!
NATIONAL LEAGUE JACKIE ROBINSON ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
SP Paul Skenes (2014 12U, 2021, 2022 Collegiate): Skenes dazzled on the mound and left no doubt in his rookie season, as the former first-overall Draft pick has been named the 2024 National League Jackie Robinson Rookie of the Year. By winning this award, Pittsburgh’s flamethrower became the first Pirate to win ROY honors since Jason Bay in 2004. In addition to this prestigious accolade, Skenes' year featured being named to the All-MLB First Team, an NL Cy Young Finalist and earned the role as the NL’s starting pitcher in his first All-Star appearance. The three-time Team USA alum notched an 11-3 record with a 1.96 ERA, hurled 133.0 innings, and fanned 170 foes in his rookie campaign with Pittsburgh. Skenes got his start with USA Baseball on the 2014 12U National Team, as the California native caught and played first base in the 2014 COPABE 12U Pan American Championships. In 2022 with the Collegiate National Team, Skenes owned a 0.00 ERA in 4.0 innings pitched and held opponents to a .143 batting average.
ALL-MLB FIRST TEAM
(Name; Team; National Team)
- (OF) Mookie Betts; Los Angeles Dodgers; 2023 Pro
- (SP) Paul Skenes; Pittsburgh Pirates; 2014 12U, 2021, 2022 Collegiate
- (SS) Bobby Witt Jr.; Kansas City Royals; 2018 18U, 2023 Pro
ALL-MLB SECOND TEAM
- (OF) Jarren Duran; Boston Red Sox; 2021 Pro
- (1B) Bryce Harper; Philadelphia Phillies; 2008 16U, 2009 18U
- (SS) Francisco Lindor; New York Mets; 2009 16U, 2010 18U
- (3B) Manny Machado; San Diego Padres; 2009 16U
SILVER SLUGGER
AMERICAN LEAGUE
DH Brent Rooker (2019 Pro): For the first time in 22 years, an Athletic takes home Silver Slugger honors as Rooker also becomes the first A's DH to win the award. The five-year MLB veteran slugged a career-best 39 home runs and 112 RBIs en route to earning his first Silver Slugger award. Rooker hit at a .293 clip and ranked in the top ten among all players in home runs, RBIs, slugging (.562) and OPS (927). In the red, white, and blue, Rooker hit .300 and led Team USA in slugging (.800) in seven games played.
SS Bobby Witt Jr. (2018 18U, 2023 Pro): 2024 continues to be the year of Witt Jr., as the All-Star, Home Run Derby participant, and Gold Glove winner now adds a Silver Slugger Award to his collection of hardware. In only his third year, Witt took home the 2024 AL Batting Title by hitting .332, in addition to ranking first in the AL in hits (211), second in doubles (45) and slugging (.588), and third in OPS (.977). Success at the plate is not anything new to Witt, as he led the 2018 18U team in batting average (.576), extra-base hits (9), and slugging (1.121).
NATIONAL LEAGUE
UT Mookie Betts (2023 Pro): Taking home his seventh career and third consecutive Silver Slugger is Los Angeles' Mookie Betts. For the eighth time in his career, Betts owned a .289 batting average or greater and notched double-digit home runs for the tenth time in 11 years. Despite missing nearly two months due to injury, Betts managed to drive in 75 runs, tally 130 hits and belt 19 homers. In a seven-game stretch with Team USA, he batted .313 and co-led the team in hits (10).
1B Bryce Harper (2008 16U, 2009 18U): For the fifth time in his 13-year career, Bryce Harper surpassed 30 home runs to take home his fourth Silver Slugger Award. Even more impressive, Harper is now one of four players in MLB history to win a Silver Slugger at three different positions; Harper won the award as an outfielder in 2015 and 2021 and as a designated hitter in 2023. In his 157 hits throughout 2024, Harper slugged 30 home runs, 42 doubles, and owned a .285 batting average. In 2008, Harper led the 16U National Team in batting average (.571), hits (16), and RBIs (16) in an eight-game series.
SS Francisco Lindor (2009 16U, 2010 18U): The 2024 National League MVP finalist is now a four-time Silver Slugger, as Lindor earns National League offensive honors at shortstop. This year's strong campaign was powered by Lindor slashing .273/.344.500 while hammering 33 home runs and 107 RBIs. 2024 marks the fifth time in 10 seasons where Lindor has 30 or more homers. With the 16U National Team, Lindor batted .500 with 16 RBIs and 20 runs scored en route to winning a gold medal.
3B Manny Machado (2009 18U): Three Padres earn Silver Slugger honors in 2024, one being 18U alum Machado. The Florida native slapped 29 home runs and drove in 105 runs for San Diego to collect his second career Silver Slugger Award. Machado hit .275 and recorded 30 doubles among his 163 total hits. In his time with Team USA, Machado drove in nine runs on 11 hits and boasted a .367 batting average.
PLATINUM GLOVE
2B Brice Turang (2014 15U, 2016, 2017 18U): The Brew Crew won the National League Gold Glove Team Award for the second consecutive year while three-time USA Baseball alum Turang was tabbed as the best defensive player in the NL and took home the coveted Platinum Glove Award. In 2024, Turang led the NL in games played at second base (152) and defensive WAR (2.7) en route to earning platinum honors. At only twenty-four years old and in his second year in the Bigs, the California native now has two defensive awards to his name as well as gold medals from both 2016 and 2017 stints with the 18U National Team. In Team USA's gold medal-winning run at the WBSC U-18 World Cup in 2017, Turang held a .971 fielding percentage and led the team in assists (23).
GOLD GLOVE
C Patrick Bailey (2016 18U, 2018, 2019 Collegiate National Team): After being named a Gold Glove finalist in 2023, Bailey takes home the prestigious award in 2024 as the National League’s best defensive backstop. The NC State alum was not just elite in the NL, but he led all catchers in defensive runs saved (20) and was the best pitch framer according to Baseball Savant. In 2016, Bailey started four games behind the plate en route to winning gold with the 18U National Team and also played in back-to-back summers with the Collegiate National Team.
3B Alex Bregman (2010 16U, 2011 18U, 2013, 2014 Collegiate National Team, 2017 Pro): A two-time All-Star and World Series champion, Bregman adds to his accolades his first ever Gold Glove Award. Sound defensive play is not anything new to Bregman, as Houston’s everyday third baseman posted a career-best outs above average (6) and led the American League in fielding percentage (.972). Bregman marks only the second time in franchise history the Astros have a Gold Glove winner at third base. The nine-year MLB vet has donned the stars and stripes five times throughout his career and has won a gold medal in four of those campaigns. Most notably, Bregman hit .564 and led the 16U National Team in RBIs to lead Team USA to a gold medal in the 2010 COPABE Pan American Championships.
3B Matt Chapman (2013 Collegiate National Team): For the fifth time in his career and second consecutive year, Chapman earned Gold Glove honors at the hot corner. Chapman topped all third basemen in defensive runs saved (17) and tied for first in the bigs in outs above average at third base (11). The eight-year MLB vet joins elite company, becoming only the third third baseman to win a Gold Glove in both the AL and NL, alongside Matt Williams and Robin Ventura. With Team USA, Chapman earned the role as the everyday third baseman and routinely batted cleanup for the Collegiate National Team, hitting .278 while leading the squad in RBIs (20).
2B Brice Turang (2014 15U, 2016, 2017 18U): The 2018 first-round Draft pick topped the National League in defensive runs saved (22) and became the first Brewers second baseman to earn Gold Glove honors and the club’s first middle infielder to do so since Robin Yount in 1982. Alongside Turang’s first Gold Glove is some additional golden hardware, as he helped the 18U National team win the 2016 COPABE Pan American Championships and 2017 WBSC U-18 Baseball World Cup. Turang started all nine games at shortstop and batted .353 with a pair of triples en route to winning a gold medal with Team USA in 2016.
CF Daulton Varsho (2019 Pro): Like his predecessor, Kevin Kiermaier, Varsho made improbable catches with ease and was a force to be dealt with in Toronto’s outfield. Varsho’s 3.1 defensive WAR was the most among any player in the league per Baseball Reference. The former second round Draft pick made his debut with USA Baseball in 2019, when Varsho played in the outfield in the WBSC Premier12 tournament.
SS Bobby Witt Jr. (2018 18U, 2023 Pro): Witt broke out in 2024 and earned his first Gold Glove in addition to being named an All-Star and the American League batting champion. The third-year Royal started at short in 160 games and led all AL shortstops in outs above average (16) and defensive runs above average (17.6). Witt’s first Gold Glove season saw the shortstop turn 73 double plays and notch a .974 fielding percentage. In addition to being a part of the 2023 WBC roster, Witt led the gold medal-winning 2018 18U National Team in batting average (.576), triples (3), and runs scored (18).
HEART & HUSTLE AWARD
SS Bobby Witt Jr. (2018 18U, 2023 Pro): Not only did Witt play exceptionally well with his bat and glove, but he exhibited a passion for the game of baseball and best embodied the "values, spirit and traditions of the game" throughout the majors. Throughout the 2024 season, Witt continually demonstrated high character, competitiveness, and a sense of leadership to help lead the Kansas City Royals to an unexpected playoff run after finishing the 2023 season with a 56-106 record. Witt becomes the first Royals player and eighth Team USA alumni since 2005 to earn the award.
