CLEVELAND -- The Guardians would not have accomplished what they did in 2025 -- when they completed a historic comeback to clinch their second consecutive American League Central title -- without Stephen Vogt and José Ramírez.
It’s fitting, then, that Vogt and Ramírez are in the running for some prestigious hardware.
Vogt was named a finalist on Monday for the AL Manager of the Year Award, positioning him to potentially take home the honor for his second time in as many seasons as a big league skipper. Ramírez is a finalist for the AL MVP Award.
The awards are voted upon by members of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America. Winners will be announced live on MLB Network next week, including the manager recipient on Nov. 11 at 7 p.m. ET and MVP winner at 7 p.m. ET on Nov. 13.
Vogt is up against Toronto’s John Schneider and Seattle’s Dan Wilson. Ramírez is up against the Yankees’ Aaron Judge and Mariners’ Cal Raleigh.
Only two skippers have won back-to-back Manager of the Year Awards since its inception in 1983: Kevin Cash (Rays, 2020-21) and Bobby Cox (Braves, 2004-05). While Schneider and Wilson also led their clubs to a division title, Vogt has a strong case to repeat.
Coming off an ALCS appearance in 2024, Vogt navigated the Guardians through a turbulent season and to a second consecutive division title. The 15 1/2-game deficit Cleveland erased to win the AL Central is the largest a team has overcome to finish first in a division (since 1969) or league (pre-1969) in MLB history.
“I think that guy's the best manager in the league right now,” catcher Austin Hedges said last month. “If he doesn't win back-to-back Manager of the Year [Awards], that would be a shame, because he deserves it.”
Vogt was a steady presence and preached a one-day-at-a-time mentality through the lowest points of the season. There was the 10-game losing streak (June 26-July 6) and the 1-9 stretch (Aug. 15-25). In July, Luis Ortiz and closer Emmanuel Clase each were placed on non-disciplinary paid leave amid ongoing MLB investigations.
The Guardians won the division despite their offense recording a .226 team batting average -- the lowest in a season in franchise history. Cleveland surged in September, going 20-7 behind a dominant run by its starting rotation.
“There were a lot of teams that in the second half of the year would have folded, given some of the adversity we faced,” general manager Mike Chernoff said last month. “Obviously it's a huge credit to the players. But a lot of players at different points, especially in the second half, relied on Vogter and the staff to keep them energized, and it was amazing to see.
“We relied on him for that, to keep just that optimism and that steady presence and culture in the clubhouse. We never looked back. We just looked forward.”
As the Guardians relied upon Vogt, their lineup relied upon Ramírez.
The Guardians’ offense ranked near the bottom of the Majors in numerous categories, including 28th in runs per game (3.97). But they could always count on Ramírez to produce. In his age-32 season, he once again was one of the best all-around players in MLB.
Ramírez slashed .283/.360/.503 with 34 doubles, 30 homers and 85 RBIs. He set a new career high with 44 steals, and he was a finalist for the AL Gold Glove Award at third base. Ramírez finished tied with Maikel Garcia for sixth in bWAR among AL position players (5.8), and he ranked fourth in fWAR (6.3), behind Judge (10.1), Raleigh (9.1) and Bobby Witt Jr. (8.0).
“We make a joke whenever he comes up to the plate, game on the line,” Vogt said in September. “We’re like, ‘One time, pick us up, Hosey.’ He just continues to be one of the greatest players on the planet.”
Ramírez finished fifth in AL MVP voting last year. He has been a finalist three times previously, in 2017, ‘18 and ‘20. While Judge and Raleigh had stellar seasons and are considered the favorites, Ramírez is a deserving candidate who continues to be a driving force for Cleveland.