Soto, Wacha, Skenes Big Winners At KPSL Awards

The 2025 is officially done, and here are the award winners:

MVP

JUAN SOTO – GIANTS.  Soto received 8 first place votes and was named on all 12 ballots.  Christian Walker (3-1^st place votes) and Luis Garcia (1-1^st place vote) are the only other players that were named on all 12 ballots.  This is Soto’s second win and he joins Barry Bonds (2004 & 2005), Miguel Cabrera (2009, 2011, 2013 & 2014) and Bryce Harper (2016 & 2022) as multiple year winners. Below are the Top 10 voting results for MVP.

1. Juan Soto SF (145 pts)

2. Christian Walker CIN (118)

3. Luis Garcia COL (97)

4. Willy Adames COL (70)

5. Bryce Harper PHI (44)

6. Brendan Donovan CIN (33)

7. Elly De La Cruz CIN (31)

8. Mookie Betts CIN (28)

9. Mark Vientos COL (16)

10. Francisco Lindor PHI (14)

CY YOUNG

MICHAEL WACHA- REDS This was the closest vote in the history of the Cy Young as three players were within 1 point.  Wacha was even omitted from 2 ballots but won the award on the strength of 6-1^st place votes.  Zach Wheeler was named on all 12 ballots while Chris Sale was omitted on 1 ballot. This is the Reds second Cy Young award winner (Spencer Strider in 2023) and Wacha’s first. Top 5 Results are below:

1. Michael Wacha CIN (46 pts)

2. Chris Sale SF (45)

3. Zach Wheeler SF (45)

4. Aaron Nola PHI (19)

5. Tanner Scott SF (12)

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR

PAUL SKENES – CARDINALS   Skenes is the third Cardinal to win the ROY Award.  (Albert Pujols 2002 John Lannan 2009). Top 3 Results are below.

1. Paul Skenes STL (42 Pts)

2. Jackson Merrill LA (24)

3. Jackson Chourio MIL (17)

OTHER NOTES:

*** Ryan Braun is the one of two KPSL Playesr to win ROY (2008) and MVP (2012) The other is Matt Carpenter (ROY 2013, MVP 2019)

***  Walker Buehler has won the ROY (2019) and the CY Young (2022) Spencer Strider is the other one (BOTH in 2023) THE Fred Lynn Feat for a pitcher

*** Only three pitchers (Kerry Wood 2002 & 2003), Jacob deGrom (2019 & 2020) and Clayton Kershaw (2013 & 2015 & 2017)