The Baseball Writers Affiliation of America introduced the finalists for the 2024 awards this night. Bobby Witt Jr. was among the many finalists for American League MVP, indicating he completed within the high three within the balloting. As Matt Eddy of Baseball America factors out (on X), that’ll earn the Royals an additional decide after the primary spherical of the 2025 draft.
The 2022 collective bargaining settlement launched the Prospect Promotion Incentive to dissuade groups from maintaining their high abilities within the minors. A crew that carries a high prospect for a full 12 months of service can obtain a draft alternative if that participant finds success early in his profession.
A participant would earn his crew a decide for successful Rookie of the 12 months or ending within the high three in Cy Younger or MVP voting inside his pre-arbitration years (primarily his first three seasons of service). A crew can solely add one PPI choice per participant. In earlier seasons, Julio Rodríguez, Gunnar Henderson and Corbin Carroll have earned their groups a PPI alternative by successful Rookie of the 12 months.
Kansas Metropolis carried Witt, a consensus high prospect, on the roster for your entire 2022 season. The star shortstop didn’t earn the Rookie of the 12 months decide, ending fourth within the balloting. He as a substitute turns into the primary participant to earn his crew an additional choice via the highest three MVP placement in his third season. That’s a tougher path that’ll presumably occur far much less continuously than the Rookie of the 12 months route. They’ll take all of it the identical.
In February, the Royals signed Witt to an 11-year extension that assured him rather less than $289MM. That didn’t take away from Witt’s eligibility for the Prospect Promotion Incentive although he was now not slated for a wage across the league minimal. He’s prone to end because the MVP runner-up behind Aaron Choose after racking up a season value round 9 wins above alternative. Witt gained the batting title and led the majors with 211 hits. He completed the 12 months with a .332/.389/.588 slash line with 32 homers and 109 runs batted in whereas enjoying plus protection on the infield’s most demanding place. The Royals gained 86 video games to snap a nine-year postseason drought.
That is the one assured PPI choice to this point, however there might be extra as soon as award winners are introduced subsequent week. The Padres and Orioles would stand to achieve an additional decide if Jackson Merrill and Colton Cowser win their respective Rookie of the 12 months awards. Austin Wells can be eligible however is an extended shot to win AL Rookie of the 12 months.
The Pirates can not get an additional decide for Paul Skenes ending within the high three in Cy Younger balloting as a result of Pittsburgh didn’t name the star righty up till early Could. They might not obtain a variety if Skenes wins Rookie of the 12 months for a similar cause. Skenes would earn himself a full 12 months of service time within the doubtless occasion that he locations within the high two in ROY voting, nevertheless.
The opposite Rookie of the 12 months finalists additionally don’t meet the PPI standards. Luis Gil was not on two of the preseason Prime 100 lists at Baseball America, ESPN or MLB Pipeline — the mandatory prospect standing to earn a decide. The Brewers carried Jackson Chourio for a full season however signed him to an eight-year extension final December. Eddy reported in September that gamers who signal an extension earlier than their MLB debuts are not eligible for a PPI choice. Chourio’s extension differs from Witt’s as a result of the latter had already performed in MLB earlier than signing.
