Major League Baseball's major award finalists were revealed Monday, and though the list of nominees is impressive, some notable and deserving players were also left out.
Here's a look at five of the biggest snubs following Monday's announcement.
AL Rookie of the Year: Ryan Mountcastle, Orioles
Mountcastle's odds of being a finalist for this award were long, as he didn't make his big-league debut until late August. But once he arrived, he never stopped hitting. Mountcastle almost instantly became the best hitter on the Orioles; despite only having 140 plate appearances he finished second on his team in OPS and had the fourth-highest wRC+ among AL rookie hitters. This kid can hit, and he nearly slugged his way into the Rookie of the Year conversation. That's an impressive feat, no matter how long the season is.
NL Cy Young: Dinelson Lamet, Padres
Some amazing seasons were inevitably going to be squeezed out of the top three on a crowded and competitive NL Cy Young ballot. Of those pitchers who weren't finalists, Lamet stands out from the pack. The formerly anonymous Padres pitcher crafted a sparkling 2.09 ERA and 0.86 WHIP over 12 starts, finishing in the top five of both categories. He only allowed five home runs in 69 innings, one year after surrendering 12 in 73 frames. It was an incredible season for Lamet, and it's a shame his Cy Young-caliber campaign ended with a biceps injury during his final regular-season start.
NL Rookie of the Year: Tony Gonsolin, Dodgers
It was easy to overlook what Gonsolin did for the Dodgers thanks to the boatload of arms in Los Angeles. But the Dodgers also would not have come close to compiling the best regular-season record in baseball without his contributions. Over his nine appearances (eight starts), Gonsolin put up a 2.31 ERA and 0.84 WHIP along with 1.8 WAR, the highest total for an NL rookie pitcher. His 4.0% home run-fly ball rate was the lowest among rookie starters in the NL, and he only surrendered three or more earned runs in two of his appearances.
NL MVP: Fernando Tatis Jr., Padres
Did the wrong Padres infielder end up as a finalist for NL MVP? It's certainly possible. Manny Machado had a stellar bounce-back season, but it was Tatis who emerged as a superstar. His 155 OPS+ was one point better than that of his rookie season - in 115 fewer plate appearances - and he finished third in WAR among Senior Circuit hitters, trailing only the other two NL MVP finalists. Tatis finished second in runs scored and homers, and was top-10 in his league in a variety of other categories, including extra-base hits and steals. He also improved his defense and became a plus defender in 2020. While his time will certainly come, Tatis also deserved to be in the top three for this honor.
AL MVP: Shane Bieber, Indians
It takes a special season for a pitcher to garner legitimate MVP consideration, but that's exactly what Bieber delivered in 2020. The right-hander won the triple crown of pitching (wins, ERA, strikeouts) and also led the majors in FIP, K/9, ERA+, and WAR. He allowed only seven homers all year. His 1.63 ERA was the lowest for an AL pitcher since 1968.
There's no question Bieber is winning the AL Cy Young next week. By both the traditional and advanced metrics, it's clear he should be making room on his shelf for two trophies.
