MLB 2012: Updated Predictions for Every Major Award

The new season is has been in a full swing for three weeks now and we have seen just a preview of the great baseball to come the rest of the year.

There have been many surprises this year so far, the most recent being Philip Humber of the Chicago White Sox throwing a perfect game against the Seattle Mariners.

I will be taking a look at every major MLB award and have an updated prediction for it.

Enjoy.

AL Manager of the Year: Ron Washington

What more can be said about the Texas Rangers?

Two straight World Series appearances and an MLB-best 12-3 start. And it was Washington who led them to those appearances, their first and second World Series ever. 

Even after the loss of C.J. Wilson to the rival Angels, Washington has done a good job in keeping his players focused on winning game-in and game-out. Washington undoubtedly will have the Rangers in the playoffs once again and will pick up his first AL Manager of the Year award at the end of the season.

NL Manager of the Year: Don Mattingly

Second-year Dodgers coach Don Mattingly has his team off to a hot start. They are first in the NL, and he has managed his team nearly flawlessly at home this season.

Mattingly is on his way to leading his team to the playoffs after a two-year absence. After all the controversy surrounding the Dodgers this offseason with all the management shakeup and the club being sold, Mattingly has done a good job with his team in leading them to this hot start.

Mattingly will win his first NL Manager of the Year award.

AL Comeback Player of the Year: Justin Morneau

Just to put it in perspective, Justin Morneau has hit as many home runs in his 12 games this year as he did in his 69 games last year.

Morneau was plagued with injuries last year, which caused him to miss more than half of the season.

Morneau needs to stay healthy if the Twins want to compete for the AL Central. I think that the Twins will fall short of making the playoffs but Morneau will have a solid season, picking up AL Comeback Player of the Year.

NL Comeback Player of the Year: David Freese

I'm not so sure Freese realizes that we're not in October. Freese is continuing his hot play from late October when the Cardinals made the unbelievable comeback to win the World Series. Freese took center stage in the comeback and he is still on that stage early in the season.

Freese was also injury-prone last year, playing in only 97 games. He has had a few minor injuries this year as well, but nothing to keep him out of the lineup for a long period of time.

If Freese can avoid injuries he could add to his trophy case NL Comeback Player of the Year.

AL Rookie of the Year: Yu Darvish

The Texas Rangers gave Yu Darvish a huge contract at the beginning of the season before anybody even saw him throw a pitch in the majors.

The Rangers are hoping that they win that gamble with Darvish, and so far it hasn't been too bad of a deal.

Darvish's first start was a little shaky but he got the win thanks to his team's powerful offense. His starts have been getting progressively better as he grows comfortable pitching in the majors. Darvish should settle down enough to where he will become a dominant pitcher and will go on to be the AL Rookie of the Year. 

NL Rookie of the Year: Lance Lynn

Lance Lynn has been one of the keys to the Cardinals' success this year and is having himself a solid rookie season so far. He has won each of his first three games, giving up just one run in each game.

This production is just what the Cardinals need to be successful. The Cardinals have many veteran players on their team, but they will need production from their younger players also, and Lynn has provided that so far.

If Lynn keeps at this pace he will go on to win NL Rookie of the Year.

AL Cy Young: Justin Verlander

It is hard to pick against the guy who won both the AL MVP and Cy Young a year ago and I am predicting that Verlander will win back-to-back Cy Young awards. Verlander is 2-1 to start the season and has 31 strikeouts in as many innings.

Verlander has been putting up an impressive resume the past five years, throwing 200+ innings in each of those years and racking up 219+ strikeouts in three out of the five years.

He is on pace again for another 200+ innings and 220+ strikeouts. It's hard to pick against that kind of production; Verlander will pick up his second straight Cy Young award.

NL Cy Young: Stephen Strasburg

Stephen Strasburg has yet to pitch a full season in the majors but this looks to be the year for him to do just that.

Strasburg is making the most of his time in the majors, having posted a career 2.35 ERA and recorded 135 strikeouts. He is a talented young player who is only getting better—and what better way to come back from Tommy John surgery than to win the Cy Young award.

He is on that pace, posting a 1.08 ERA with 25 strikeouts in as many innings so far in 2012. He is a dangerous pitcher with nasty movement and I think that even at his young age he will win the Cy Young.

AL MVP: Josh Hamilton

Hamilton is off to a great start this season; he is in the top three in almost every offensive category. Hamilton has been the key player in the Rangers' hot start. He has carried their team offensively as well defensively, making some great plays with the glove in the outfield.

Hamilton is on his way to winning his second AL MVP award in the last three years.

NL MVP: Matt Kemp

I'm not really sure if anybody will be competing with Kemp for this award.

The man is a machine so far, batting .474 with nine home runs and 22 RBI. ESPN has Kemp on pace to hit 97 home runs and have 238 RBI; that of course will not happen, but it just shows how much of a hot start he is off to.

He is also trying to become the first player to have 50+ home runs and stolen bases in a year.

If Matt Kemp plays most of the year even slightly close to the way he is playing now he should win the NL MVP unanimously.