Three leading MVP contenders in each league entering the season's second half

The first half of the 2024 MLB season was filled with memorable moments and performances from several of the game's biggest stars.

In June, Yardbarker provided an early look at how each major award race was shaping up. With the second half of the season beginning on Friday, here's how the American League and National League MVP races stand.

American League

1. Aaron Judge, New York Yankees

Somehow, 2022 Aaron Judge wasn't the best version of the Yankees slugger that we have seen. The six-time All-Star is well on his way to breaking his own American League home run record, having already hit an MLB-leading and Yankees first-half record 34 bombs this season. Aside from his exceptional home run mark, Judge ranks first in the majors in a number of categories, including fWAR ( 6.3 ), RBI (85), OPS (1.112) and wRC+ (207). With totals like these, it's hard to believe he was only hitting .197 with six home runs through his first 33 games.

2. Gunnar Henderson, Baltimore Orioles

After finishing eighth in MVP balloting as a rookie in 2023, Henderson will undoubtedly find himself as a finalist for the award this season. Not only is the MLB leader in runs scored (78), establishing himself as the most promising piece of Baltimore's exciting young core, but he's also emerged as the best power-hitting shortstop and leadoff hitter in baseball. In 95 games for the AL East-leading Orioles , Henderson is batting .286 with 28 home runs, the third-most in the majors, 63 RBI and 14 stolen bases while posting a .956 OPS.

3. Bobby Witt Jr., Kansas City Royals

Another young shortstop with the potential to go down as one of the best players of his generation, Witt is already one of the top all-around talents in the majors. There might not be a better defender in MLB at the moment than Witt, whose 13 Outs Above Average rank second among qualified players. The 24-year-old has been a top-15 hitter this season, producing a slash line of .323/.369/.558 to go along with his major league-leading 125 hits, 16 homers, 63 RBI and 22 stolen bases.

National League

1. Shohei Ohtani, Los Angeles Dodgers

Hall of Fame outfielder Frank Robinson is the only player in MLB history to win an MVP Award in each league, but he'll soon have company if Ohtani continues to dominate in the second half of 2024. With Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts (hand) on the injured list, Ohtani, despite only being a DH this season, is quickly solidifying himself as the runaway favorite for the NL MVP Award. In addition to leading the National League in fWAR (5.2) and homers (29), the two-time AL MVP is slashing an impressive .316/.400/.635 with 69 RBI and 23 stolen bases.

2. Bryce Harper, Philadelphia Phillies

The Phillies (62-34) are the best team in baseball at the All-Star break, and much of their success can be attributed to Harper's performance. After battling the effects of his 2022 Tommy John surgery last season, Harper has returned to his MVP-caliber form and has already hit as many home runs this season ( 21 ) as he did in 2023. The eight-time All-Star hasn't been a home-run-or-bust hitter either, as he's slashing .301/.403/.579 with 61 RBI while posting a 169 wRC+, the fourth-highest in the majors.

3. Francisco Lindor, New York Mets

While he wasn't named an All-Star this season, Lindor should garner MVP votes even though he was batting just .195 entering May. It wasn't long ago that the Mets were 11 games under .500, but they're now in sole possession of the third NL wild-card spot, primarily due to Lindor's blistering stretch at the plate. Since the beginning of May , no player in the NL has been more valuable than Lindor, who's slashing .278/.351/.496 in that span with 12 homers, 41 RBI and 14 stolen bases. Overall, the 30-year-old ranks fourth in the NL in fWAR (4.1), which is remarkable considering how disastrously his season started.