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San Diego Padres: 2018 MVP, Rookie Of The Year, Cy Young

By Nick Stevens |
SEATTLE, WA - SEPTEMBER 11: Travis Jankowski #16 of the San Diego Padres walks over to join Manuel Margot #7 and Franmil Reyes #32 after their win over the Seattle Mariners at Safeco Field on September 11, 2018 in Seattle, Washington. The San Diego Padres beat the Seattle Mariners 2-1. (Photo by Lindsey Wasson/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WA - SEPTEMBER 11: Travis Jankowski #16 of the San Diego Padres walks over to join Manuel Margot #7 and Franmil Reyes #32 after their win over the Seattle Mariners at Safeco Field on September 11, 2018 in Seattle, Washington. The San Diego Padres beat the Seattle Mariners 2-1. (Photo by Lindsey Wasson/Getty Images)
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LOS ANGELES, CA – SEPTEMBER 23: Joey Lucchesi #37 of the San Diego Padres in the second inning of the game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on September 23, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – SEPTEMBER 23: Joey Lucchesi #37 of the San Diego Padres in the second inning of the game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on September 23, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images) /

With the 2018 San Diego Padres season behind us, let’s discuss who is worthy of a few end of season awards.

As the adage goes, absence makes the heart grow fonder, right? After witnessing one of the worst offensive performances in franchise history this season, San Diego Padres fans could use this offseason to step away for a moment. The Friars may have finished with a 66-96 record and 25.5 games behind the National League West champion Los Angeles Dodgers, but as soon as spring training rolls around, the excitement will return.

This offseason should be an exciting one for the franchise, with plenty of moves needing to be made before Opening Day 2019. However, we can’t officially begin the offseason until we hand out our 2018 awards.

Let’s start with the easiest of them all to award, the 2018 San Diego Padres Rookie of the Year Award. This year’s winner is starting pitcher Joey Lucchesi.

Christian Villanueva appeared poised to run away with this award and possibly finish near the top of the National League Rookie of the Year voting before an injury ended his rookie season earlier than expected. He challenged Hunter Renfroe‘s franchise rookie record for home runs in a season but fell just short and now finds himself in search of a new position for 2019.

Joey Lucchesi, on the other hand, pitched to one of the best seasons ever by a San Diego Padres rookie starting pitcher.

Getting his call to the big leagues a little earlier than expected, Lucchesi started 26 games, posting an 8-9 record with a 4.08 ERA (4.31 FIP) and a 1.29 WHIP. He finished with the highest fWAR on the team (among starting pitchers) at 1.1, striking out 27% of hitters, walking 8%, and holding them to a .250 batting average.

Fans fell in love with his funky delivery and “churve” pitch and even more so with his work ethic on the mound. Lucchesi ended the season on a very high note, striking out 8 and walking none in six innings of two-hit ball against an Arizona Diamondbacks team that he struggled against all season long.

He has all the stuff to be a solid 3/4 pitcher in this rotation for many years to come and gave fans plenty to cheer about during this tough season. Not only is he our rookie of the year, but he was also a serious contender for the team Cy Young award.

CHICAGO, IL – AUGUST 05: Craig Stammen #34 of the San Diego Padres pitches against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field on August 5, 2018 in Chicago, Illinois. The Padres defeated the Cubs 10-6. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL – AUGUST 05: Craig Stammen #34 of the San Diego Padres pitches against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field on August 5, 2018 in Chicago, Illinois. The Padres defeated the Cubs 10-6. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /

The 2018 San Diego Padres Cy Young winner has to come out of the bullpen.

I listen to a lot of different baseball podcasts and on three different shows, the hosts played some version of “Padres pitcher or video game generated name.” Sure the bullpen featured names like Adam Cimber, Robert Stock, Trey Wingenter, Jose Castillo and others, but what this San Diego bullpen did in 2018 was pretty special. In fact, it was one of the top bullpen performances the National League has seen in decades.

Leading the way was this year’s Cy Young winner, Craig Stammen. Stammen finished with team-leading 2.3 fWAR and put in the best season of his nine-year career. The only MLB relievers to finish with a higher fWAR were Blake Treinen, Edwin Diaz, Josh Hader, and Jose Leclerc.

Logging 79 innings across 73 appearances, Stammen went 8-3 with a 2.73 ERA (2.19 FIP), a 1.04 WHIP, and 23 holds. He struck out 88 hitters and issued just 17 free passes. Both his walk/9 rate and home run/9 rate ranked in the top 10 of all relievers in baseball.

It is hard to justify giving this award to a starting pitcher on the roster after this past season and this bullpen deserves much more recognition than it received in 2018. Best of all, Craig Stammen wants to help lead this team to the playoffs and seems to genuinely enjoy his career as a member of the San Diego Padres. To that we say, congratulations on your 2018 Friars on Base Padres Cy Young Award.

SAN DIEGO, CA – SEPTEMBER 28: Hunter Renfroe #10 of the San Diego Padres points skyward after hitting a solo home run during the 12th inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at PETCO Park on September 28, 2018 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Denis Poroy/Getty Images)
SAN DIEGO, CA – SEPTEMBER 28: Hunter Renfroe #10 of the San Diego Padres points skyward after hitting a solo home run during the 12th inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at PETCO Park on September 28, 2018 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Denis Poroy/Getty Images) /

Your 2018 San Diego Padres MVP is….

During most points of the 2018 season, giving this award to shortstop Freddy Galvis seemed like the obvious choice. One of the most divisive topics among San Diego Padres fans, Freddy Galvis was an absolute pleasure to watch this year in San Diego.

Completing his second straight season of playing in all 162 games, Galvis hit .248 with 13 home runs and a career-high 31 doubles. He put up the exact sort of offensive numbers anyone should have expected him to put up. It was his defense that dazzled and amazed many Padres fans throughout the year, putting on a show up the middle of the diamond that fans haven’t seen in a very long time.

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However, there was one thing that separated Hunter Renfroe from the rest of the pack in this race. The growth he showed at the plate defined exactly what this season was supposed to be about for this young Padres team, making him the 2018 San Diego Padres Most Valuable Player.

We have written about Renfroe’s growth numerous times this season, the sort of growth that Renfroe needed to show in order to save his spot on the 2019 roster. He finished the year with a .248 average, .302 on-base percentage, .504 slugging, and an .805 OPS, all noticeable improvements from his rookie numbers.

Renfroe led the team in home runs (26), ISO power (.256) and fWAR (1.6). Only Franmil Reyes posted a higher wRC+ (114) than Renfroe (107).

It is pretty hard to find a “most valuable player” on a team that flirted with 100 loses, maybe a more accurate award description is “most impressive?” The 2018 season was supposed to answer a large number of questions about this roster, unfortunately, it only created more questions (Margot, Hedges, etc). The Renfroe question was answered. He’s a powerful hitter who is capable of growing and developing at the plate. Hopefully, we get to see that continued growth in San Diego.

Should the Padres pursue this Yankees starting pitcher?. dark. Next

What do you say, Padres fans? Who are your nominations for these awards?

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