Vogt and Murphy: First MLB Managers to Win Back-to-Back Awards in Their First Two Seasons

A Historic Achievement for Two Managers

Steven Vogt, the manager of the Cleveland Guardians, and Pat Murphy, the manager of the Milwaukee Brewers, have been honored as the 2025 Major League Baseball (MLB) Managers of the Year. This recognition marks a significant milestone in their careers, as both managers have won their second consecutive awards in the American League (AL) and National League (NL), respectively. This achievement is unprecedented in MLB history, as it is the first time a manager has won the award in their first two seasons since taking the position.

The announcement was made by the MLB office on the 12th (Korean time). In the NL Manager of the Year voting, Murphy secured 27 first-place votes, 2 second-place votes, and a total of 141 points out of 30 ballots. He defeated Terry Francona of the Cincinnati Reds, who received 49 points. Meanwhile, Dave Roberts of the Los Angeles Dodgers, who led his team to a World Series two-peat, did not receive a single vote.

In the AL Manager of the Year voting, Vogt topped the list with 17 first-place votes. He narrowly edged out John Schneider of the Toronto Blue Jays, who finished as World Series runners-up this season and received 91 points. The MLB Manager of the Year Award is determined by votes from members of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America (BBWAA) immediately after the regular season, with postseason results not factored into the decision.

Pat Murphy’s Remarkable Leadership

Pat Murphy, who was promoted from bench coach to manager of the Brewers in 2024, led the team to consecutive division titles and the MLB’s best regular-season record (97 wins, 65 losses). Despite starting the season with a 0-4 record, the team staged a remarkable comeback with three extended winning streaks: eight, 11, and 14 games. MLB.com noted, “The Brewers had a bleak outlook heading into this season due to the departure of key players, but Murphy delivered a performance that exceeded expectations.”

Murphy, who had no prior MLB playing experience and primarily coached at the college level after retiring, emphasized the team's dedication. He said, “Our organization has a limited budget, but the players are hungry and dedicated. This result was achieved through everyone’s efforts.”

Steven Vogt’s Resilient Leadership

In his second season as Guardians manager, Vogt secured his second consecutive AL Manager of the Year Award by leading the team to a Central Division title. Despite trailing the Detroit Tigers by 15.5 games as of July, the Guardians surged with a 19-4 record in September, completing a historic comeback. This marked the largest deficit overcome in MLB’s divisional era, which began in 1969.

Vogt also received praise for stabilizing a team amid crisis. In the middle of the season, starting pitcher Luis Ortiz and closer Emmanuel Clase were suspended due to allegations of illegal sports gambling conspiracy and match-fixing, dampening the team’s morale. However, Vogt filled the void left by the two players and rallied the team to finish first in the AL Central. Vogt stated, “The players never gave up until the end. All credit goes to them.”

A Historic Feat for Managers

This is the first time since Bobby Cox of the Atlanta Braves won back-to-back NL Manager of the Year Awards in 2004–2005 that a NL manager has achieved the feat in two consecutive years. In the AL, it is the first such occurrence since Kevin Cash of the Tampa Bay Rays did so in 2020–2021. These achievements highlight the exceptional leadership and strategic prowess of both Vogt and Murphy, who have redefined what it means to be a successful manager in modern baseball.