Royal recognition: Lugo finalist for Cy Young Award, Quatraro for AL manager of the year

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - The Kansas City Royals earned national recognition on Monday with a trio of honors.

Right-handed pitcher Seth Lugo was named a finalist for the American League Cy Young Award and infielder Bobby Witt Jr. a finalist for AL MVP.

In his second season as Royals manager, Quatraro led the club to a historic turnaround with an 86-76 record, just a season matching a franchise record with 106 losses in 2023. The Royals were just the third team to make the postseason following a 100-loss season.

Before coming to Kansas City, Quatraro spent time on the bench in Tampa Bay and Cleveland and never finished a season below .500. Then in his second season as Royals skipper, he led KC to a Wild Card Series sweep over the Baltimore Orioles. The Royals' season ended in four games in the American League Division Series against the eventual pennant-winning New York Yankees. This season’s run marked the franchise’s first trip to the postseason since the club won the World Series in 2015.

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Quatraro could become the second Royals manager to win the AL Manager of the Year Award, following Tony Peña in 2003. Pena led the team to an 83-79 record and their first winning season since 1994.

Lugo, who signed with the Royals last December, established career highs this season with 33 starts and 206.2 innings. His inning total ranked 2nd in the majors behind only Seattle’s Logan Gilbert. He also ranked among American League leaders in quality starts (T-1st, 22), wins (T-2nd, 16), ERA (6th, 3.00) and WHIP (7th, 1.09).

Lugo, who’s spent the majority of his big league career pitching out of the bullpen, earned his first career All-Star selection in 2024. In the Mid-Summer Classic, he pitched a scoreless 7th inning. He could become the fourth Royals pitcher to earn the Cy Young honor, following Zack Greinke in 2009, David Cone in 1994 and Bret Saberhagen in 1985 and 1989.

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The right-hander turned in a 3.00 ERA (69 ER in 206.2 IP) spanning 33 starts in 2024, which was the lowest single-season ERA by a Royals starter since Greinke in his 2009 Cy Young Award-winning season. Lugo’s success came in part to his fielding, as he just won his first career Gold Glove award in early November. Lugo also pitched well with runners in scoring position, as his .212 opponents’ average in scoring situations ranked 3rd in the American League.

Lugo headlined a pitching staff that featured American League Cy Young contender, Cole Ragans, along with newly re-signed Michael Wacha and Brady Singer.

The Manager of the Year winners will be announced on November 19.

Cy Young winners will be announced on November 20.

MVP winners will be announced on November 21.

Bobby Witt Jr. and Salvador Perez are also up for Silver Slugger awards on Tuesday.

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