Brewers’ Pat Murphy Wins NL Manager of the Year Again!

UPDATE: Milwaukee Brewers’ Pat Murphy has just been named the NL Manager of the Year for the second consecutive season, capturing 27 out of 30 first-place votes from the Baseball Writers’ Association of America. This prestigious announcement was made on Tuesday night, solidifying Murphy’s status in the league and marking a remarkable achievement in baseball history.

Murphy’s leadership propelled the Brewers to a record-breaking 97-65 season, the best in Major League Baseball, and set a franchise record for wins. The Brewers experienced a stunning turnaround, overcoming a second-place standing in the NL Central early in July to dominate with an incredible 29-4 stretch, including a franchise-record 14-game winning streak.

The Brewers not only succeeded in the regular season but also made headlines in the postseason by eliminating their rivals, the Chicago Cubs, in a thrilling NL Division Series. This victory marked their first postseason series win since 2018, although they were later swept by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL Championship Series.

Murphy, who will turn 67 on November 28, transitioned from being Milwaukee’s bench coach—where he served for eight seasons—to the head coach role following Craig Counsell‘s departure to the Cubs in November 2023. His previous coaching experience includes a successful tenure at Notre Dame and Arizona State, along with a stint as a special assistant for the San Diego Padres in 2010.

In the competitive landscape of the National League, Murphy outperformed notable candidates such as Rob Thomson of the Philadelphia Phillies, who led his team to a 96-66 record and their second straight NL East title, and Terry Francona of the Cincinnati Reds, who guided his squad to a wild card playoff spot.

With the announcement of Murphy’s award, attention now shifts to the upcoming Cy Young Awards, set to be revealed on Wednesday, followed by the MVPs announcement on Thursday.

Stay tuned for the latest developments in Major League Baseball as the awards season continues to unfold!