Carlos Mendoza’s first year at the helm of the Mets ended with him finishing third in the 2024 NL Manager of the Year Award voting, two spots ahead of his former boss across town.
Mendoza received one first-place, six second-place votes, and 12 third-place votes for 35 points, third behind winner Pat Murphy and Padres skipper Mike Shildt. Murphy was the only manager on all 30 ballots, with Shildt on 28, Mendoza on 19, and the other five receiving votes all on four or less.
The Mets rebounded from a down 2023 to finish 89-73 and claim the third Wild Card spot, which they rode to playoff series wins over Milwaukee and Philadelphia before falling to the eventual World Series Champion Dodgers in six games in the NLCS.
Mendoza was one of two rookie skippers to win MOTY this season, as Cleveland’s Stephen Vogt received 27 of 30 first-place votes, and was the only manager on all 30 AL ballots, to be the runaway winner on the junior circuit.
Yankees skipper Aaron Boone finished tied for fifth with Mark Kotsay by getting one second-place vote worth three points. Another of his former bench coaches, Houston manager Joe Espada, was fourth behind Vogt, Matt Quatraro, and A.J. Hinch.