<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Another season is over, and with that comes another offseason during which the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame presents the coveted <a href="https://baseballhalloffame.ca/james-tip-oneill-award/">Tip O’Neill Award</a> to the next deserving candidate.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Tip O’Neill is an annual presentation, awarded to the Canadian player recognized for excelling in individual achievement and team contribution while adhering to baseball’s highest ideals. The award has been given out since 1984. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The most recent winner was Josh Naylor, who took home the honour after an impressive 2023 campaign with the Cleveland Guardians. Previous award winners include Russell Martin, Justin Morneau, Jason Bay, Corey Koskie, Larry Walker, and Joey Votto. </span></p>
<h2><span style="font-weight: 400;">Who’s Up for 2024?</span></h2>
<h3><strong>Josh Naylor</strong></h3>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Cleveland Guardians slugger and Mississauga product,<a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/josh-naylor-wins-the-2023-tip-oneill-award-ending-two-consecutive-years-of-a-blue-jay-winning"> Josh Naylor</a> may be in the conversation once again for the Tip O&#8217;Neill Award. Why did he earn the award last year? Posting an impressive .308/.354/.489 slash line with 17 home runs, 97 RBIs, 139 hits, and 221 total bases is why. This was also a case where Cleveland was not postseason-bound. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Why does 2024 seem like more of a no-doubter? The 2024 All-Star showed an increase in certain numbers, belting 31 home runs, driving in 108 RBIs, and almost matching the hits tally, sitting at 137. He slashed a .243/.320/.456, scoring 84 times as opposed to 52 times last season and recording 257 total bases. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Naylor’s statistics and performance contributed to a 92-69 Guardians record, resulting in an American League Central division championship and an appearance in the American League Championship series. </span></p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Josh Naylor brings the <a href="https://twitter.com/CleGuardians?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CleGuardians</a> within a run 👀 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ALCS?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ALCS</a> <a href="https://t.co/uOltY1dfB6">pic.twitter.com/uOltY1dfB6</a></p>
<p>&mdash; MLB (@MLB) <a href="https://twitter.com/MLB/status/1847444459610419419?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 19, 2024</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<h3><strong>A few more Guardians in the mix</strong></h3>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Out of Abbotsford, British Columbia, right-handed pitcher<a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=smith-000cad"> Cade Smith</a>. The Canadian right-hander finished his first full season in the big leagues and impressed! His 2024 season was extravagant, posting a 6-1 record with a 1.91 ERA in 75 and 1 / 3 innings pitched. He struck out 103 batters, only walking 17!</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The brother of Josh, Bo Naylor blasted a career-high 13 home runs in just his third season with the Cleveland Guardians while leading the team in games started behind home plate.  </span></p>
<h3><strong>Turning towards the Blue Jays</strong></h3>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">While his bat was slow out of the gate, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (Montreal, Que.) proved why he’s Toronto’s slugger and go-to bat in the lineup. Guerrero would eventually finish the year with a .323/.396/.544 slash line and an impressive .940 OPS. The right-handed bat belted 30 home runs with 103 RBIs. Unfortunately, his team did not make the postseason but he was one of the brightest stars on the squad who should garner some attention from the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame.</span></p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Scheduled Vladimir Guerrero Jr Home Run tweet  <a href="https://t.co/q5nm3jAjhJ">pic.twitter.com/q5nm3jAjhJ</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Gate 14 Podcast (@Gate14Pod) <a href="https://twitter.com/Gate14Pod/status/1821706833830048144?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 9, 2024</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Jordan Romano (Markham, Ont.) would have been a contender if he did not get injured and sidelined for a good portion of the season. Romano finished 2024 with just 13 2/3 innings under his belt, pitching to a 6.59 ERA with eight saves.</span></p>
<h3><strong>Who else might be considered?</strong></h3>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><a href="https://www.mlb.com/player/tyler-o-neill-641933">Tyler O’Neill</a> slugged 31 home runs this season for the Boston Red Sox while fellow countryman and right-handed pitcher Nick Pivetta struck out 172 batters in 145 and 2 / 3 innings. Both are heading to free agency this winter.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">What about one of Canada’s top pitching prospects? New York Mets right-hander Jonah Tong has been climbing the ranks. From low A to AA, Tong has shown great development and effectiveness. The right-hander has gone 6-4 with a 3.03 ERA in 113 innings. </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">He struck out 160 batters, walking only 47.  His performance and advancement for a prospect have been intriguing, and the anticipation for him to move up is even crazier. Matt Wilkinson is also a pitcher to keep an eye on, as he just took home the Wayne Newton Award from the Canadian Baseball Network as the top minor league pitcher in affiliated baseball. He posted a 1.90 ERA across two levels and 118 1/23 innings while striking out batters to the tune of a 13.2 K/9.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Since we’re on the topic of prospects, Canada’s top general prospect,<a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/top-canadian-prospect-and-blue-jays-futures-showcase-alumni-owen-caissie-pushing-for-mlb-opportunity"> Owen Cassie</a>, should also be in the conversation. In 127 games and 472 at-bats, the Cubs prospect belted 19 home runs with 75 RBIs, recording 131 hits. He slashed a .278/.375/.473. </span></p>


<span style="font-weight: 400;">Another season is over, and with that comes another offseason during which the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame presents the coveted <a href="https://baseballhalloffame.ca/james-tip-oneill-award/">Tip O’Neill Award</a> to the next deserving candidate.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">The Tip O’Neill is an annual presentation, awarded to the Canadian player recognized for excelling in individual achievement and team contribution while adhering to baseball’s highest ideals. The award has been given out since 1984. </span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">The most recent winner was Josh Naylor, who took home the honour after an impressive 2023 campaign with the Cleveland Guardians. Previous award winners include Russell Martin, Justin Morneau, Jason Bay, Corey Koskie, Larry Walker, and Joey Votto. </span>
<h2><span style="font-weight: 400;">Who’s Up for 2024?</span></h2>
<h3><strong>Josh Naylor</strong></h3>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">Cleveland Guardians slugger and Mississauga product,<a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/josh-naylor-wins-the-2023-tip-oneill-award-ending-two-consecutive-years-of-a-blue-jay-winning"> Josh Naylor</a> may be in the conversation once again for the Tip O'Neill Award. Why did he earn the award last year? Posting an impressive .308/.354/.489 slash line with 17 home runs, 97 RBIs, 139 hits, and 221 total bases is why. This was also a case where Cleveland was not postseason-bound. </span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Why does 2024 seem like more of a no-doubter? The 2024 All-Star showed an increase in certain numbers, belting 31 home runs, driving in 108 RBIs, and almost matching the hits tally, sitting at 137. He slashed a .243/.320/.456, scoring 84 times as opposed to 52 times last season and recording 257 total bases. </span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Naylor’s statistics and performance contributed to a 92-69 Guardians record, resulting in an American League Central division championship and an appearance in the American League Championship series. </span>

https://twitter.com/MLB/status/1847444459610419419
<h3><strong>A few more Guardians in the mix</strong></h3>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">Out of Abbotsford, British Columbia, right-handed pitcher<a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=smith-000cad"> Cade Smith</a>. The Canadian right-hander finished his first full season in the big leagues and impressed! His 2024 season was extravagant, posting a 6-1 record with a 1.91 ERA in 75 and 1 / 3 innings pitched. He struck out 103 batters, only walking 17!</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">The brother of Josh, Bo Naylor blasted a career-high 13 home runs in just his third season with the Cleveland Guardians while leading the team in games started behind home plate.  </span>
<h3><strong>Turning towards the Blue Jays</strong></h3>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">While his bat was slow out of the gate, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (Montreal, Que.) proved why he’s Toronto’s slugger and go-to bat in the lineup. Guerrero would eventually finish the year with a .323/.396/.544 slash line and an impressive .940 OPS. The right-handed bat belted 30 home runs with 103 RBIs. Unfortunately, his team did not make the postseason but he was one of the brightest stars on the squad who should garner some attention from the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame.</span>

https://twitter.com/Gate14Pod/status/1821706833830048144

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Jordan Romano (Markham, Ont.) would have been a contender if he did not get injured and sidelined for a good portion of the season. Romano finished 2024 with just 13 2/3 innings under his belt, pitching to a 6.59 ERA with eight saves.</span>
<h3><strong>Who else might be considered?</strong></h3>
<span style="font-weight: 400;"><a href="https://www.mlb.com/player/tyler-o-neill-641933">Tyler O’Neill</a> slugged 31 home runs this season for the Boston Red Sox while fellow countryman and right-handed pitcher Nick Pivetta struck out 172 batters in 145 and 2 / 3 innings. Both are heading to free agency this winter.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">What about one of Canada’s top pitching prospects? New York Mets right-hander Jonah Tong has been climbing the ranks. From low A to AA, Tong has shown great development and effectiveness. The right-hander has gone 6-4 with a 3.03 ERA in 113 innings. </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">He struck out 160 batters, walking only 47.  His performance and advancement for a prospect have been intriguing, and the anticipation for him to move up is even crazier. Matt Wilkinson is also a pitcher to keep an eye on, as he just took home the Wayne Newton Award from the Canadian Baseball Network as the top minor league pitcher in affiliated baseball. He posted a 1.90 ERA across two levels and 118 1/23 innings while striking out batters to the tune of a 13.2 K/9.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Since we’re on the topic of prospects, Canada’s top general prospect,<a href="https://bluejaysnation.com/news/top-canadian-prospect-and-blue-jays-futures-showcase-alumni-owen-caissie-pushing-for-mlb-opportunity"> Owen Cassie</a>, should also be in the conversation. In 127 games and 472 at-bats, the Cubs prospect belted 19 home runs with 75 RBIs, recording 131 hits. He slashed a .278/.375/.473. </span>

A review of the Tip O’Neill Award and who is in the running for the honour in 2024

National League pitcher Paul Skenes of the Pittsburgh Pirates (30) pitches against the American League in the first inning during the 2024 MLB All-Star game at Globe Life Field

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